Kiss of Darkness by Loribelle Hunt Read Free Book Online

twin, Luke, lived here as did Kadall, their senior most warrior, and his mate Marelle. There was ample room. It was possible to spend the entire day in residence and not run across any of its occupants.
    He entered his office where he poured a glass of scotch and sat behind the big desk. He took a drink and closed his eyes, exploring her new shield again. Why would she shut out everyone? Even her own people.
    Eyeing the phone on the corner of the desk, he considered calling the lupine alpha, Mitchell, to see if he knew what was going on with the hybrids, but discarded the idea. If there was any threat to his claim on Winter, it was Mitchell. He’d seen her affection for the wolf in her mind, her friendship with him. A friendship that was rooted in a past affair. It was difficult to control his jealousy. She’d had a full life before they met; he couldn’t begrudge her that. Once they were mated, though, he would put a complete stop to the relationship with the lupine. But it would have to wait. There were bigger concerns to deal with now.
    He couldn’t get in her mind to read her thoughts, but even with the new shield he could feel her fury and under that a sorrow so deeply buried he doubted she was experiencing it yet. When she came down from the rage it would knock her on her ass.
    But why? What did this mean? His people had stayed aloof from the lupines and especially the hybrids for so long they couldn’t easily read them. He knew she was close to losing her fight with the demon she’d merged with, of course, knew she had to create a mate bond soon or she’d be lost forever. Whatever she was mixed up in now, he hoped it wasn’t enough to snap what was left of her grip on the beast.

    He picked up a small square of paper from his desk and fingered the edges, traced the name and numbers written on it. He could call her the mundane way, but his soul rebelled at the idea. She was his. She should be open to him, her mind available to his whenever he reached for her. Angry, he rose and shoved the chair back, pacing around the room as he struggled for control. Damn it.
    The shield she’d erected was once again beneath his fingertips. He could batter through it without damaging her mind, but it would be a breach of trust he knew she wouldn’t likely forgive anytime soon. He growled his frustration, swung around ready to attack when the door creaked open. Luke slipped through, an easy grin on his face and hands held up in surrender.
    “Easy, brother,” Luke drawled, walking to the sidebar to pour a drink. “What’s got you so riled up?”
    Glass in hand, he walked to the red leather couch under the shuttered window and sprawled across it. The picture of indolence was practiced and deceiving. Marcus narrowed his eyes and waited, not at all fooled by his brother’s casual pose. He felt Luke’s tension, but wasn’t sure where it was coming from. Luke lifted the glass in salute before taking a long swig. Marcus waited for him to speak.
    He hadn’t even realized his brother was in the house. He caught the faint psychic scent of a woman surrounding Luke’s aura and wondered why he’d left her, whoever she was. Maybe the woman was starting to cling. Luke wouldn’t tolerate that, would quickly end the relationship such as it was. Too bad Marcus didn’t have that problem with a certain blonde. He’d pay good money to experience Winter clingy.
    “Well?” Luke asked. Marcus shook his head, unwilling to discuss Winter even with his brother.
    “If you claim the woman, our little deception will be revealed,” Luke said, no inflection in his voice. Luke often took the head of the table at Alliance meetings and though never introduced, outsiders assumed he was the nightwalker Lord. It wasn’t the kind of secret Marcus could keep from his mate, though, and Winter would feel duty bound to share the information with her people.
    He hadn’t made an effort to conceal his interest in Winter so he shouldn’t be surprised