Redemption: Delroi Prophecy, #3

REDEMPTION

Zola Gray is a woman on a mission. After escaping a year’s imprisonment, she was grateful to take refuge on Delroi and recover from her long captivity, but she isn’t like the company she suddenly finds herself in. She was a willing member of the Tel Group until one assassination too many made her rebel. Now Tel is coming after her and her friends, and she’ll do whatever it takes to end them once and for all.

Jarek Idis was born, raised, and trained a warrior. Then he followed his true passion, healing. He knows Zola wants to confront the assassins coming after her in a misguided attempt at redemption, but he has other ideas. He’s supposed to be healing her body, but he’s going straight for her heart and soul. He sees what’s hidden under her bad ass veneer and he intends to keep the woman he knows she truly is.

Redemption

Delroi Prophecy Three

By

Loribelle Hunt

Copyright

REDMPTION

Copyright © 2014 Loribelle Hunt

First E-book Published: February 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, organizations, events, or locations is coincidental.

Published by Loribelle Hunt

www.loribellehunt.com

Contents

Copyright

Author's Note

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

More From Loribelle Hunt

Absolution: Delroi Prophecy 4 (Excerpt)

One

FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE Rebirth Celebration

Zola stood in the back of one of the giant courtyards of the Keep. She wasn’t hiding, but she did her best to blend in as she watched a shuttle come in for landing. Several had arrived this week, bringing supplies and guests for the upcoming Rebirth Celebration that accompanied rededicating the goddess temple.

It should be easy to slip on one, catch a ride to Saber City, and then find a way off planet if she wanted to. Except it wasn’t. Security was freaking crazy, especially now with the celebration just four days away. Two warriors stood at the ramp checking everything that went on and came off, with a nifty little handheld device. She got the impression they were specifically watching for her. She'd already been told, gently and with great concern, that she couldn’t leave. There was a price on her head on Earth and no one could guarantee her safety outside the Keep.

She didn’t care. Her enemies were coming for her. They would find a way to her no matter what precautions Roarr Idis and his second in command, Kaje Stian, put into place. It was stupid and foolhardy to confine her to the Keep. Her time would be better spent hunting them than sitting around with her thumb up her ass, waiting. Then there was the not so small matter of her mother, who’d managed to buy herself asylum on Delroi in exchange for information. Zola had no idea what her game was but she didn’t trust her for a minute. They were meeting for the first time in over a year tomorrow. Maybe she’d get some answers then, but she wasn’t holding her breath.

You wish to die that strongly?

She jumped. Was her yearning to move, to act, so easy to read? She looked up at the man who'd managed to sneak up on her. Jarek Idis. Senior healer and the clan chief's brother. He was hot as hell and a little intimidating with the tattoos stretching down the side of his face, neck and arm. They disappeared beneath his shirt collar, but she'd heard they continued all the way down his torso and leg. She'd love to see for herself.

She’d love to see more than his tats. He was tall—well over six feet—broad and muscled. She’d fueled way too many fantasies imagining what he looked like under his clothes. The rest of him wasn’t bad either. She’d never gone for pretty men and he wasn’t. His features were sharp, rugged. His hair was short, a little shaggy, and he seemed to prefer two or three days growth of beard. It was like he’d been tailor made for her.

She was so damned tempted to hop into bed with him, but though she’d often seen heated interest in his gaze, he hadn’t offered and she suspected that was for the best. She'd seen Kareena and Parker, both gone nuts for a Delroi male. Still, Jarek was a lure. He was intense and edgy and she wondered what it would be like to be the object of his focus in bed or out of it.

A slight, sexy as hell smile curved his lips. She wondered if he knew what she was thinking or if she was just that transparent. Too bad she wasn’t much of a telepath. Usually she more than made up for that with her telekinesis. She shook her head, a silent reminder to herself that he was not on her admittedly very short list of allies.

I don’t have a death wish, she finally responded.

Yet, you're still trying to figure out how to leave.

She shrugged. People to kill, ya know, but I'm in the wrong place.

You're very bloodthirsty for a woman of your accomplishments, he said, not bothering to hide his amusement.

She didn’t respond to the statement—not like she could deny it. She knew exactly who and what she was. As she watched, the shuttle left. She emerged from the shadows to walk inside and he fell in step beside her.

Mother says you're learning our language at a phenomenal speed.

I'm good at languages.

Is that why you write poetry?

She should have known that would get around. The best covers were rooted in reality. She may have been a Tel spy and assassin for most of her life, but until they had imprisoned her she’d had a public life as a scholar and poet. He stopped her when she would have turned into the corridor to her rooms and led her in the opposite direction, to the warrior’s side of the Keep.

You missed your last appointment, he said, when she groaned in protest.

I'm fine, she said, not caring that it came out whiney.

Then you won't mind me checking just in case.

His tone never changed. Calm. Unyielding. He sounded as composed as ever. She wanted to shake him up, wondered if she dragged him to a stop in the corridor and kissed him how he'd react.

You're going to get yourself in trouble. Be very sure you’re ready for that, he said softly.

She held her breath for a moment. He couldn’t be that good at guessing what she was thinking. Are you a telepath?

He hesitated a minute before responding. Not exactly. If you really want an explanation I'll tell you over dinner.

She withdrew. The last thing she needed was to be alone with Jarek Idis. Fantasies? Sure. Temptation? Sure. Reality? No fucking way. Delroi men were possessive and controlling of the women in their lives. The last thing she needed right now was to end up mated to one of them. Not with their rules. Maybe after she killed the Tel agents sent after her.

Besides, her evening was already booked. They entered the medical wing. It was late in the day and there were few people around. No one said anything as he led her to an exam room. She hopped up on the table and he leaned back against a desk, shoving his hands in his pockets as if he had a hard time keeping them to himself too.

It's time for you to stop running, Zola.

Running? That was the exact opposite of what she was planning—reentering the fight. He looked her over, but there was nothing doctorly or remote about his gaze. Her heart accelerated, her nipples tightened, and she felt welcoming heat deep in her core. She knew if she touched her pussy she'd be wet. Ready. What was it about this man that revved her up so quick? She licked her lips and tried to gain back control of her body. As much as she wanted him, she knew it was a bad idea.

He didn’t ask her to put on an exam robe, thank goddess, and he was smooth and efficient when he approached. He checked her pulse and blood pressure, both were elevated. Big surprise. Then he helped her down from the table, though she didn’t need it.

You're my last patient. Let's get out of here.

I didn’t agree to have dinner with you, she reminded him.

Too bad. It's not good for your digestion to eat alone.

He sounded so much like someone’s grandmother she burst out laughing.

Ah, he teased. You do know how to laugh. I wondered.

Oh, shut up, she said, still amused, but sobering fast.

He tempted her as no one ever had before. Into lowering her guard. Letting loose. If she gave into the lure, she’d probably get them both killed. Giving into the urge to relax their vigilance, to trust a little, had got her brother killed and her imprisoned. She’d never take the risk again.

Where did you go just now? he asked, with just an edge of demand in the question.

She shook her head, pretending to misunderstand and lighten her grim mood. Or at least not share it.

I’m right here. She glanced at the clock on the wall behind him. "But I’m going to