Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns Read Free Book Online

stung.
                "I'm sorry." She heaved a sigh. "I felt the pain of your loss, and I understand what it's like to want justice for someone you care about."
                The muscle in his cheek twitched. Mater Dei, the woman had seen a hell of a lot more than he thought. Did she know the Sicari Order had a file on her--on her entire family? He should have left the house the moment he realized she was here.
                But he hadn't.
                Biting the inside of his cheek, he turned away from her. Leave it to him to trust his librarians' research and not his gut. Sandro and Octavia were going to wish they were still file clerks when he got through with them. Emma Zale had never heard of the Tyet of Isis until tonight. He'd bet his life on it.
                Fotte. He'd put her at risk by coming here. All it took was one fleeting thought for a Praetorian to realize she knew something--even if it was only a sliver of information. A growl of frustration rumbled out of him. At this point he wasn't left with much in the way of choices. He whirled around to face her. She jumped back, her hands up in a gesture of surrender.
                "Look, I don't have what you're looking for. So just go. I promise to forget the whole thing."
                "It's not quite that easy," he muttered.
                "Of course it is. You just turn and walk out of here." She pointed toward the door. "You can still walk, can't you?"
                Despite the gravity of the situation, her sarcasm made him laugh. She refused to be bullied in spite of her fear. Eyes wide with surprise, she stared up at him. With another chuckle, he bent his head toward her.
                "I like you, Emma Zale." She looked at him in amazement, and he laughed softly. "You're going to need that humor of yours."
                "How in the hell do you know my name?"
                "The same way I knew where to find you." He shrugged. The less she knew, the safer she was. The more she knew, the harder it would go for her if the Praetorians caught up with her.
                "That's not an answer and you know it."
                "True, but it's the only one you'll get for the moment."
                "What the hell does that mean?"
                "It means you'll have to come with me," he said with resignation. Taking her with him was the last thing he wanted to do. Emma Zale meant trouble. And problems he could do without. She'd only complicate matters for him.
                "I'm not going anywhere with you." Her mouth tightened in a rebellious pout.
                "Unfortunately, you don't have a choice."
                "That's what you think," Emma snapped. With a vicious shove, she knocked him off balance and leaped toward the door.
                "Deus damno id, woman."
                He quickly recovered his equilibrium then reached out with his mind to stop her. She stumbled as he forced her to face him. Gritting his teeth, Ares narrowed his eyes at her. It was time Emma Zale realized exactly what she was up against. Slowly, he pulled her toward him.
                She fought every step of the way, but he easily overpowered her resistance. His ability had limits dependent on distance as well as his physical and mental exertion, but she didn't know that. And manipulating her wasn't that difficult. With little effort at all, he forced her to cross the room until she stood less than a foot away from him. Jaw clenched in anger, his thoughts sent her stumbling forward until her body pressed into his.
                The scent of coconut butter filled his nostrils as his body reacted to hers. The primal response startled him. Arms at his sides, he held her tight against him with nothing more than his thoughts. Damno, she felt good.