Page 36 of Forged in Deception

She paused for a long moment as a bird cawed overhead, wheeling toward a gnarled tree that stood nearby.

“Yes. I promise.”

She held his gaze without faltering.

There was something about the way she looked at him sometimes that he couldn’t put his finger on. It was clear that she saw so much more than she let on. That she dug intopeople, trying to figure out what made them tick, and he was no exception.

It kind of freaked him out.

He grinned at her, offering one of his trademark winks that annoyed women everywhere.

“I trust you,” he said.

And despite the fact that she was still little more than a stranger, he did.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

KARLIN

Karlin’s stomach grumbled as she sat cross-legged on the hard floor, trying to force herself to pay attention to what Tourmaline was saying.

Breakfast had been hours ago, and they’d all skipped lunch. Unlike the others, she and Bajwa didn’t need to fast in preparation for DX8, but in his characteristic excitement, Bajwa hadn’t thought to actually schedule in time for the staff to have lunch.

She stole a glance at the small clock that hung over Tourmaline’s head on the far side of the yoga room.

Apparently, dinner wasn’t happening, either. She felt a sudden flash of jealousy that Ned hadn’t been forced to participate and had actually gotten to end his work day early.

She was getting seriously hangry.

The only thing keeping her from tossing her yoga mat at Bajwa’s head and storming out of here was the fact that she had a granola bar waiting in her bag.

“Now, everyone, come to attention,” Tourmaline said. “It is time for the next part of your journey.”

Karlin was snapped out of her mildly violent fantasies as the yoga instructor hit the edge of a large bell with a wooden stick. The enormous, sudden ringing sound vibrated through the room, jolting everyone to attention, including Axel. He jumped to his feet and sent the book he’d been reading sailing across the wooden floor.

Cora leaned over on her mat and picked it up. “Hunt For the Skinwalker? Nice. That case is so cool!”

Tourmaline's face was calm, but her eyes looked less than serene. “Please respect the sacred quiet of the room.”

Karlin bit down on her tongue. She seriously hated this crap.

Unfortunately, Bajwa didn’t share her opinion. If anything, he was just as enthusiastic about the ‘holistic’ elements of the retreat as he was about DX8 itself.

“Er, right,” Cora said, handing the book back to Axel. She pressed her hands together and bowed toward Tourmaline, eliciting a muttered comment from Paul that Karlin couldn’t quite make out.

Whatever he’d said, she probably agreed with him. She almost wished she was religious, even if just to have a more legitimate excuse to bow out of yoga than simply thinking it was a waste of time.

Tourmaline stood up and gestured toward everyone in the room before getting to her knees and offering a deep bow in their direction. “I wish you well. Namaste.”

Cora, Lily, and Bajwa returned her greeting, and Karlin mouthed the word.

Tourmaline began to gather up her supplies, and Bajwa stepped into her place. “Everyone, after we clean up our things, I’m going to go on ahead of you to the hut where you’ll be taking DX8. It’s a bit of a hike, so I’ll be bringing some supplies we need in the Jeep. Please stay with Ms. McKenna and follow along on foot.”

He looked uncharacteristically somber, as though Tourmaline’s floaty energy had worn off on him. Not that Karlin was complaining. It was nice not having to fake enthusiasm. She wasn’t looking forward to giving these patients DX8, nor was she looking forward to having to conceal the fact that Axel was going to be sober.

Karlin hung back as the others passed her and headed toward the door. After hours of forced silence, the chatter began almost immediately. Paul was telling Destiny that he’d had a good chance to pray and prepare himself. Cora had stopped to chat with Tourmaline as she rolled up her yoga mat. Lily was asking Axel how he was liking the book he was reading.

---