Sacrifice: Delroi Empire, #1

By Loribelle Hunt

Selene Quora is one of Delroi's deadliest priestess assassins, but the goddess cult isn't the only group who has claims to her loyalty. Though her father is a clan chief, and she's his only child, she can never rule it according to their tradition. Rule of her clan will fall to her mate. If she accepts him.

Unfortunately, her mate is Warrik Jain, chief of the clan that has long been the enemy of hers. Worse, he's made it plain to everyone for years that he'd never accept a priestess mate.

But when a looming war throws them together, can enemies become allies and mates? Or will it drive them further apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Loribelle Hunt
• Release date: Aug 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201444426

Loribelle Hunt

Loribelle is like the South she calls home. Hot and sultry. Languid and sexy. Magnolias and gardenias scent her silk lined boudoir, and men and children alike bow to her magnificence... Okay, maybe it isn’t quite that glamorous. She does have two smart and lovely daughters who give her a run for her money and a son that will one day be someone’s model of a romance hero. (She promises.) Her husband is a real life hero, and Loribelle just tries to keep up with the demands of military life. In between, she writes a book or two. She’s had every job under the sun, but haven’t most writers? That Army military police, bookstore manager, waitress, wedding photographer, website designer experience has to come in useful sometimes. As they say in the South, it all washes out in the end. She loves hearing from her readers and can be found at http://www.loribellehunt.com.

Book preview

Prologue

I’m not worried. He made it clear how he feels about me. Would have been nice if the ass hadn’t done it so publicly, but whatever.

Comm message from Selene Quora to Danine Vaas

She shouldn’t have come, and she had only herself to blame. She’d been feeling a little homesick, so she’d figured why not accept the invitation? The next stage of her training would begin in a couple of days so there wasn’t any point in actually going home. Besides, it was a graduation day in Saber City, which happened about three times a year, not only for the warrior caste, but also the healer and artist schools and the gods’ temples, so the city was one big celebration, and who wanted to miss that? It was also the time of the year the goddess cult elevated most of its novices and apprentices. There were the occasional exceptions, of course. She and her best friend Danine Vaas had just reached full priestess status after years of preparation and had the tattoos to prove it, a stylized sun on the inside of her wrist and a crescent moon dissected by a sword above it.

To celebrate, Grange, Danine’s older brother and the patriarch of their sprawling family, had decided to throw a big party. That wasn’t unusual. There were hundreds of similar celebrations going on around the city that afternoon. Come nightfall, those parties would spill into the streets. The difference was Grange’s guest list, and Selene hadn’t been warned about it. Maybe he hadn’t realized there would be an issue? She didn’t know him well enough to guess his motives, but she’d be a lot more careful with him until she did.

The Vaas’s were part of the Saber Clan, and Grange had just completed a teaching rotation in the warrior training center. Several of his graduates and senior students numbered among the Jain clan in addition to his own. Unfortunately, the Jains were ancient enemies of her clan. Even that wasn’t really the problem. She’d encountered many of them before in Saber City. They were formal, but never insulting and certainly never threatening. That taboo was too ingrained in the warrior caste. The major issue as she saw it, was the pressure on her as the only child of the Quora clan chief, the only other living member of her family. There weren’t even any distant cousins. She was expected to mate, and her der’lan, the mate of her heart, would take over her clan.

Unfortunately, that mate had walked in a few minutes after her and met her gaze from the arched doorway. Lust had roared through her veins and woken her body with a fierceness that was frankly a little disconcerting in a roomful of strangers. She knew what that searing desire meant. She sipped her gazzi, a sweet blue vintage imported from the Green Zone, and tried to control her response, but she was aware of his every move.

He was doing a slow circuit of the room, stopping to talk a moment with almost everyone. Warrik Jain. She’d never met him in person, but she’d seen plenty of vids over the years, most released by his clan for publicity purposes no doubt. Her clan had done the same. They all did. She hadn’t expected him to be so much taller than her, though she should have. She was short for a Delroi woman, barely five-five, when average was more like five-ten. She didn’t have to imagine what he saw. What he thought of her. He had good shields, but not good enough. His thoughts leaked through. His frank gaze didn’t hide much, either. He didn’t like her short, barely shoulder length hair. He only focused on it for a minute, but his disapproval was easy to read even through her telepathic shields.

Like most southern males, tattoos stretched down the right side of his body, starting with his face. He had dark red hair, a short beard, and the greenest eyes she’d ever seen. He was twenty-three—two years older than her—and had only recently taken over leadership of his clan from his sick father. The Jain’s were keeping the former chief’s illness under the radar, but Selene’s father had spies who had confirmed it.

Warrik met her eyes again, across what had been a comfortably sized reception room just minutes ago, and her whole body seemed to clench in response. Damn, he was hot. They would probably never bond willingly, and they both knew it, but for just a second something flashed across his face that she couldn’t interpret. Desire? Yearning? Maybe even a little hope? Then it was gone, and he was all arrogant warrior as he stalked through the crowd. It took her moment to realize he was coming straight at her. A moment too late.

Lady Quora. Or should I call you priestess? he asked, taking her hand and lifting it to expose her inner forearm, exposing her tattoos. His disapproval was a pulse against her mind, and she pulled away.

Priestess suits me fine.

I’m surprised at your father’s generosity to his only heir. We both know there is only one way to save your clan. The goddess cult isn’t it.

Of all the freaking gall. Being a hot, sexy enemy didn’t excuse being rude, but she probably wouldn’t say no to a quickie in a convenient closet. No. Damn, he was dangerous. Thank the goddess, he seemed unaware of his effect on her. And totally uninterested anyway.

