Page 22 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

“No kidding. That’s why I’m here.” The blonde gestured to the elevator. “But I imagine it’s more of a shock to go from living with a coven to trapped with a phoenix, than it is to be claimed by some asshole as a female shifter.”

Relief rolled through me. “You have no idea.”

“Have you ever been away from your coven’s compound before this?” the redhead asked.

“No.”

“I bet you’re enjoying the beach, then.”

“I haven’t even been on the beach yet,” I admitted.

“Seriously?” the blonde checked.

The doors opened on the main floor, and the women stepped up to my sides.

“Seriously. The wards are in bad shape, and I need to get them fixed before my coven tries to kill me.”

“Witches won’t attack the resort without a plan. Even the supernatural government uses this place to get away when they need a break,” the redhead said.

“Come have breakfast with us. One of the resort’s restaurants is on the beach—we can kill two birds with one stone,” the blonde offered.

“Alright.” It didn’t take much convincing. I was hungry, and I didn’t know where the restaurants were anyway. “Do I need money, or…”

“You’re a lifer, so no,” the redhead said.

“A what?” I probably should’ve known what that term meant in the resort, but I didn’t. My tour guide hadn’t exactly been helpful.

The blonde explained, “There are two types of currency in the resort. Cash, and work. Vacationers pay cash, lifers pay with their time. I’m Vera, by the way. This is Madison. We met a few days ago, and we’re both vacationers.”

“I’m Sage. I didn’t know anyone came here on vacation.”

“Most sane supernaturals don’t,” Madison agreed. “But for the rare and powerful, this place is an escape that can save your life.”

I wanted to ask what they were escaping from, but that didn’t seem like an appropriate question two minutes after we met. And since they hadn’t known each other either, it seemed safe to assume they led very different lives outside the Resort.

We all headed down a path I hadn’t taken before. It was the middle of the day, and there were tons of people around. Many of them stared at us.

“Are they looking at you guys, or me?” I asked, as we turned down another path.

Madison snorted. “Definitely you.”

“The lifers have their own society and culture,” Vera put in. “We matter so little here that we’re basically invisible to them. Because Liam claimed you, you’re one of them now. I think they’re still trying to decide how they feel about it.”

“Well Cecil and his friends, whoever they are, already want me dead. And no one likes witches in the first place.”

“Witches do their own thing, and no one knows what it is, so I think you guys are disliked for that. If you’re fixing the resort, no one here will hate you. We did hear about the Cecil thing, though. Even the vacationers are gossiping about you right now,” Madison said.

I grimaced.

Lovely.

“I’m surprised Liam let you out of his sight,” Vera added. “Most male shifters are pretty overprotective of their mates.”

“I don’t think he’s that protective. He’s only mating me with me to keep me alive so I can hold the resort’s wards together.”

Madison made a noise of surprise. “Seriously?”

“Did he actually watch you leave?” Vera checked. “Because I’m telling you, I know male shifters pretty well.”

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