Mounting the minotaur a.., p.1
Mounting the Minotaur: A Monster Romance, page 1
Mounting The Minotaur
Jade Waltz
Copyright © 2024
Jade Waltz
Mounting the Minotaur is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For more information, email authorjadewaltz@gmail.com.
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and cover designer’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate audio, text, image, or video is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
All rights reserved.
Published by: Jade Waltz
Preorder Edition: June 3rd
E-Book ISBN: 978-1-952420-53-5
Paperback Print ISBN: 978-1-952420-58-0
Covers by Combs - Daqri Bernardo:
https://www.coversbycombs.com/
Contents
Authors Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
About the Author
Authors Note
***Authors Note***
This Book is connected to my Summer Starlight Resort series.
If you want more cozy fantasy monster romance books with the same vibes – check out my new series!
One
Kiri
The sun blazed overhead as Kiri and Margo stepped off the ferry cruise ship onto the shores of Monster Island, their excitement palpable. The island’s tropical air was thick with a heady mix of salt and sandalwood. As they stepped onto the wooden planks, Kiri’s untamed shoulder-length blonde hair stirred gently in the ocean breeze.
“Can you believe we’re actually here?” Margo rushed forward, her curly red locks bouncing as she gestured toward the sign that greeted them: ‘Welcome to Monster Island!’ She twirled, her fashionable sundress flaring outward, her vivacious energy infectious. “Finally! We’re here! I was starting to lose faith that we would never get here.”
“I told you it would take all morning, Mar,” Kiri replied, grinning at her friend’s enthusiasm. She adjusted her sunglasses and scanned the bustling docks for their first stop on their itinerary for their contracted job. “But I agree. Finally stepping foot onto the island feels nice. Makes it more real.”
As they made their way toward the car rental booth, Kiri admired the rustic structure adorned with an assortment of keys hanging by various fruit-shaped keychains from toucan beak-shaped hooks coming out of a jungle mural on the wall. The booth seemed to blend the quaint charm of vintage aesthetics with a fun tropical theme. Not cheap, like tropical decorations for a pool party, but a classic elegant design to welcome guests to an exotic vacation.
And yet, Kiri was assigned to capture the picturesque mountain forest landmarks and Margo was given the desert cliff side that overlooked the ocean. None of the locations screamed luxury or something a human would book for a gataway trip, unless they enjoyed backpacking, which Kiri was totally against.
“Welcome to Monster Island, Kiri and Margo,” the friendly orc behind the desk greeted, handing them their keys with a smile that seemed strained, as if he were making an extra effort to appear welcoming. His tusks peeked out as he grinned widely, his green skin glistening under the sun. “And before you ask, yes, I already know who you are. Most of the island does.”
“How?” Margo asked, scanning the booth. “I don’t see any surveillance.”
“Your firm informed us about your arrival and your destinations when they booked your trip.” He gestured to his computer. “You are the only humans arriving today. I would be providing poor customer service if I didn’t know who you were and what your firm ordered for you.”
“That makes sense.” Margo frowned slightly, tilting her head. “It’s kinda like the hotel staff knowing my name whenever I stay at an extended stay.”
“Exactly, Margo,” Kiri confirmed, trying to help the poor orc out. She knew how her friend could talk anyone to death if they’d let her. “How about we grab our keys and get going? It’s going to get dark soon enough, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be lost in the middle of nowhere. Who knows what lurks in the dark?”
“There are plenty of nocturnal monsters, like the certain gargoyles and predators, that go about their business as soon as the sun starts setting.”
Margo covered her mouth and gasped.
“But you have nothing to worry about!” the orc worker urged, raising his hands in a pleading gesture. “We may be monsters, but we don’t eat humans.”
“That’s refreshing.” Kiri sighed, shaking her head. “The last thing I want is to help recruit humans to visit, only for them to meet their fate and be eaten.”
“There’s only one way for you to be eaten, so you have nothing to worry about.” He nodded as his dark gaze scanned their bodies. “I hope you find what you’re looking for and enjoy your stay here.”
“Thanks!” With a grateful smile, Kiri accepted the kiwi keyring, wanting to get on the road as soon as possible. Their conversation was dissolving into something she wasn’t interested in, especially when she was confused as to whether he was actually trying to calm them or was attempting to hit on them.
She turned her head in the direction of his pointing finger, her gaze landing on a bold lime green jeep in the parking lot, adorned with fierce monster paws painted along its sides. The vibrant colors and playful design immediately caught her attention, something that custom painted sports cars typically had, as the bright sunlight glinted off the polished metal.
She couldn’t wait to take it for a spin, hoping her off-road vehicle could handle the island’s unpredictable terrain to get her to her destination: some lycan village in the middle of the mountains.
