Absolution (Delroi Prophecy Book 4)

by Loribelle Hunt

  “What are their tattoos?” she asked Xan privately.

  “It means they’re priestesses in the goddess cult.”

  “Do I even want to ask what that is?”

  Laughter filled her mind. “You’d like them. They’re the only women on Delroi who train to fight.”

  He’d piqued her interest--this was his second mention of a goddess--and she looked curiously at the two women in front of her. “So is the goddess cult a cult or religion?”

  “It’s more like a way of life,” Siana answered with a fierce smile. “I get the feeling you’d fit right in.”

  Xan tensed next to her. He obviously hadn’t considered she’d be interested in such a thing.

  “Don’t worry. I have enough on my plate.”

  She had no idea why she reassured him, but couldn’t seem to help herself.

  “I have other obligations,” she told Siana, who cocked a curious eyebrow before turning her gaze onto Xan.

  “Will the clan being attending the Rebirth Celebration? Eva and I have to be there, but I should let Lady Rona know if we’re there as Bana der’lans or just priestesses.”

  “What’s the celebration?”

  “The main temple, which is at the Keep, has a rededication celebration every year.”

  His tone suggested it was a big deal but before she could ask more questions, someone set glasses of gazzi down for them. Once the server was gone, Xan looked at his men. “Unless your der’lans object, Bana mates. I don’t know yet if Anna Leigh and I will attend. Kaal will represent the clan if not.”

  Kaal bowed his head. “Of course, my lord.”

  “He’s your second?”

  “Yes. There are others on Delroi who will not be happy about being passed over, but I won’t have someone at my side and near my der’lan whose trust I cannot be positive of.”

  “I can take care of myself but I see your point.”

  “Did you get what I asked for?” Xan asked.

  Kaal nodded, pulled out one of their sleek comm units, and handed it to him. Xan flicked his finger over the screen and it expanded to full tablet size. Then he opened a file and gave it to her.

  “Files on everyone in the clan,” he said. She looked down to see they were in English, thank god, and in three groups labeled red, orange, and green. She remembered him telling Kaal on the shuttle to get her a tablet and load the files, but she hadn’t expected this.

  “You want me to look at the orange group.”

  Those would be the ones he wasn’t sure of but were probably rebels. She liked that he didn’t dismiss her and automatically condemn them. Knew he’d be going through the same files as she did, but she would do it with fresh, unbiased eyes. He nodded. If the others thought it odd he was asking a woman to assist they didn’t let it show. She got the feeling these women were definitely not the norm on their planet.

  “All of them, but orange and red are most immediate,” he said. “Barak had several telepaths when they were questioning people. They’re certain of everyone in the green group.”

  Anna Leigh nodded her understanding. Wondered if Zola had been involved with that. Still it was a lot of faith to put in a woman he’d just met. One he knew was a spy and assassin.

  “Why trust me with this?”

  “You have valuable experience. I’d be foolish to ignore that.”

  His answer made perfect sense. If she read the situation right, by claiming her as he had, he was offering her a level protection that no one else could. She owed him for that. Still his pragmatic answer bothered her and it shouldn’t. They hardly knew each. She shouldn’t feel insulted or hurt, and buried the emotions deep. She didn’t have a right to them.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you it’s because I trust you and want your input,” he spoke mentally, obviously picking up on her distress. “You will.”

  He was right so she didn’t respond, the arriving food the perfect excuse to focus on something else. Conversation flowed around her as she ate. It was a stew she was unfamiliar with, spicy and filling, accompanied by thick crusty bread. Simple, but savory and reminding of her home, the years her children had been small and such meals were easy to prep ahead of time and cook all day. Nostalgia struck her, followed quickly by a surge of regret. She’d made so many mistakes. Would it be possible to correct them? Xan squeezed the back of her neck and bent close.

  “We’ll make it work,” he whispered.

  She hoped like hell he was right.

