Chapter 4

Jayce

“It’s my turn to kiss the bride,” I say, pushing through my sisters and parents before Elena’s overtaken by the hundreds of people that just witnessed her marry Jamie Lemoine. The descendant of Theseus, who sacrificed his demigod nature so that his sister, Priscilla, might find him and rescue him from our labyrinth.

My baby sister fell in love at first glance like every Minotaur who finds their other half. Even if the one who completes them is human.

The feelings were mutual on Jamie’s part. It’s only been eleven weeks since he proposed, but my mom and sisters threw a beautiful wedding together.

Most humans struggle to plan a wedding in that amount of time. It proved even more difficult for demigods. Most of us have attended only one or two weddings, if any. My sister knew what she wanted, and our mitéra worked tirelessly to ensure a magical night.

“Are you happy for me, Jayce?” Elena worries.

I pull my sister to my chest and wrap my arms around her. “If you’re happy, sis, I’m happy. But I’ll kill him if he hurts you.”

If Anjal and Priscilla can forgive her brother, so can I. I had my reservations. But without our parents objecting, especially our patér, I pushed away any negative feelings that might peck at the back of my thoughts.

“Save me a dance,” I say with a kiss to her cheek.

Watching Elena walk down the aisle toward Jamie brought a picture of Shay in a white dress covered in lace to my mind.

Full Minotaurs don’t go through a marriage ceremony like humans, but she grew up in the human world. Maybe she’s dreamed of her wedding day all her life.

If she’ll have me, I’ll vow to love, honor, and protect her in front of her friends and family.

My face hurts after the photographer snaps the last picture that Jamie’s mom insisted we all pose for.

I slip the photographer a hundred-dollar bill and ask him to take a picture of Shay and me during the reception. It doesn’t matter if it’s a candid shot.

At the table reserved for family, I tap my foot anxiously waiting for the first dance with the bride and groom and the dance with the parents to end.

Shay avoided making eye contact with me throughout the wedding. I had a perfect view of her as Jamie needed me to fill in for one of his groomsmen who canceled at the last minute. She looks like a ray of sunshine in a bright yellow summer dress that hugs every inch of her slim figure. She takes advantage of her small breasts by never containing them with a bra. Every man with eyes can see her pierced nipples. Nipples begging for a suckling.

Nikolaos shoves a drink in my hand. “Jayce, you’re whipped, and you don’t even have her.”

“You’re one to talk.” His young mate, Tara, is a sore subject we avoid talking about most of the time. Only I’m a rubber band pulled too tight, about to snap, so I jab back at him.

“You need to eat something,” Damian says through a mouthful of food. I can’t hide anything from my cousins. They’ve noticed I haven’t had much of an appetite.

“He needs pussy,” Circe adds from behind me. I shake my head without responding to her brazen suggestion or looking at her.

Yes, I have a huge sexual appetite, but that’s not tormenting me either.

My heart is starving, and the only cure is Shay’s heart.

Once other couples start moving to the dance floor for Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” I move away from my cousins and Circe. I won’t take no for an answer from Shay.

I hold my hand out to the woman who controls how much air my lungs take in. “Don’t say no.” I’m not ashamed to beg.

Shay’s eyes meet mine. Her hesitation worries me. She’s about to refuse my hand. In a last-ditch effort, I add a wink to my plea.

She smiles before slipping her hand in mine.

My hand slides around her waist. I pull her close, but not too close. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. A rush of warmth washes over me.

The words of the song portray exactly how I’m feeling with Shay in my arms for the first time. It’s a sense of completeness.

I wish the world would stop at this moment. If only for a minute or two, so that I might hold on to her a little longer.

Shay ignores the tap on her shoulder at first. I glance behind her, assuming I’d see Circe trying to worm her way into our bubble.

It’s Daphne, another of my regrets.

At this rate, if Shay accepts our destiny, I might have to find another labyrinth—one where I haven’t slept my way through most of the herd.

Daphne pushes harder against Shay’s shoulder.

Shay turns and sinks into my chest as I refuse to remove my arm holding onto her. My other arm takes advantage of the position I find myself in as it moves across her abs to pull her even tighter against me.

“For a people that believe in true love, you beotches sure are determined to snare a man your Fates clearly haven’t gifted you with.”

I bury my face in her strawberry blonde waves, stifling my laughter. Her scent seared itself into my senses the day we met, but I still draw her unique aroma deeper into my lungs.

“Jayce, are you really going to let this wannabe talk to me this way?”

Shay tries to squirm from my arms at the term wannabe. I pull her tighter. “The only wannabe here is you. You wannabe his mate, and you clearly aren’t.”

My mitéra notices the soon to be volatile situation, and steps in to defuse it. “Daphne dear, will you help me with the champagne for the toast?” Daphne reluctantly strolls away from us. Respect for our elders always wins.

My plan to spin Shay around and kiss her senselessly comes to a halt. “Let me go, Jayce,” she demands, pushing on my arms.

I drop my hands, powerless to fight her wishes. Without a glance back, she races out of the reception hall.

My heart aches to understand her reluctance. If only I knew how to ask her what she’s thinking. This human stuff confuses me.

Any other heifer I’d toss over my shoulder and carry her home to seal our mating as the Fates ordained.