Radley's Labyrinth for Horny Monsters, Annabelle Hawthorne [smart ebook reader TXT] 📗

to allow you to trap me in the same way.” Her green eyes lit from within, and her entire body was surrounded by magical energy.

Mike felt all the muscles in his body freeze up.

“I know that part of the nymph’s soul resides in you now, and in the past it prevented me from overtaking my captor. But when it comes to magic, there is always a way.” The goggles appeared in her hands. “Only the goblin and the Caretaker can use these. And since she has refused, I will make you do my bidding.”

The sickly green aura that had covered her blew across the room, encircling Mike. He felt it seeping into him, his skin itching all over. All he could see now were her eyes, those beautiful emerald orbs, expanding to the size of the room, pulling him in. He wanted to kneel before her, worship her, do anything she said, treat her like the queen that she was.

The moment passed. Like a sudden bout of heartburn, the sensation faded, and the room snapped back into place, the memory of those green eyes fading away.

“Husband?” Tink asked, pulling gently on his fingers.

“Tink.” Mike looked down at her. “I think she’s going to cast a spell on me.”

The woman stared at him, her exotic features blank for several seconds before twisting into anger. “How?” she asked, her hands balling into angry fists. “How did you evade it?” Her voice filled the whole chamber, shaking loose a few coins that spilled over to clatter on the floor.

“Evade what?” Mike shivered. The room was so cold all of a sudden. “It looked like you were going to cast a spell on me.”

“A spell of obedience.” Scowling, she looked at Tink. “The goblin, I understand. Her head injury is unique, and spells are never one size fits all. But you. It should have worked. A human soul with just a touch of nymph attached. I spent the last couple of years perfecting the spellcraft to make it work.”

Cecilia has left a mark of her own on you. Naia’s words echoed in the back of his mind. He thought back to that night with Cecilia in the cave. During his own climax, she had temporarily become human. All magic came with a price, and now he wondered what it was that he’d paid. “I guess I’m a little more complex than that.” Looking at the Minotaur, then back to the woman, Mike shrugged. “So I guess this means you can’t cast that spell on me.”

She summoned a giant ball of fire in her hand. “I have other ways of making you do my bidding.”

Mike swallowed hard, fighting to keep his face straight. “You know, you’re probably right. However, did you know that there are better ways of getting people to do stuff for you?”

The fireball hovered menacingly. “The new Caretaker thinks he’s crafty, then? Okay, mortal. Let’s hear it. What sort of trick will you attempt?”

“Well, you have my friends and me captive. Apparently you need me to use those goggles for something. Did it occur to you that you could just ask? Or maybe we could come to an agreement?” Mike shrugged. “It feels like there’s an awful lot of hostility in this room. And I heard you say that the last Caretaker trapped you. Why? Are you dangerous?”

The woman stared at him in disbelief. Several seconds of silence passed. “Are you not cowed by my very presence? Do you not fear what I could do to you?”

“I was almost eaten by a plant last week, and I have a witch outside my house, trying to break apart the enchantment that protects this place. To be honest, I’m more worried about what you have planned for my friends.” Mike narrowed his eyes. “I thought I was coming here for a fight. We came here because we thought the Minotaur had sticky fingers. But you? Well, you just seem angry. Angry at me. What have I even done to you?”

The woman held her breath for a moment, the ball of fire suddenly disappearing. “You really have no idea who I am? Or what my purpose is?”

“Nope. The only reason we are even here is because we were trying to help a friend who had been possessed.” Yet another thing that sounded unbelievable, but that was the new normal. “Your Minotaur ambushed Tink and took her goggles.”

“Stupid cow-fuck,” Tink muttered. Mike placed his hand over her mouth.

“He did so at my request. I have great need of the goggles’ abilities.” Shaking her head, the snake woman threw out her hands in exasperation. “It seems that perhaps a discussion would be best.” She nodded at the Minotaur. Asterion took Beth and Abella by the hands, gently leading them toward Sofia. He casually slung the cyclops over his shoulder before disappearing into the pagoda.

“Where are they going?” Mike asked.

“I believe your kind has a word for this. They are…insurance.” She approached the table. “Come. Sit. Eat. Like you said, maybe we should talk.”

Mike gazed at the giant table covered in food, his mouth filling with saliva. Even so, he thought about the society up above, trying to get into his house. This woman held all the cards, so he sat reluctantly. “Please call me Mike, not Caretaker. You already know Tink.” He grabbed Tink’s hand and gestured to the seat next to him, which she took. “I hope the two of you didn’t get off to a poor start, putting her in a cage and all.”

“It was, what I thought, a necessary precaution.” The snake woman sat across from them. “You may call me the lady of the Labyrinth.”

“I thought maybe we could dispense with titles. Be less formal, friendly even.” If he was going to deal with the lady of the Labyrinth, he may as well eat; he was starving. He grabbed an empty plate, loaded it with pot roast, and stacked it high with cheeses and other foods. If it was dangerous, his gut would