Page 42 of Rauf: Minotaur Mates

Julia slumped and let the bag slide to the floor, some of the jars clinking around inside. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. You were just taking so long and I must look so horrible, and I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone seeing me like this.”

I bent to rescue the bag, keeping the tea well away from it.

She’d been in a room on her own. Who, exactly, had she been worried about seeing her? Otho? Me? Neither of us was likely to be shocked by a red cheek.

I put the bag upright beside my stool and tucked the loose strap out of the way.

But she looked miserable, with her shoulders hunched and her eyes on the floor. Maybe worrying about her face was easier than worrying about the rest of it.

“Sorry, I don’t have any makeup. I can go out and ask Robin if she has some. I think she’s still out there with the others.”

Julia clutched at my arm. “No, please don’t leave me again.”

I stopped with one foot already turned toward the door. Her grip was tight enough to pinch.

I handed her the tea. “All right, don’t worry. I won’t.”

She let go of my arm to take the cup in both hands. I sat down beside her and waited while she blew across it.

I could still feel where her fingers had dug into my arm. Korfas was worried because Jason had seen my face, but he’d seen Julia’s too. He’d been alone with her. And Robin had been helping Otho all afternoon.

What were they supposed to do tonight? Go back to the dorms and hope he’d left town?

Were any of us safe there?

14

TERESA

I was being stubborn and I knew it. But first Korfas made his demands, and then Rauf was doing it.

“You need to come back to the farm,” he said, huge arms crossed in front of him and expression so serious he looked like he was telling me someone had died.

Julia had finally calmed down enough that I didn’t think she was going to break anymore, or resort to more makeup-seeking petty theft. Korfas was escorting her back to the bride dorm where hopefully she’d be able to rest.

I still had my bag over my shoulder, and I shifted the strap higher instead of looking at his mouth.

“Why would I do that?”

“Did you miss that there is a dangerous fugitive on the loose?”

“He has a broken leg and is probably trying to lie low. He has no reason to come for me.”

Rauf uncrossed his arms, then seemed to think better of whatever he was about to do with them. His hands hung at his sides. I knew how easily he could pick me up, and for a horrible second I wanted him to. I wanted to put my face against his neck and let him take me somewhere I wouldn’t have to think.

Then he’d put me down again, and I’d still have no idea what I was to him.

I looked past him at the door. How could I miss being close to someone who was standing right in front of me? Now he sounded annoyed with me, and I was trying not to cry in Otho’s waiting room.

“We don’t know what he’s capable of, and if anything happens to you, I couldn’t live with myself.”

He’d lowered his voice. That was worse than the irritation, because I believed him. I looked up before I could stop myself.

“Why?” I was desperate for him to say something and I hated myself for it. It was stupid. I’d come to this planet to find a man, er, well, minotaur, and I’d gone and found the only one who refused to keep me.

No matter how possessive he was acting.

Rauf stared at me. His mouth opened, and I waited, barely breathing.