Read Online Absolution (Delroi Prophecy Book 4) by Loribelle Hunt - Free Book Online Page A

wrong?”
    “Nothing.”
    He growled. “No lies, sweetheart,
remember?”
    She blinked, bit the corner of her lip
and looked away a moment before meeting his gaze again.
    “I didn’t expect to meet any of your
former lovers so quickly.”
    He stilled, unsure how to proceed. He
hadn’t tried to keep anything in his history from her but they hadn’t discussed
that part of their pasts.
    “It was a long time ago,” he said
cautiously. “We were friends. There was nothing more to it than that.”
    “But it would nice to catch up?” she
asked much too sweetly.
    He had the impression of being
swallowed up by a sandstorm. Its fury would wrap around him and spit out
nothing but bones if he wasn’t careful.
    “She will be Zola’s mother-in-law.
Even if that wasn’t the case, she’s the high priestess. She will be a part of
Zola’s life either way.”
    He couldn’t read her expression and
she kept her thoughts hidden. His frustration grew. “ You are my der’lan .
Nothing, no one, can ever compare to you.”
    “How many others will I be expected to
welcome into my life?”
    He heard it now, the jealousy, but it
took him off guard. He knew she’d had lovers and hadn’t questioned that.
Though, thank the gods he’d never meet one of them face to face. And then he
understood. He took her glass and set it aside, then gently cupped her face.
    “There is only you, my der’lan . My heart and soul are yours. I
have never loved another,” he whispered, staring into her eyes, watching as her
widened.
    He hadn’t dared speak of love before. Had
used his takeover of the clan to draw her closer. Hoped she would come to see
it for herself. He was a pragmatic and calculating warrior. He should have
seen, should have known, she needed a different kind of assurance from him
despite her protests to the contrary. He pulled her to feet, determined to show
her exactly what she was to him, but
the door chimes rang before he could get her into the bedroom.
    “One of the guards downstairs can
handle it,” he said, seeing that vulnerable look in her eyes again.
    It was gone in an instant and she
shook her head. “No. You’re right. She’s part of Zola’s life. And the clan
would suffer if I don’t get over it.”
    He glared at her. “This has nothing to
do with the clan. This is about my der’lan’s comfort.”
    Surprise burst through his mind and
then she smiled. “Everything affects the clan, darlin’. I promise I’ll be nice
to your ex-girlfriend.”
    “She’s not--it wasn’t like that. It isn’t like that on Delroi.”
    She shrugged and walked ahead of him
through the door. He caught up with her at the top of the stairs, could see
Lady Rona waiting in the foyer and watching them with a curious gaze. Grabbing
Anna Leigh’s hand, he pulled her close before she could descend. He wanted to
skip this meeting. Wanted to take his mate back to their bed and sink to the hilt
inside her.
    “Later,” she promised softly.
    “No one has ever had the ability to
make me lose control or forget my responsibilities.”
    “And I do?”
    He nodded.
    “I’m sorry,” she said.
    He felt his smile deep in his chest.
“I’m not.”
    She laughed, as he’d hoped she would,
pressing her lips against his in a kiss that was in no way satisfying, before
pulling free of his arms and going down the steps. He was so stunned by her
sudden change of mood he just watched. She stopped halfway down and turned back
to him with an arched eyebrow.
    “Aren’t
you coming?”
    Her tart tone hit him right in the
groin. He gave her a slow sexy smile he hadn’t known he was capable of a few
weeks ago.
    “You
promised me later,” he whispered into her mind, adding an
image of her restrained spread eagled to their bed and at the mercy of whatever
pleasure he chose to give her.
    “I’ll
retaliate,” she warned softly.
    “You
can try.”
    She gave him a considering look, then
shook her head. “I wouldn’t like that.
I’ll get my revenge in