  Delroi

  Bana Stronghold

  Chapter Five

  It took almost a week to reach Delroi. She’d familiarized herself with all the files she could access and had a list of people she wanted to talk to when they arrived. She was getting to know Delroi warrior culture, but realized there were big gaps in her knowledge. Anna Leigh was good with all that. Mostly it felt like a business partnership. Except for the sex. Sometimes it was hot and rough and fast. Sometimes sweet and tender and slow. She never knew what to expect and had no idea what to do about the man who made her feel things she hadn’t in years. There was a wall between them, of her own making she admitted. He’d allowed her some space on their voyage, but she got the feeling her time was running out.

  It was approaching evening when the shuttle swung in a wide arc, coming to land in a bowl shaped valley. The late afternoon glare cast a red-gold glare that made her eyes hurt. She’d already been up close to twenty hours and she was beginning to feel it. On Earth she’d blame jetlag. What was this? Spacelag? Worked as well as anything else.

  The shuttle descended rapidly and she focused on the present. They faced a huge stone edifice. The Bana stronghold. The name fit. It looked like a medieval fortress, unwelcoming and unforgiving. No one would ever call it pretty but there was something about it that drew her. Perhaps the very starkness of it. There was no pretense, no camouflage. It was meant to repel attackers and be intimidating, not inviting.

  Xan set his palm on the small of her back and they walked down the ramp, walking towards the building. Two huge men stepped forward to meet them. She recognized Barak Trace from the video conference. The man at his side looked so much like him that he could only be his brother Falkor. They both radiated confidence and authority.

  She was stunned when Xan dropped to one knee in front of Barak and began speaking in his language. Connected as they were, she knew it was a fealty oath. When he finished he rose and led her off to the side. One by one the twenty-five warriors that had accompanied them repeated the oath. Barak stood silent through it all. Finally, it was finished and Falkor, grinning, stepped forward to clasp Xan’s hand.

  “Welcome home.”

  “It’s good to be back even though the circumstances are unfortunate.”

  “The rest of your warriors?”

  Xan nodded his chin towards the sky. “Coming. I have more than enough warriors to secure the prisoners.”

  “Good. No offense but my der’lan isn’t impressed with your childhood home.”

  Xan didn’t say anything but she felt his amusement.

  “Your communications have been cryptic.”

  Barak stepped forward, his smile grim. “We’re keeping information as restricted as possible. I’ve finally managed to get two spies in the rebel camp and I don’t want them compromised. Most of the rebels were from your clan and the Petra clan.”

  Xan wasn’t surprised. “Mikail and Loren Petra were always…” He paused and glanced down at her. “I think the Earthling expression is thick as thieves.”

  “Yes,” she said. “You have the Petra clan in custody too?”

  For a moment she didn’t think he’d answer but he nodded. “Most of them. We also recovered the second cloaking device.”

  The report concerning the theft of two experimental cloaking devices and the kidnapping of the scientists who’d developed it had been forwarded to them once they’d entered Delroi space. The first unit had been destroyed in the attack on Zola and Parker, and Xiri Bana, Mikail’s s
ister, was one of the scientists who’d been part of the project. She felt Xan’s concern for his cousin, but he asked another question before asking about her.

  “Your spies are safe?” Xan 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 his mind herself. Xan shook his head.

  “Mikail didn’t care who protected her. He gave the task of finding someone to me. I would like to know how he survived the attack when she was kidnapped, however.”

  “Why aren’t you asking?”

  “I want to see them together.”

  She heard disapproval in his mental tone, but she couldn’t discern the source or get a chance to ask before they stopped in front of a door. After a brisk knock Goran entered. She and Xan followed. A young woman walked in from a balcony to greet them. She looked fragile and exhausted, the circles under her eyes almost as dark as her long black hair. Smiling, she stepped forward.

  “Xan.”

  He hugged her. “How are you, princess?” he asked softly.

  Anna Leigh was stunned. She’d never seen him so gentle. It was obvious the woman was important to him.

  “We cherish our females,” he whispered into her mind. “What her brother did is unforgiveable.”

