Chapter 23

The sting of lacerations pinged along my neck, and I rubbed at my collar in frustration. The cuts were too shallow to translate on my skin, at least with the help of my Labyrinth healing her instantly, but I resented the blood I'd shared that inexplicably linked our bodies. I'd never made this mistake before. I'd never confused a tribute for someone worth saving. Why was a pretty face and a powerful spirit enough to trigger my compassion?

I should have known better. Everyone who entered Tartarus was a tribute, and the ones who weren't were always dead before I found them. The only feral creatures from Earth who survived for any length of time in the Senseless Forest were the woodland creatures. I couldn't justify my blatant ignorance.

Maybe I'd just gotten excited at the prospect that this little human could have been mine instead of his.

Maybe I just wanted to have something to my name.

Stupid. I wasn't supposed to think like that. I had plenty in my life. I didn't need a pet or a plaything when I was satisfied.

I rolled over in my bed, alone in the darkness of my room in the castle, hoping to clear my thoughts. Master was out, and I was attempting to lay low and stay out of this conflict as long as I could avoid it.

I thought back to the time I'd used my blood as an antidote to heal a wild rabbit that had come through the portal from the human world. She had injured her leg, and I was able to heal her and protect her, before returning her to the portal. The bunny hadn't been an issue. Our bond was severed as soon as she was home, and I never heard from her again.

But this was completely different. This was the first time I'd shared blood with someone who entered my maze, not to mention a human who had been marked as a tribute. The Labyrinth was an extension of my soul, and the stone corridors only existed under my own power and influence. So long as she remained between its walls and that blood remained in her veins, we were one, in body, magic, and heart. I wish I'd known the consequences of mixing the hybrid essence of a devil and an angel with that of a mortal.

The pain and bloodletting would have been fine. I healed quicker than anyone, and the King didn't want her dead. I would only have to suffer her bumps and scrapes and severed limbs, but I wouldn't have to endure the pain of her physical murder. Though if she did die, that probably would have been less painful than the reality of our connection. It wasn't the physical injury that made bile rise up in my throat. It was the elevated heart rate, the adrenaline, the fear, and …

I swallowed and rubbed at my wrists, while I fidgeted uncomfortably in my bed, ashamed of needing the little teases of friction between my legs that I pretended were accidental.

The girl had Theron's bonding scars all the way down her forearms, and now that she was within my living maze, linked to me and to him, I could feel both of them. I'd felt the damage caused by my own horn as it speared through his organs. I'd felt the sting of ice daggers and the cut of thorns as it sliced through her body. I'd felt that beat of affection in both of their hearts as they looked at each other like allies.

And just now, I'd felt that heavy, unmistakable surge of fear mixed with arousal, as someone sliced surface cuts over her skin.

I bit into my lip and cursed the reaction of my body, then tugged at my own hair to try to redirect my focus.

Would she feel my emotions with the same intensity as I felt hers? I knew how the link affected me, but I had no idea how it translated for her.

All I knew was that I couldn't break this tether without one of us dying, nor could I skewer Theron to a cross without making myself puke in agony. I'd spent my whole goddamn life serving the king with a limiter collar on my neck, and I'd never felt more trapped and powerless than I did now.

A quiet mew filled my dark space, and I refocused my gaze on the small, fluffy, orange cat that walked silently across my rug. His amber eyes glowed softly, catching every small fleck of light, so he could better navigate my darkness. Then he jumped up onto my bed, and he started rubbing his head against my chest.

Pumpkin's cold, wet nose was contrasted by his warm, soft cheek as he nuzzled up against my skin. Without thinking, I absently stroked the smooth fur between his ears, then scratched gently beneath his chin. A low rumble sounded from his delicate little body.

My heart rate slowed, and my breathing steadied. His purr was simple and powerful magic.

I lost myself in petting the feline hostage, trying to ease my mind. Maybe this cat was so comfortable and patient with me because he could sense his master's tie to my soul.

Would this charming little animal be the loose end that exposed me?

I couldn't tell the king about this.

Just keep waiting it out.

With a heavy inhale and exhale, I hugged the little fur ball to my chest, then I sat up at the edge of my bed. The cat was docile in my arms, and it continued to purr patiently as I cradled it. The weirdest sense of affection flashed through my mind as I gazed down into its slightly demonic glowing eyes, set in an otherwise too-cute face.

Is this what Jericho saw when he looked down at me? He often called me his pet, and as I scritched the belly of this fuzzy, defenseless, impressively orange animal, physically feeling my body relax all the while, I couldn't help but wonder if I provided this same stress relief to the king. Our relationship felt more like slavery than something cute and wholesome, yet he'd never struck me or physically mauled me. He'd always allowed me pleasure, and he'd worked to build this maze for me, with his own magic, sweat, and tools. He had no issue being vicious and ruthless with Theron, while he'd always been gentle—albeit demanding—with me. His only cruelty was the collar, and it was probably for my own good, really.

I felt myself laugh before I'd realized it was happening—a sensation so rare, I'd barely recognized it. So sentimental. Thinking of Master as a man with a kind heart and deep affections. Maybe that was another side effect of my bond to the girl.

Holding Pumpkin like a snuggly baby, I stood from my bed and paced into the empty throne room, where the trackers Theron embedded in the girl's palms allowed Master's magic eye to follow the tribute impeccably. She was with the Fox now, but Theron was nowhere to be seen. Not that I would expect those two to coexist in the same space for long.

Alessi often played in my Labyrinth, but he was harmless, so I thought little of it. If anything, I mildly enjoyed how much fun he seemed to have while navigating every obstacle. He wasn't like the Dream Weaver or the Centimanes or the usual tributes who recklessly broke things and killed the plants. He was respectful. Which was ironic considering he had come to Tartarus as an Olympus spy.

The fact that he was still here, so many millennia after the war, led me to believe he likely had a reason he hadn't left. Either he liked it here or he couldn't go home, and either explanation gave me a pang of sympathy for the Teumessian Fox. Maybe that was my father's blood talking. Tartarus was my true home, but I had blood from both realms. Well, all three realms, if you counted my tie to Sela.

I glanced at the red haired man, fluffy tail, pointed ears, and all, then back down at Pumpkin, who was falling asleep in my cradled forearms.

My expression flattened.

Maybe I did have a bit of a soft spot for cute animals. That must have been the reason I'd helped the girl, too.

Definitely not telling the king about this.

Though it may be in my best interest to get a bit closer to this tribute. If I was going to be tied to her mind, body, and emotions, I needed to make sure that wouldn't be overtly and observably obvious.