Chapter 39

Jayce

It’s been a few days since the battle at Jazzland.

Jamie and Elena have had most of the herd stop by to check on him. It seems a former son of Theseus, captured by sons of Helios, has earned the respect of many.

Frank and Peter have come home. Willow added protection runes to Cill and Shay’s parents’ homes and cars. Anjal’s nephews each killed a feral Minotaur with plans to kill or kidnap their families like they’d done with Jamie. They are as safe as they can be without Anjal’s nephews committing to permanently watching them.

The night we returned home, Shay moved into my room—our room. I held her in my arms all night.

I’ve never killed a man or an animal and definitely not another Minotaur before.

While sparring my whole life, the idea of a battle seemed exciting. A distant thought—wouldn’t it be cool to rip my enemy’s limbs from his body? It’s a man thing—I think. It’s why so many video games center on war and killing.

To say I’m unaffected is a lie.

Even though I speared the one through the heart who thought he’d take Shay from me, a small piece of me died with him.

How the ones not mated are handling the aftermath—I don’t know. Without Shay, I’d crumble.

I’ve woken up every night in a sweat after reliving the moment I rammed his chest with both my horns, lifted him off the ground, and shook his body like a dog with a chew toy. Each time, I pull Shay’s sleeping body closer. Her presence brings peace to my wounded soul.

While drinking my cup of coffee this morning, she catches my eyes.

“I’ve been thinking,” she says over the rim of her cup.

“What kind of thinking?” I tease.

She rolls her eyes. “Not that kind.”

I knew that, but it’s fun to mess with her.

“Can I talk to him?”

“Him, who?”

“Your bull.”

I shift my eyes to let him out.

She lowers her eyes and says, “All of you.”

I’m not sure what’s going on, but I take her by the hand and lead her to my favorite tree in the clearing.

Of course, I give her a show. I strip to keep my clothes from tearing during the change. She watches me with a smile on her face.

She stands in front of me, unafraid as my bones, muscles, and skin change before her.

My bull takes a seat against the tree. Shay approaches him and places a hand on his cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he says with his voice.

“For stopping the one who tried to take me.”

“I’ll never let anyone take you from us.”

“I know. Do you have a name?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t keep calling you Jayce’s bull.”

“Call me Shay’s bull.” He smiles, raising his tusks higher toward his eyes.

She chuckles. “That’s sweet, but you need your own name for me to call you.”

“Like what?”

Shay taps her chin with her finger before sitting down next to him.

Affection and attention he’s never received.

“Sam.”

“Like Sam Crow?” he says with pride.

“You watch Sons of Anarchy with us?”

“I do everything with you both. I’m always here.”

“I like that, Sam.”

“Good.”

Shay says my name is Sam now. You have to call me Sam, Sam says while linked to the men of the herd.

Great. Now all the bulls are going to want names. I can handle the ball busting, but she could have warned me.

“This is nice. Sam enjoys sitting with his Shay.”

“We’ll have to do it all the time,” she promises.

He sits up a little taller. “Sam loves Shay.”

“I love you too, Sam.”