I push Valentine away from me – hands hard against his chest. He lazily steps back a few paces – his demeanor quickly shifting from the fiery intensity of a few moments ago, to something colder.

"Well, if it isn't the Minotaur snooping around people's minds, yet again..." says Valentine – his words are light but there's an edge to his gruff tone. His eyes don't move from mine.

I drag my gaze away, heart pounding, mind reeling.

Venus?! Venus is back?

And...How long has Mino been here?

Mino is leant casually by one of the stone columns at the other side of the temple. His big arms are folded across his chest; his black t-shirt revealing part of the labyrinth tattoo that inks the skin of his shoulder. If he's surprised by either Valentine, my proximity to Valentine, or what Valentine just said – he doesn't show it. He just watches us with the detached curiosity of someone watching a tv show.

I feel like I've been caught doing something I shouldn't have been. Heat floods to my face as his eyes catch mine; and the sequence of events before meeting Valentine here in this temple starts to come back to me.

"You brought me to my labyrinth," I say softly. "I'd wanted to tell you about...him...but..."

Mino nods slowly, an amused glint within the darkness of his irises.

"You couldn't. I wonder if our friend here can enlighten us as to why," he says – voice low. His gaze shifts to Valentine; who turns slowly to meet it. "Hello, old friend."

Valentine doesn't reply. "You invited him here?" he says – throwing me a sideways glance. For a moment I think I catch a hint of surprise in the shocking blue of his irises.

"Yes."

His jaw hardens. He rubs his mouth.

"Well?" says Mino – arching an eyebrow.

Valentine says nothing for a moment. Then he runs his hand over the back of his neck and a smirk begins to tug at his lips.

"I think the reason she's not told anyone about me is because she likes me," he says – a gruff, exaggerated whisper.

A wave of irritation, and panic, and loathing – at Valentine, or myself, I'm unsure - washes over me. Tension coils in my stomach and my pulse quickens.

"That's not true," I say.

Mino's gaze slides lazily between the two of us. He nods. "I think there's something more to it than that." His eyes latch onto Valentine again. "I take it someone from the Oneiroi is helping you enter Lila's dreams?"

The what?

Valentine shrugs, putting his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I suppose you're going to tell my brothers about me...?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. That is really up to Lila."

"Interesting," says Valentine, "I didn't think you and Lila were such good friends."

Mino looks between. "Likewise."

Valentine smirks and I feel heat flood my face again. What is wrong with me?

"Still, I can't imagine you keeping this to yourself," says Valentine. "You seem pretty tight with my two brothers nowadays..."

Mino shrugs his big shoulders. "And yet still, you're not my least favorite of the original cupids."

"Good to know." Valentine raises an eyebrow. "Cal?"

A grin widens on Mino's face. Valentine returns it, slightly inclining his head. I look between the two, confused, and Mino's words come back to me.

My loyalty will always stand with those in the shadows.

He's said that about me. But surely he sees Valentine as belonging to the shadows too. I'm not sure how I feel right now – relieved that Mino seems to be taking this all in his stride; or nervous that he might not be the ally to the cupids that I thought he was.

Mino pushes off from the stone column and strolls lazily over to the two of us. "Is what you say true, old friend? About Venus?"

"Every word."

My pulse quickens. I look up into Valentine's eyes. I shake my head.

"How can that be true?" I say. "Surely we would know if the ancient goddess of love was hanging around LA."

"Who says she's in LA?"

"Do you know where she is?"

"I'd imagine with her most devoted followers..."

I shake my head again.

"I'm not buying it..." I say. "You're just trying to get me to come to the Underworld for you. We've heard nothing about Venus since the battle at Malibu. And she doesn't seem the type to keep a low profile..."

He moistens his lips, saying nothing for a moment. I can feel Mino's eyes on me – watching our interaction with interest.

"I believe that death has weakened her," he says. "But when she regains her power..."

"How long do you imagine that will take?" says Mino.

"Depends," he says.

"On...?" I say.

"On whether she gradually builds up her power – through the Matchmaking Service making matches – or whether she decides to take a shortcut."

"What shortcut?"

"If she were to get her hands on the item in my possession before you do...well, that wouldn't end well..." Valentine takes a step back, the orange sunlight washing over his rugged features. His grin widens. "So you should really hurry in coming to get me."

He holds my gaze.

"What item?"

"Come and find out."

He looks between the two of us – then his eyes meet mine. "You can tell my brothers about me now. It may speed things up a bit."

"Valentine..."

"I'll see you soon, Lila," he says. "Next time in the flesh, I'd imagine."

"Wait..."

He blows me a kiss. And then he is gone, leaving Mino and I standing in the temple alone.

Neither of us speak for a moment. I find I can't quite meet his eye. When finally I do he is watching me curiously.

"I need to go to the Matchmaking Service," I say. "I need to tell them what's going on."

He gives a subtle incline of his head.

"Then it is time for you to wake up," he says. "But there is still a darkness inside of you, Lila Black. It rages and grows at the center of your labyrinth. You will have to face it sooner or later."

"I know."

He gives me a half smile, then nods.

"Wake."

***

My eyes jolt open. I'm lying on my bed, cell phone on the covers beside my open hand. I'm breathing fast, my heart thumping against my chest.

Venus.

Venus is back.

I grab my phone. It's midday already.

I jerk upright.

I pull the keys to the car dad got me from my birthday out of my pocket as I move toward the door. I think it's time to take it for a test spin.

Hurrying out into the hallway I start to key in a text message for Cupid. My stomach clenches. I need to tell him about Valentine, and Venus, and everything.

Is he going to be mad with me?

I think of Valentine's close proximity to my body, and the way that energy jolted through my when he met my eyes. If what he said was true, then it was my feelings that allowed Venus to slip through the barrier between the living and the dead.

Do I feel something for him? No. Or at least...I don't want to.

I blink hard, hurrying down the stairs.

How can I possibly explain this to Cupid?

But I have no choice.

I look at the screen of my cell and press send.

Meet me at the Matchmaking Service.

The Furies will be back tonight. Venus is alive. A war is possibly on the way. And Valentine has been visiting my dreams.

I need to tell Cupid, Cal, and the others what is really going on.