  She felt the depth of his rage and guilt and determination. The fury at Mikail. The guilt because he’d left Xiri at the mercy of someone else. Determination to keep her--and the rest of the weaker members of the clan--safe. There was also a surprising tenderness in the way he held his young cousin. It was an unexpected facet of his personality and she found herself more drawn to him that ever.

  “Remember that when I make you angry.” His voice slid into her mind, teasing and sexy.

  He released Xiri and led her to one of the two sofas facing each other in the middle of the room. Goran moved to sit next to her, while Xan and Anna Leigh sat opposite them.

  “Tell me what happened,” Xan ordered the warrior, no gentleness left now that he was focused on someone else.

  “I went on a supply run with two of the other warriors.”

  “Why weren’t they being delivered?” Xan interrupted.

  “It was for replacement parts. We didn’t have time to wait for someone to bring them to us,” Xiri answered.

  Her hand covered Goran’s clenched fist and the warrior relaxed a little. Anna Leigh watched them closely. They were obviously close but she didn’t sense the der’lan bond. Surprising given the way Goran looked at her, the way he subtly shifted as if preparing for an attack against her. She felt Xan’s disapproval.

  “Why would you go on the supply run and leave your der’lan to the care of others?” he asked softly. Dangerously.

  Xiri gasped. Paled and tried to put some distance between herself and Goran. He just moved with her. Anna Leigh glanced at Xan to see him watching them with the narrowed eyes of a hunting predator. Xiri lifted her chin.

  “I don’t want a mate, Xan. You can’t force me to take one.”

  Silently, Anna Leigh applauded the girl’s stubbornness. She got the feeling Xiri was going to need it.

  “We’ll get back to that,” Xan said in a tone that screamed dominance and command. Xiri flinched and Goran grew even tenser. “What happened after he left? Was Mikail there?”

  Xiri nodded. “He had a platoon of warriors with him. They attacked from every side. Took me and the other scientists hostage and stole our prototypes.”

  “One of was destroyed in the Green Zone,” Goran commented.

  Xan nodded. “We saw the vid.”

  One of the cloaking devices Xiri’s team had developed had been used to hide a vehicle the rebels used in the attack against Zola and Parker. Zola had turned one of its missiles back and blew it up.

  “Mikail brought you here?”

  “Yes. He wanted our research and schematics.” Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “We destroyed it all when the alarm sounded. It’s not recoverable and we refused to cooperate.”

  She paused, her expression turning sad and fearful. Goran put his arm aro
und her shoulders, tugged her close. Anna Leigh was surprised the younger woman didn’t protest. Sighing, Xiri leaned into the embrace. Anna Leigh wondered if she and Xan would ever be that comfortable together. He chuckled in her mind. Moved his hand to squeeze the nape of her neck. The bond between them pulsed with amusement and heat and…contentment? She wasn’t sure.

  “What happened when you returned from the supply run?” Xan asked Goran, who looked back with self-recrimination.

  “They shot us down, knocked us out while we were dazed, and brought us here to join the rest of the hostages.”

  “You were confined?”

  Goran nodded. Xan didn’t seem suspicious so why did she feel the need to enter his mind to see the truth for herself? Xan squeezed her hand.

  “He is no traitor. I’d trust him with my life. Hell, even after this I trust him with Xiri’s.”

  It was a gentle reminder that she was letting the paranoia of her old life bleed into this one. She didn’t need to see shadows everywhere here.

  “What will you do with Mikail?” Xiri asked in a small, scared voice.

  “You know the penalty for his crimes.”

  So did Anna Leigh. Death. But though Xan may grant the other rebels in the dungeons a quick death, she suspected Mikail’s would be slow and ugly. Eyes downcast, Xiri nodded. Anna Leigh felt bad for her, but she kept quiet since she didn’t disagree with Xan’s plan to execute him. They talked a few more minutes then left to see Mikail.

  The dungeon did not live up to its name. It was an underground prison, yes, but it wasn’t dark, dank, or dirty. It was also eerily quiet. They were met by several guards and escorted down one long corridor that dead ended in another. From there they walked by several cells before stopping in front of one near the end.