Page 27 of The Minotaur's Nanny Bride

My fingers trace the scar on my right hand—the permanent reminder of why I shouldn't get too comfortable. Of why I don't belong in fancy houses with prominent merchants. My family made that perfectly clear when I chose to heal that minotaur child instead of letting him suffer.

I roll to my side, pulling my knees to my chest. This will end in heartbreak. Dex will find someone suitable—someone from his own world, someone who can navigate minotaur society without causing whispers. And I'll go back to my herbs and my solitary farm, pretending I never knew what it felt like to be part of something that mattered.

The worst part? I can't even blame him. He's doing what's best for Ellis. What's best for his future.

I just wish, selfishly perhaps, that I could be part of that future too.

16

DEX

The morning sunlight pierces through the curtains, forcing me awake with its intrusive brightness. Ellis is still asleep—a small miracle I should be grateful for—but my mind can't focus on gratitude. It's too busy replaying last night.

Maya's skin beneath my hands. The taste of her. The sounds she made when I?—

I scrub my face with my palms, my horns catching the edge of my pillowcase. The bronze rings jingle softly, a cheerful sound at odds with the knot in my stomach.

Gods, what have I done?

I swing my legs over the bed, my hooves making a soft thud against the wooden flooring. The quiet house surrounds me like an accusation. Somewhere down the hall, Maya is waking up. Or maybe she never slept at all. Maybe she's been lying awake all night, regretting every moment.

The thought is like a knife between my ribs.

I move through my morning routine like a minotaur possessed. Water from the basin splashes over my fur as I wash my face, dripping down my chest. I don't bother drying it. The cold is clarifying, at least.

In the kitchen, I start the kaffo brewing. The rich aroma fills the space as I stare at the pot, willing it to brew faster, as if the bitter liquid might wash away the memory of Maya's thighs trembling beneath my mouth.

"Stop it," I mutter to myself, ears flicking in irritation.

A floorboard creaks behind me. I know it's her before I turn. Her scent—herbs and honey and something uniquely Maya—reaches me first.

"Morning." Her voice is quiet, controlled. Nothing like the breathless way she called my name last night.

"Morning," I echo, my own voice too loud in the stillness. I keep my back turned, focusing on pouring the kaffo. "Sleep well?"

Stupid question. As if either of us slept.

"Fine."

One word. Just... fine.

I turn, finally forcing myself to look at her. She's wearing the same practical clothes she always does, her silver-blonde hair freshly combed, her gray eyes carefully avoiding mine. The scar on her right hand stands out stark against her skin as she reaches for the mug I offer.

Our fingers brush. She flinches.

The gap between us yawns wider.

"Ellis still sleeping?" she asks, taking a step back, creating physical distance to match the emotional one.

I nod. "Miracle of miracles."

In the silence that follows, I can almost hear the unspoken words hanging between us. I want to reach across the divide, to tell her that last night wasn't a mistake, that I want more—all of her. But the words stick in my throat.

She's leaving. She made that clear from the beginning. This arrangement was always temporary. And what did I do? I complicated it. Made it messy.

Maya sips her kaffo, her eyes focused on the window behind me. "I need to check on my shop today. Make sure everything's in order."

Translation: I need space away from you.

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