It would take several days to offload the refugees, but Laetif saw no reason to remain on board. She’d been anxious to see the new villa in person. Virtual tours just weren’t the same. She’d carefully avoided Caleb after their disquieting conversation in the lift. It had been easy to disregard his predictions for the first few days. Quade was an attentive lover and she genuinely liked spending time with him. Still, nothing they did together compared with the combustible intensity of Caleb’s touch. The villa set on a hillside overlooking Ludus Xyellus. She had visited the original facility several times, but the stark, prisonlike environment held no appeal to her. The new arrangement gave her a bird’s eye view of the training field while protecting her from the harsh reality of the barracks. “Does the villa meet with your approval?” Quade asked from somewhere behind her. Beyond the ludus, New Pompeii spread in all its opulent glory. The buildings followed the natural undulation of the land, creating a sort of informal order.
