Page 37 of Faithless
“Which is unacceptable. You are our guests.” Nella lowered her head in a show of humility. “Every part of your stay with us should be comfortable and pleasant.”
Little dramatic, but okay.I just gave her a tight-lipped smile and a nod, unsure of how else to react. Thankfully, Gwen exited her car and came around to the front.
“This is where I leave you.” She was also wearing a crisp suit, though it was an emerald green with gold trim. I assumed it was her regular work uniform. She also wore a full face of makeup, though it was more understated than mine.
“Thank you for everything,” I said to her with genuine gratitude. Really, she had gotten us here. All we did was show up and do what we were told.
“See you in a month?” Torr’s arm slid around my waist in a firm, possessive hold as he asked her the question.
“Yes, of course.” Gwen inclined her head respectfully, as I was sure she would do for her employers. Though she glanced up quickly, catching both of our eyes. “Enjoy your honeymoon, you two.”
Oh, right. That was why Torr put his arm around me.
“We will.” I smiled and leaned my head against his shoulder.
One of Nella’s staff slammed Gwen’s trunk closed as they got the last of our things, so with a final, curt nod at us, she got back in her car.
And then we were alone at this mysterious resort with its creepy staff.
“If you would please follow me.” Nella extended her arm toward the elevator before heading that way. The others had already taken a trip down with our stuff and a new, empty glass cage stood waiting for us.
I held my breath as I stepped from the natural ground into that cage, hoping I gave off the air of someone who rode in elevators all the time.
“Holy shit,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes going wide at the view of the canyon.
I was quiet, but Nella heard me anyway. “Magnificent, isn’t it?” The door slid closed, she pushed a button, and we began a gentle descent. “The founders wanted it to look exactly like ancient Rome, and I’d say we came pretty close.”
Taking up most of the canyon, carved deep in the earth, was a giant outdoor colosseum.
13
DEVIN
Santos stood at the tiny window of our shared dorm when I came in after breakfast. His two machetes lay on the side table, freshly sharpened and gleaming in the morning sun. He stood like a statue, feet wide and hands clasped behind his back, wearing only a pair of boxer shorts.
I shamelessly admired his ass as I reclined in my bunk. He didn’t do guys but wasn’t bothered that I did.
“Keep standing there for another twenty minutes, if you don’t mind.” I groaned as I stretched, my calves and feet hanging off the ridiculously small bed.
“Why?” he asked with a soft chuckle.
“One, I have a great view of your back and your ass. Two, you’re blocking out the sun, and I want to get a nap in before training.”
He cast a smirk at me over his shoulder. “You might be fighting for bed space for that nap.”
As if waiting for his cue, our third roommate, Santos’ black jaguar, Tezcatlipoca, jumped onto the bed with me.
“Ow, Tezca!” Paws the size of my hands braced on my chest as the big cat made himself comfortable right on top of me.
The jaguar only huffed in amusement and leaned down to lick his sandpaper tongue against my jaw. He loved to groom my beard for some reason.
“Fuck, you’re heavy, and your breath stinks.” I shoved back against Tezca but only succeeded in sliding myself out from under him. He settled himself down on the bed, while I only got the very edge. Sighing, I brought my feet to the floor and leaned back against the big cat’s flank. “What are you looking at, anyway?” I said to Santos, who’d returned to staring out the window.
“More resort guests just showed up,” he answered.
“So?” I gathered my hair up and began winding it into a topknot at the crown of my head. If I wasn’t going to nap, I might as well get stretched out for training.
“Something’s weird about them. Come look.”
