“To be clear, we gain nothing by letting you go. But you, on the other hand, have much to lose if you reveal what you’ve learned here today. The Minotaur’s Children is full of many powerful people who don’t take threats lightly.
“Either way, you are welcome to stay here tonight. I promise, you will be safe. And if you choose to leave, tomorrow, Dr. Galanis, we will arrange for you and Ms. Guiterrez to go back to the United States. I know there are many people who would be delighted to see that you are alive and well,” Lysander said.
“I have a connection at the embassy,” Andreas said, proudly.
“I know,” Lysander said, causing all of them to glance at one another, “but your friend can only speed up the process. Dr. Galanis, Ms. Guiterrez, you’ll beonthe plane tomorrow if you so decide.”
A rush of emotions swelled in Theo’s chest, and he needed to sit down. Dani helped him to a bench and sat next to him.
“Are you okay?” she asked, putting one hand on his back, the other on his forearm.
Theo let out a breath. “Yeah. It…it doesn’t feel real.”
“Well, we’re not home yet, but soon,” she said, taking his hand and kissing the back of it.
Thirteen months. It had been thirteen months since he’d left Michigan. And now? Now he’d finally be going home.
“So, have you made a decision?” Lysander asked.
Theo looked at Dani and put his hand on her cheek. “I made a promise,” he said to her, and then he turned to Lysander. “We’d like to go home.”
Dani squeezed his hand, sending another surge of emotions through him.
Lysander nodded. “And you two?” he asked Andreas and Christos.
Andreas crossed his arms, and Christos confusingly looked him up and down then quickly did the same. “You’ve spent a lifetime discrediting my family,” Andreas said. “Perhaps Demetrios was merely a storyteller, but he was real. You have my word that I won’t reveal anything we’ve heard here, but I also won’t pretend he didn’t exist. I will keep searching for proof of his life until the day I die. So, no, I will not become a member of the Minotaur’s Children.”
“What he said,” Christos followed up.
“Fair enough. We will show you to your rooms. Please, you are welcome to explore. Do whatever you’d like while you are our guests,” Lysander said.
“Do you have a phone we could use?” Theo asked.
“No phones. What happens at the Labyrinth stays at the Labyrinth. But I assure you, in the morning we will plan your reappearance into society. We can go to the press first. Or the embassy. Or take you straight to a telephone. Whatever you prefer.”
A man showed up in the doorway to take them to their rooms. They walked down the hall silently, Dani holding on to Theo’s arm with her head on his shoulder. One by one, the man dropped them off at their rooms—Andreas, then Christos, and finally Dani and Theo.
“Think we’ve downgraded to a cot?” Dani asked outside the door.
Theo smiled and thought,I hope so. Because he wanted to be as close to Dani as possible.
The door opened, and inside was a sleek, modern bedroom with a low king-size bed, acacia nightstands and dresser, sitting area with a fireplace and mahogany-colored leather chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sure beat his living arrangements at the farm with Maurice and Louis.
“If you push this button, the windows will tint, and no one will be able to see in,” the man explained, standing at a switch panel on the wall. “And this button lowers the shades. There’s a similar panel in the bathroom.”
Dani walked around the room, running her hands along the furnishings.
“Are there any clothes we could borrow to sleep in?” she asked. “All we have are these.” She held up a bag with her stuff from the beach and pointed at Theo’s satchel.
“Of course. You’ll find sets of sleeping attire in the bathroom.They might be a little large for you. We don’t often have visitors of your…size,” the man said.
Read: women.
“If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to ask. I’ll leave you for now,” the man said, giving them a little bow and exiting the room.
Theo blew out a long breath and ran his fingers through his hair.
