The Minotaur's Prey: Dirty Monster Mates Book 1

Chapter 22: Maggie

A/N: Video by MrThuumeya

Muffled whispers filled my ears, but I couldn't make out all the words.

"Need her decision soon."

"I know." I knew these voices, but my brain felt fuzz and I couldn't recall their names. That second voice, called to me, and I tried my hardest to answer. All I knew, is I was his. Determination to return to him willed me on as I tried to open my eyes and mouth to respond. But even my lids felt too heavy to complete the mission. I felt stuck in my own mind. It was truly horrible experience.

A sharp pounding pain started in my head, moving down through my limbs as I continued my pursuit to come to. Glimpses of a battle between beasts flashed in my mind, along with the vision of my former boss. How did he tie into it all? Why is he working with monsters?

The monsters were truly ones made of nightmares, and the picture of the three evil beings hurt my head in more. Then, my mind conjured an image of a red minotaur, not just any minotaur, but my minotaur. He fought for me, fought to protect me. I recalled how he stood against his foes, tearing into them while blinded and weakened by the leader's venomous toxin. I struggled even harder to bring myself around.

Finally, my eye lids slowly slipped open, and I took in my surroundings. I was laying on a bed in another darkly decorated room with the same black and red theme, except for green throw pillows. Someone is seriously obsessed with red and black.

The someone stepped into my view. "Look who's up. Welcome back to the land of the living, Maggie."

I heard him before I saw him. His stomps shook the room as he rushed to my side. "Get away from her, Brohan," with a growl, shoving Brohan to the side. He slowly lifted me to a reclined position.

"How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?" He brushed the damp hair from my face with his claws still covered in a mix of black and red blood.

"I'm a little sore, but fine now." I was more than a little sore, but I did not dare tell Xorn. In his current mood, he would probably tear down the whole house. There was enough destruction as is.

"Who were those monsters? Are they gone? Did you kill them?" I normally wished death on no one, but I felt these guys deserved it.

"Don't not worry yourself with these things, my sweet prey." Xorn demeanor towards me shifted. I wasn't sure how to react. On one hand, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt he cared for me more than he let on. Between the gentleness in his voice and the way he fought for me, the proof was there. On the other, I did not care for being shielded from the dirty truth. I needed Xorn's brutal honest now more than ever.

More bits from their earlier conversation were replaying in my head and though I did not know exactly what was discussed, I now concluded that it has more to do with me, as well. "Tell me, Xorn. I deserve to know."

"She's right, brother. If you don't tell her, I will," Brohan declared with his signature cocky smirk, as cool and collected as ever, at least on the outside. Had I been paying attention I might have noticed the storm brewing inside his eyes that projected his true emotions. There had to be some reason he was so carefree. Revisiting his entrance at the fight, I realized he approached danger so casually.

I looked to my beast, hoping he would answer on his own. I did not wish to threaten him into being open with me. He warred with himself. Finally, I won over. He told me how two escaped, how Brohan killed the dog-beast, and Carl was soon to receive his death. "Now, will you rest," he asked afterward.

I trembled. I worried if we were truly safe here any longer. "What if he comes back? Shouldn't we relocate, find someone were else to stay?"

"I will not leave my home and I run from no evil, beast or man," Brohan gritted out fiercely. Turning my head towards Xorn, I yearned to hear a different answer. He shook his large horned head side to side.