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

asked.
    “To the best of my knowledge. One of
them was with Loren Petra and he’s gone to ground.” He didn’t sound concerned.
Was pure male confidence when he continued. “We’ll have them soon.”
    It made her wonder what he wasn’t
telling them.
    “There’s
no telling,” Xan told her privately. “Before he returned to the south to take
over the clans, he was the Overchief’s spy master. I wouldn’t be surprised if
he still is.”
    “My lord,” Siana, who’d approached
with Kaal, asked. “Isn’t there a goddess sanctum in the stronghold?”
    “Yes, in the east wing. There’s also
one for the war god.”
    “With your permission I’d like to open
it.”
    “It belongs to the cult, that has long
been the agreement with my clan. However, I do not think anyone has been inside
in a couple of decades at least. I have no idea what kind of condition it’s
in.” He glanced at Kaal. “It may not be safe.”
    “An excellent reason for us to inspect
it then,” she said lightly, turning to Eva and then Anna Leigh. “Would you
ladies like to join me?”
    Next to her, Xan was very still. She
squeezed his hand. “Is there a reason I
shouldn’t? Does it imply commitment or allegiance to the cult?”
    “No,” he said, squeezing back. “It’s just…a
reminder.”
    “Of
what?”                         
    His answer was short and curt, didn’t
invite more questions. “My mother and
sister.”
    She heard the pain and loss he tried
to hide. Wanted to comfort him but didn’t know how.
    “That
you want to is enough,” he whispered in her mind.
    But she knew the truth. It wasn’t
enough. The bond they shared demanded she do more. Not with an audience,
however. With a reluctance that surprised her, she let his hand go and nodded
at Siana and Eva.
    “Let’s go have a look,” she said.
    As she turned to leave, Xan questioned
Barak. “Where are Xiri and Mikail?”
    She froze. Feeling the barely
restrained fury in his mind, she told the other women to go on without her. “I’ll
see it later,” she said softly.
    When they left she slipped her hand
back into Xan’s. She couldn’t leave him alone when he confronted his cousin. He
wouldn’t leave her to face Zola’s censure on her own.
    “Xiri is in one of the guest
apartments. She rarely ventures out. Mikail is in the dungeon. I forgot you had
one here. Came in handy,” Barak said.
    If the situation weren’t so dire Anna
Leigh was certain Barak might have joked about it.
    “Xiri’s protector?”
    “Waiting for you.”
    “We’ll see them first.”
    Barak nodded then waved over his
shoulder. A warrior pushed through the waiting crowd. She guessed he was about her
daughter’s age. He looked severe but she thought she saw a hint of relief in
his eyes. He saluted by thumping his closed fist over his heart.
    “My lord. It is good to see you home.”
    He nodded. “Goran. This is my der’lan , Anna Leigh.”
    The gaze that met hers was curious,
but he asked no questions. “Welcome to the stronghold, my lady.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Take us to Xiri,” Xan ordered.
    Goran nodded sharply and led the way
inside. They entered an enormous space. She was reluctant to call it a lobby
but foyer was a gross understatement. It was almost as austere inside as out. The
floors were stone and several halls branched in various directions. A massive
curved staircase was in the middle of the space. She counted three stories.
Colorful, but obviously old tapestries covered much of the blank wall space on
the ground floor. There were warriors everywhere she looked. She recognized the
Bana markings on the majority. They entered a wide hallway near the entrance on
the right, and in another few feet got on an elevator. They exited on the third
floor and turned left.
    “Protector?” Anna Leigh asked. “Wouldn’t that make him
one of Mikail’s men?”
    She didn’t sense any deceit in Goran,
knew Britt had vetted him, but she hadn’t looked in