Temporal Shift (Entangled Select Otherworld) by Nina Croft Read Free Book Online Page A

And after that, we waited for the one to be born who would fulfill the prophecy.”
    “And that’s you?”
    She nodded and her eyes gleamed with fire. Even if it was crap, she believed it.
    “How long have you lived with this?”
    “All my life. I was brought up believing I would fulfill the prophecy.”
    Jesus, all her life. No wonder she was weird—this stuff was enough to warp anyone’s mind. If you let it. He didn’t intend to. Getting involved in this was not worth a quick shag. He stood up. “Well, here’s the problem. I don’t believe in fate, or prophecies, or any of that bullshit. I think we make our own fate. You’re wasting your life on this crap. But to be honest—it doesn’t matter. I have plans and they don’t involve getting drawn into anyone else’s rebellions. I have a perfectly good one of my own.” He glanced down and plucked at his bloodstained T-shirt. “Now I’m going to get cleaned up. You can wait here or go find your friend. I don’t give a fuck.”
    Was that hurt in her eyes? And was that tightness in his chest guilt? It made him twitch. Why the hell should he feel guilty? She was probably just playacting.
    “Can I come with you?”
    Her words stopped him. “Now why would you want to do that?”
    “I don’t want to be alone. This is all so strange to me. And I’m scared of the crew. The dark man…” She shuddered visibly.
    Well, at least she showed a modicum of good sense.
    She took a step toward him. “I feel safe with you. As if I know you.”
    “Honey, if you knew me, you would not feel safe.”
    “Please.”
    For the first time, she appeared unsure. He gritted his teeth but was unable to give her an outright negative. Instead, he whirled around and stalked to the transporter bubble. “Did I mention the bit where I don’t give a fuck?”
    …
    The strands of the prophecy were coming together.
    Saffira shifted from foot to foot as she stood beside Devlin in front of a silver door, which she presumed must lead to his quarters.
    Maybe she shouldn’t be here. She was still reeling from what she’d sensed inside his head: the rage and the grief. Overwhelming emotions. How could he feel that way yet still go on? Maybe the Others were right in wanting to eradicate emotions.
    She’d hunted for something softer but found nothing. No love. Only lust.
    Was her dream-lover in there?
    Did he even exist?
    Devlin gave her a sideways glance. “You sure you wouldn’t rather take that walk?”
    No, she wasn’t sure, but she nodded and he turned back to the door.
    “Open.”
    At the word, the door slid open. The room was big and plain. She’d been hoping to get a glimpse of the real Devlin. That wasn’t going to happen here. Turning around, she took in the large bed standing against one of the white walls which, together with a small table, made up the only furniture.
    “It’s very…clean,” she murmured. And absolutely devoid of personality. The only addition of a personal nature was a framed image of a young man with shaggy dark blond hair and Devlin’s blue-green eyes. She wandered across and picked it up, stroked the line of the young man’s face. “Who is he?” she asked.
    Devlin came to stand beside her, his expression blank. “My brother.”
    “Where is he?”
    “He’s dead.” He took the picture, stared at it for a moment, then placed it facedown on the table. She had an urge to probe his mind, to find the hurt and attempt to heal him, but that was rude without someone’s permission, and she suspected Devlin didn’t want her in his mind again.
    “Make yourself at home,” he said. “I’m going to shower.”
    He pulled his T-shirt over his head, screwed it up, and threw it into an opening in the wall. Saffira’s mouth dropped open. He was stunning, so big, his skin a creamy gold with the sheen of satin, and rippling with muscle. His nipples dusky brown, his abdomen almost concave, ridged and bisected by a line of creamy gold hair that she knew would be