Page 5 of Half Dead

“Consider the tour an added bonus then.”

Paradise was a resort on steroids. We passed water-facing balconies with hot tubs. Pools with fountains gushed from their centers. Boats and water scooters bobbed across the waves. Deeper in the water, generous huts sat on stilts.

“Nobody told me to pack sunscreen,” I remarked.

“Oh, you won’t need any here. The sun is simply an illusion. There are no harmful UV rays.”

I blinked at the sky. “An illusion?”

Her mouth quirked. “We’re in a pocket dimension. All members of the organization maintain a residence here, and many of them also have second homes in the human world or other realms.”

“It’s like a timeshare.” I shuddered at the thought of a high-pressure presentation in a place where management could choose to obliterate you.

A woman smiled as we drove past her. “Greetings, Melinoe,” she said with a friendly wave.

I looked at my companion. “Was there a newsletter or something? Does everybody know I’m here?”

“You no longer bear the mark that kept you hidden. It’s much easier to identify you now.” The golf cart slowed to a stop. “And now that you’re here, The Corporation would love to know more about that.”

“I bet they would.” There was no way I’d rat out the sisters who gave me the rose mark. They were only trying to protect me.

Posy exited the golf cart, and I followed suit, joining her at a white marble structure.

She opened her arms. “The meeting will be held here.”

I surveyed the space. The lanai terrace was about as far from a stuffy conference room as one could get. A gentle waterfall served as a wall on one side, and the opposite side commanded a spectacular view of the glittering sea where merpeople sunned themselves on large rocks. Their iridescent fins caught the light, creating prisms of vibrant color on the water around them.

She guided me to a chair at the end of the table. “One Boston cream donut, as promised.”

Sure enough, a silver platter awaited me, graced with a single donut. So much for the gluttony I had planned.

I frowned at the donut. “This isn’t one of those situations where I shouldn’t accept any food or beverages, is it?” I’d been immune to the offerings in the underworld because that had been my home. I couldn’t say the same for the fae realm, or any other place rigged with rules that could entrap you.

“There are no food rules in Paradise.” Posy waved a hand at the donut. “Enjoy. I promise you it’s the best donut you’ve ever had.”

I eyed the pastry with suspicion. “Better than Krispy Kreme?”

She nodded. “And far fewer calories.”

“Well, in that case…” I took a bite.

It was heavenly.

No, it was even better than that. It was paradise for my taste buds. The pastry was soft, light, and flavorful, but the cream was the piece de resistance. Sweet, rich, and airy perfection.

“I don’t think I can ever eat another donut. You’ve ruined all pastries for me forevermore.”

“Unless you join us,” Posy said. “Then you’ll be welcome to the donut of your choice each and every morning, if you choose.”

“Oh, I’d choose.”

“Finally, the legendary Melinoe has seen fit to join us.”

I recognized his velvety voice before I glimpsed him. “Lorelei is fine.”

“Still resisting your true nature, I see,” Mathis said, sliding into the empty chair beside me. As the Director of Risk Management, the avatar with the flattering tongue had shown up on my doorstep in search of Aite. She’d mentioned a fling with him once upon a time; he didn’t strike me as the type to grieve.

“I’m more comfortable with Lorelei, that’s all. How’s tricks, Mathis? Or should I call you Hedylogos?”

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