“Thank you!” Margo beamed at the orc, taking her melon keyring, as he pointed to the sleek black convertible adorned with neon green dragon scales parked beside Kiri’s assigned vehicle.
“Thank you for renting with Dock n Drive Rentals,” the orc added, his deep voice rumbling with genuine warmth despite a hint of unease in his eyes. “I hope to see you again.”
Kiri scanned the vibrant hues of the exotic flora surrounding the dock village, grinning at the thought that they were about to begin their groundbreaking mission to integrate humans into the monster community.
And get paid very handsomely for doing so.
“Looks like we’ll be turning some heads on this island,” Margo remarked, running her fingers over the smooth leather seats. “Especially since we are a few of the only visiting humans on Monster Island, at the moment.”
As they stood beside their respective cars, Kiri pulled Margo into a tight hug, her excitement momentarily replaced by the bittersweet realization that they would soon be parting ways. She couldn’t believe that they were assigned to different locations on the opposite side of the island, and neither knew when their contracts would end.
And the money was too good to walk away if there was still work to be done.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Kiri whispered, the weight of their impending separation heavy in her chest.
“Hey, I’ll miss you too, but we’ve got this,’ Margo reassured her, squeezing back. “Remember, you’re like the smartest person I know, and I’ll only be a vidcall away. Besides, we’ll be sharing stories over tea and coffee before you know it. Just think of all the amazing stories we’ll have to share when we talk again.”
With a final squeeze, Kiri released her best friend and shared a reassuring smile. As Margo climbed into her car and drove away, Kiri took a deep breath, turned toward her assigned vehicle, and placed her bags in the backseat. Swinging the driver’s door open, she slid behind the wheel, her hands automatically reaching for the controls.
As she turned the key, the engine let out a contented growl, and Kiri felt her determination surge.
She could do this.
“Bring it on, Monster Island,” she whispered, pressing down on the accelerator and driving toward the gigantic mountain ridge, its jagged peaks disappearing into the clouds. “Let’s see what you got.”
She had always been resourceful and independent, but this work trip would demand even more from her. Gripping the steering wheel with confidence, she navigated the unfamiliar roads of Monster Island, staring at the scenic view of lush mountains, rolling fog and a few speckles flying amongst the clouds.
As she drove deeper into the heart of the island, Kiri’s mind raced with thoughts of the monsters she might encounter. She had always been fascinated by monsters and their unique abilities, and this mission was the perfect opportunity for her to learn more about them and why they weren’t allowed to leave Monster Island.
But as much as she was excited to meet these creatures, a small part of her couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear. She had heard stories about dangerous and unpredictable monsters living on this island, and it was only natural for her to be a little apprehensive.
There was something about the orc’s teasing about monsters wanting to taste them that kept repeating in her mind. Not that she was against being romanced… it just was never a thought she had.
Nevertheless, Kiri pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the road ahead.
As she made her way through the winding roads, she marveled at the island’s diverse flora and fauna as she came across several small villages scattered throughout the island. Each one had its own unique architecture and seemed to have its own set of rules.
She saw a group of harpies flying above one cliffside village, their colorful wings glinting in the sunlight as they flew between stone cut outs along the crag and wooden tree huts.
A few miles down the road, she passed by a troll village surrounded by towering trees that seemed to form a protective barrier around it. Their homes were carved into the trunks of these trees, making them blend seamlessly into their surroundings. The trolls themselves were hulking figures, with muscular bodies and large, sharp fangs protruding from their mouths. Their beady eyes followed her with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion as she passed through, driving deeper into the mountains.
Despite their differences, all these creatures seemed to coexist peacefully with each other. It was a stark contrast from what Kiri had grown up believing about monster communities—that they were chaotic and violent.
Kiri’s tires crunched over the gravel road as she ventured deeper into the heart of Monster Island—a ribbon of cracked asphalt that snaked through the towering forest.
Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel as she navigated each curve with a careful precision, the dense canopy above filtering the afternoon sunlight into an ever-shifting pattern of light, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows on the winding path that lay ahead.
The hum of the engine was the only comforting companion she had in the growing silence besides the occasional call of unseen creatures hidden within the dense mountain forest.
“I can’t believe something like this exists,” Kiri muttered, her pulse quickening as her gaze darted from side to side, scanning the undergrowth for any signs of movement or life, watching how the forest was slowly enveloping her the farther she traveled. “This place is like something out of a fairy tale.”
Monsters were just misunderstood creatures, right?
As if sensing her worries, the jeep sputtered and choked, the engine coughing violently before coming to an abrupt halt. “Or a nightmare,” she added under her breath, as she slammed her fist on the dashboard, cursing the unreliable rental vehicle.
