Dark Descent: The Arondight Codex - Book One by R Nicole (best books to read all time TXT) 📗

with white sparks like Wilder’s sword. When I’d picked up the blade, it’d glowed purple for me. I had no idea why that might be, but I had the feeling it might’ve been something Wilder left out of his report. I had more reason to trust him than Greer, so I decided to keep my violet hue to myself… for now.

“Ah, here’s Romy,” Greer said, drawing my attention away from the fight.

“Morning, Greer,” a tall, wisp of a woman said as she came to join us. “Is this Scarlett?”

I gaped as she looked me over. Yet another Victoria’s Secret model stood before me, all lithe, perfect, and, well, just perfect. Her black hair was pulled back into a severe ponytail, though it fell in long luxurious waves. Impossibly long lashes framed her icy grey eyes and her skin was flawless ivory. Unlike the other hunters I’d seen, Romy had black and grey tattoos which snaked up both her arms and along the left side of her neck. Geometric patterns made up of dots, blocks of black ink, and lines upon lines formed the intricate designs.

“Scarlett, I’d like you to meet Romy,” Greer said, nodding towards the woman. “She’s one of our recently graduated hunters. I’ve asked her to help you with whatever you need.” Which I knew was code for babysit the untrustworthy human who may or may not be here to destroy us all.

“It’s okay, Greer,” I said with a smirk. “I know how these things work. You’ve got shit to do and someone needs to watch me in case I get sticky fingers.”

Romy chuckled, earning herself a stern look from Greer.

“We are fighting a war, Scarlett,” she replied. “We must not take any chances… even with ourselves.” She glanced across the room and I felt a blast of cold air tickle my neck like someone had just turned on the aircon and I happened to be standing under the vent.

Following her gaze, I tensed as I saw Wilder talk to another hunter. He looked different today, less disheveled and more solider-like.

“I trust you’ll make sure Scarlett has something to eat?” Greer asked, turning back to Romy. “Then a trip to the infirmary is in order.”

The hunter nodded, snapping to attention. “Yes, ma’am.”

Greer offered me one last smile before she floated from the room, off to perform some mysterious official task I’m sure. There was something untouchable about her, like she held herself on a pedestal above the other Naturals. Well, she was the leader, but there was something I didn’t like about it. This whole place, the way I was being given a personalised guided tour, assigned a minder, had a friend given preferential medical care… There was something off about it.

“I don’t get it,” I muttered. “If I can’t have my memory altered, then why am I being told all this?”

“There must be something about you because you’ve already seen too much,” Romy said with a smile. “It’s not for me to ask.”

I grimaced and looked for an exit, much to her amusement.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “Greer knows what she’s doing. She must have a good reason for bringing you into the Sanctum like this.”

“What are they going to do with me?”

“She’ll consult the Codex,” Romy replied. “Then possibly test you for Light.”

“What’s the Codex?” I asked, ignoring the part about being poked and prodded like a poor lab rat.

“It’s an ancient text that tells us of the origins of Light,” she explained, “and the Naturals code of conduct, give or take a few metaphors.”

“So it’s like your version of the Bible?”

“Kind of.” Romy smiled and nodded towards the training mats. “What do you think?”

“It’s very impressive.” My gaze settled on Wilder, who hadn’t noticed us standing there yet. His fingers curled into the hem of his T-shirt and he dragged the material up and over his head, revealing just how hard his chest was. He was lean, muscled, and one hundred percent—

“Is that drool?” Romy asked with a chuckle.

“No,” I snapped a little too quickly. “It’s just… What’s his deal? He’s got an attitude that screams troubled past.” I was great at spotting the wounded ones because it took one to know one and all of that. We were brilliant at masking our pain with humour and arseholery.

“Wilder…” She sighed, her gaze following him across the room. “He’s not like the rest of us.”

“Meaning?” I asked, startled at the pang of jealousy that stabbed me in the heart.

“Perhaps that’s a story he ought to tell you.”

I snorted. “If I don’t die on the autopsy table.”

Romy laughed, the sound echoing through the training room. Heads turned to stare and I flushed, not liking the attention.

“You’re cool,” she declared. “Are you hungry? Let’s go to the kitchen.”

I glanced back across the room. Wilder caught my eye and stared at me, though his expression gave away nothing.

“Uh, I think I’d rather go to the infirmary first,” I said. “I want to see how Jackson is.”

“Sure thing!” Smiling brightly, she guided me towards the exit. “So, is he your boyfriend or something?”

“Huh?”

“The human. He’s pretty…” She searched her mind for a word but couldn’t come up with anything.

“No,” I said with a scowl, “he’s not my boyfriend.”

“Just as well, I doubt geek is your type,” a masculine voice declared behind us.

I spun on my heel and shot a withering glare at Wilder, who’d forgotten to bring his shirt with him. “I thought I recognised the arsehole tone in your voice.”

“I’m one of a kind.” Glancing at Romy, he added, “I’ve got her from here.”

“Nuh-ah,” she said, waving her finger at him. “I’ve got my orders, Wilder. Back off.”

“I’ll fight you for her,” he said with a grin, “one-on-one.”

“That’s cheating,” Romy said with a pout. “You’re a higher rank than me.”

“Can you put on a shirt already?” I declared.

“Why?” His lips quirked. “Embarrassed by finding all this attractive?”

“Don’t make me vomit.”

Romy sighed and grabbed a T-shirt from a passerby. “Here. But I’ll be back in ten minutes and I expect to