Page 16 of The Lord of the Labyrinth

“Um, Babbitt?” Kate swallowed hard and stared at the food that had moments ago been such a welcome relief.

“Yes, mistress?”

“If a mortal—a human, I mean—were to eat the food or drink here... Does that mean I’m trapped here forever?”

This is just a dream,she reminded herself.God, please let this all just be a dream.

“Trapped? No, not this food, mistress. Now, theSeeliefood, yes, that could trap you here. They like their mortals. But the Twilight Court is forbidden from taking them. This food here will heal you, mistress. Give you strength.”

The brownie stepped into the bathing room and a moment later reemerged with her arms full of clothing and towels.

“I will return in a moment, mistress,” Babbitt said. Then, with a pop, she vanished right before Kate’s eyes.

Kate’s mouth was still agape when Babbitt reappeared again.

“Now, how about a pretty gown?” The brownie snapped her fingers and pointed at the bed, where a silver-and-white gown appeared next to where Kate sat. Yards of fabric spilled off the side of Roan’s bed, filling her vision with gleaming pearls and shimmering embroidery. It was something a princess would wear, not a human woman from her world.

“It’s beautiful, but maybe you have something more practical? Like some blue jeans and a sweater?”

“Blue jeans?” the brownie echoed. “What are blue jeans?”

“They’re a type of pants that women wear in my world, and?—”

Once more, the brownie vanished on the spot.

“Okay,” Kate whispered to the empty room.

When the brownie didn’t immediately reappear, Kate devoured the rest of the breakfast, staring at the gown the whole time, debating whether she was going to try it on.

Babbitt reappeared with a giggle. “I know what blue jeans are now.” She snapped her fingers and pointed at Kate. The pajamas on Kate’s body vanished, and she was suddenly wearing blue jeans and a khaki-colored sweater, complete with a matching pair of khaki suede boots. Kate stared down at herself in shock. She hadn’t even felt anything but a faint breeze as her PJs had vanished and these new clothes replaced them. She even had new panties and a bra. What she wouldn’t give to have the ability to snap her fingers and change clothes like that.

“Do you like it?” the brownie asked.

“It’s perfect!” Kate said honestly. “Thanks, Babbitt. Now, how do I get out of here?”

“Get out of where?”

“Here. This room. The doors are locked and I can’t leave.”

“Oh...” Babbitt’s smile vanished. “Lord Arun wishes you to remain here.”

“He maywishfor that, but I sure as hell don’t. He is keeping me here against my will.” She strode toward the balcony doors and yanked on them.

Locked. Shocker.

“Babbitt, can you unlock the balcony doors?”

The brownie frowned slightly. “I suppose, mistress. Lord Arun would probably wish for you to get some fresh air.” She pointed and snapped her fingers.

Kate, her hands still on the silver door latches, felt the locks click and she opened the doors. She stepped out onto the balcony and gasped. She was easily four stories in the air, and the brilliant moonlight lit up the ground below which spiraled out in a chaotic maze of hedgerows that seemed to go on forever.

“What’s that?” she asked the brownie, who’d joined her at the balcony’s stone railing.

Babbitt shivered. “That’s the labyrinth, Mistress Kate.”

“The labyrinth?”

Babbitt’s golden eyes were wide with fear.

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