The Sacrifice Read Online Free Page A

are.”
    “Oh,
great! We ’ re children again,” Elle whispered a little too
loudly.
    Kyra turned and pinned Elle with a
hard stare. “Is there a problem, Miss Nichols?”
    Elle
lifted her chin. “I didn ’ t
realize we would be treated like children while we ’ re
here.”
    A
flash of anger crossed Kyra ’ s face as she closed the distance. “If you act
like a child and interrupt me again, I assure you, you will be treated like
one.”
    Riana
looked at Elle and found exactly what she expected, a deadpan glare straight
into Kyra ’ s eyes. Elle ’ s job required her to
be the one doing the intimidating—not the other way around. She might have met
her match with their instructor.
    Instructor and student stared in
silence for several seconds.
    Kyra slowly shook her head before she
spoke again. “As I was saying, these systems are in place for your protection
as well as ours.” Her glare settled firmly back on Elle.
    “The
buildings directly behind the lodges are used by domestic staff and strictly
off limits. Also the lodges with the Protector ’ s Crest over the
entrance are our quarters. No one is allowed inside without an invitation.
However, don ’ t hold your breath, ladies, those aren ’ t
freely given.” Her face held a hint of amusement as her gaze landed on Riana.
    Oh,
shoot! That was
directed at me. Maybe Hot-Cakes does belong to her. Can ’ t really blame her after the way I couldn ’ t take my eyes off the guy. I ’ ve never seen
a male Protector up close and personal. All that glorious flesh caught me off
guard. Yeah, that ’ s all it was. I was caught off guard.
    “All
right, ladies, I ’ ll show you to your lodging quarters, and you ’ ll
have one hour to settle in and have evening meal. All meals are delivered by
kitchen staff. If you require anything not already provided, all you need to do
is pick up the phone and ask a staff member. The long brick building houses the
classrooms and gym. We ’ ll meet in classroom C at eight o ’ clock
to go over the syllabus of activities and requirements for the next four weeks.
Your training starts first thing in the morning.” Kyra turned and left them
standing in front of their lodge.
    “That ’ s one
serious female,” Riana whispered.
    Elle
smirked at Kyra ’ s retreating back. “And just think. We get to
spend four whole weeks with Little Miss Congeniality.”
    “Yes, we do. So, how smart do you
think it was to get on her bad side in the first two minutes?”
    Elle
shrugged and headed into the lodge. “I ’ m not the one who
tried to steal her boyfriend.”
    Riana
laughed and smacked Elle ’ s arm. “I did not.”
    “Are you sure about that?”
    They entered the lobby of the building
Kyra referred to as their quarters. A three-story mountain lodge built as an
Adirondack styled log cabin. Riana took a deep breath, pulling the aroma of
natural pine into her lungs. The floors, ceilings, walls, even the furniture
were made of natural wood. A double-sided fireplace made from mountain rock
adorned the center of the lobby, reaching to an open cathedral ceiling. Couches
sat around each side of a roaring fire, giving the large space a warm,
cottage-like atmosphere.
    They moved to the concierge desk and
received their room number, and then took an elevator to the third floor. As
they opened the door to their room and stepped inside, their mouths gaped open.
    “Quarters?”
Riana said. “Man, was that an understatement. This looks more like a small condo.”
She walked over and sat her bag on the bar separating the living area from a
galley kitchen. She ran her hand along the back of a tan, leather sofa, so soft
she had to check twice to make sure it wasn ’ t made of silk. A
large flat screen TV and stereo system were mounted above a gas log fireplace
covering one corner of the room.
    Riana
smiled. “See? I told
you…definitely not a prison.” The butterflies from earlier began to disappear
as she settled on the comfy