“Come on, you piece of shit!” she growled, turning the key in the ignition. The engine wheezed and groaned but refused to come back to life. Panic began to gnaw at the edges of her resolve, but she fought it back with a deep breath.
“Don’t you dare do this to me now,” she demanded, her voice edged with frustration as she attempted again, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. The vehicle responded with nothing but a stubborn cough, leaving her stranded in the embrace of the colossal trees.
“Great,” she huffed, smacking the steering wheel with the heel of her hand. “Just what I needed.” Her mind raced for solutions, yet she knew better than to let panic take root. There had to be a way to fix this, or at least, find someone who could.
“Okay, think, Kiri.” She growled, running a hand through her blonde hair. Her resourceful mind raced through possible solutions, searching for a way to get back on track as quickly as possible. “You’ve handled worse. You can handle a little car trouble.”
“Maybe it’s the battery?” she mused, popping the hood of the car and stepping out into the shadowy forest. As she peered at the unfamiliar tangle of wires and metal, she realized with a sinking feeling that she was out of her depth.
“Of all the times for this to happen,” she muttered, slamming the hood shut. “I’m stranded in the middle of a monster-infested island, and I can’t even get my damn jeep to start.”
Kiri rummaged through her leather tote, fingers brushing past her compact survival kit to land on the cool surface of her phone. With a swift motion, the device sprang to life, casting a pale glow against the encroaching darkness with its screen.
“Come on,” she mumbled, eyes darting between the unresponsive bars and the dense foliage surrounding her. The distant calls of unknown creatures filled the air, closer this time, leaving Kiri feeling more vulnerable than ever. Her heart sank when the phone obstinately displayed the dreaded ‘No Service’ icon at the top corner.
“Damn it,” she cursed under her breath as her attempts to secure a connection proved futile. She glanced back at her rental jeep, now nothing more than a hulking mass of metal and frustration, like her phone. With a sigh, Kiri shoved the useless device into her pocket and stepped away, her boots crunching softly on the bed of fallen leaves that carpeted the roadside.
Kiri scanned her surroundings, taking in the unique features of the towering trees that reminded her of Giant Sequoias and California Redwoods—massive and reaching for the sky with their outstretched branches. The bark had a dark hue, almost black, but with vibrant patches of color that looked as if someone had splashed shiny rainbow paint over them.
The trees overhead provided a canopy of green and brown, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The ground was damp from recent rain, and small wildflowers peeked out from between the fallen leaves.
Each breath she took was rich with the earthy scent of wet soil mingled with the heady aroma of blooming flowers and the sharp tang of salty ocean air in the distance.
“Okay, Kiri, you can do this,” she reassured herself aloud. “Maybe there’s a house nearby? Or a park ranger station?”
With a deep breath, Kiri grabbed her travel bag, slinging it over her shoulder. It was laden with essentials—water, snacks, and a first-aid kit—along with her wheeled suitcase. With a zip and a snap, she secured her emergency bag across her body, the strap cutting a diagonal line across her chest.
“First things first, I need to find high ground,” she reasoned, scanning the tree line for any hint of elevation. “Maybe I can get a signal there.”
She cast one last longing glance at the unyielding rental before turning her attention to the path ahead. Her hand closed around the strap of her bag, grip firm, as if holding on to it would grant her protection from the unknown.
She knew that venturing deeper into the forest was risky, but it was her only chance at finding help. Hopefully, she would come across a helpful monster, like the orc, who knew how to repair vehicles, but she knew her luck was already running thin for that to happen.
“Let’s do this.”
The sun was beginning to set, casting an eerie orange glow through the trees as Kiri trudged deeper into the forest. Each step she took felt heavier, her feet sinking into the soft ground with every crunch of leaves beneath her boots.
Her heart raced from the rustling of leaves teasing her ears and the occasional distant animal call breaking through the stillness.
As she walked deeper into the forest, Kiri couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched, like invisible eyes were following her every move.
She quickened her pace, wanting to reach higher ground before nightfall.
The shrieking call of an unseen creature echoed through the forest, causing Kiri to freeze. The sound was foreign—neither bird nor beast—sent shudders down her spine. Could this be one of the island’s monstrous inhabitants? If so, were they friendly or hostile?
Would she be considered an intruder or guest in this monster-infested land? The urge to announce herself tugged at her—but what if it would invite danger instead of assistance? If monsters did lurk in these woods, she didn’t know whether they would consider her voice a plea or a trespass.
Suddenly, a loud snap echoed through the air, causing Kiri to jump in surprise.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she scanned her surroundings for any source of danger. Kiri tensed, gripping at the straps of her backpack, straining her eyes for any sign of movement. But all she could see were shadows creeping up from the darkness.