Yes. I should run out and find a willing partner. Have a son as soon as possible.

His smile was chilling. He wouldn’t survive long enough to get in your bed.

The smile didn’t waver as he delivered the threat. Cold. Angry. Possessive. Every instinct she had responded to the challenge. To the claim he wasn’t actually prepared to make, and she’d never willingly accept.

I’m a priestess, Lord Jain. I’m not in a particular rush to let anyone take over my life. And I have a few years before the issue of a son must be dealt with.

He looked her over with zero sign of emotion. It’s a good thing neither of us is in a hurry then. I want a traditional mate. When you’re through playing warrior, I trust you’ll let me know.

She struggled to contain her anger. The hurt was harder, but she managed it. 

Your palace will fall down around your ears before that happens.

His smile warmed a bit, and that put her on guard. "We’ll see, der’lan. We’ll see." It was a softly spoken dare.

He left her but everyone nearby heard that claim. It was too much to hope the rumor wouldn’t spread.

One

The view from our balcony is spectacular. It will be waiting for you when you’ve finished playing priestess.

Photo and message commed by Warrik to Selene

one week after their first meeting

The Keep, four years later

Rebirth Celebration

She was cursed. Or Lady Rona was a closet sadist. There were no other reasonable explanations for why Selene had been seated at a table full of Quora warriors, especially Warrik. And he had made damned sure he was at her side. They all knew her, even if she hadn’t met most of them until that week. Worse, they treated her with the deference reserved for their chief’s mate, not that it had been a well-kept secret inside their clans, but she wished they weren’t so obvious about it. Of course, she could hardly blame them when her and Warrik’s private—war, seduction, whatever it was—occasionally went a little public.

I’m surprised the priestesses are spread out for this, Warrik said.

They were at a lunch banquet on the last day of the Rebirth Celebration in the Keep, and thank the goddess, she wasn’t the only priestess at the table. Though, the others were from his clan. Clearly Lady Rona knew more about Selene’s private life than she should. Selene didn’t say any of that, of course. Instead, she gestured around the room.

I think it’s Lady Rona’s idea of outreach.

Most of the others appear to be seated with members of their clans or allies of their clans, though.

Most, but not all she observed, looking over the hall again. Some of those choices had the potential to turn incendiary.

Seems a bit more than outreach, he added.

Leave it to Warrik to point out the obvious, and was that disapproval she heard in his tone? Asshole. Her father was at a much larger table across the room, with a mix of chiefs, their mates and warriors, and a few priestesses from their clans. Every time she met his gaze, he wore a speculative look that worried her. He knew about Warrik, of course. She’d never keep a secret like that from her father, and he’d never asked if she wanted to be Warrik’s mate or if she’d even consider accepting him. Warrik wasn’t likely to accept her either, and her father knew that. But was he reconsidering things now?

You’ve been living at the temple here? Warrik asked, interrupting her speculation.

What kind of game was he playing? She got taunting messages from him every few days, sent a few herself, and then there were the gifts. She was wearing one now, a pretty amethyst pearl belly button ring.  Not that she’d ever admit that to him. He knew exactly where she lived. So, was he just making small talk?

I still live in Saber City.

Just verifying.

There was a gleam in his eyes that made her narrow hers. Why was he fucking with her?

Not very talkative today, are you?

What would you like to talk about, my lord? she asked sweetly enough he winced. Smart man.

What do priestesses do exactly? No one ever really says.

He’d asked her before, by comm message, shortly after they first met, and she gave the same answer.

Mostly I do guard duty. Some training with the novices and apprentices.

Some work with her clan when she got the chance. The occasional assassination. A little bit of espionage. Turned out she was good at it. Who knew?

Guard duty, he said, like he didn’t believe her. Most warriors didn’t believe that, and she wasn’t surprised he didn’t either. You’re a chief’s daughter. You should have guards. Hell, even I can’t get out of having a guard detail.

One of the warriors sitting across from them flashed Warrik an almost insolent smile. Don’t worry, chief, we’ve agreed to abandon you once you have an heir.

Nope. Fuck no. They were not having a conversation about that. She changed the subject.

Father said you’ve agreed to reopen trade across the bay.

That rankled. Warrik spent enough time tormenting her, why couldn’t he have mentioned it? She knew the answer to that, though. He didn’t think clan affairs were any of her business, or any other woman’s, for that matter. She could offer a few suggestions about opening trade if he bothered to ask.

Their clans shared a river boundary but were mostly divided by Azure Bay, which the river flowed into. Each clan kept to their own side of the imaginary line drawn down the middle, mostly fishing and exporting goods out of the area or importing into it, but not across it for centuries. Well, there was always a little illegal trade. If some of those smaller operations combined, they’d greatly increase their trading power, and Selene knew just which ones might be open to the idea, on both sides of the bay.

It’s long past time our clans began trading. We don’t have to be friends for that, he said, interrupting her thoughts. Then the jerk smiled. Slow and sexy and it made her clench her thighs together. Though maybe some friendships will grow from it.

She stared at him. Alright, she gaped. Who was this man? Was he flirting with her? Lord I want a traditional mate? Though sometimes she questioned that. His messages ranged from disapproving to sarcastic to teasing to seductive. And his gifts were always well thought out. He was a contradiction, but she’d be best off if she focused on what he never denied. He didn’t want a priestess for a mate. She glanced at the glass of gazzi in his hand.

How much of that have you had? she asked, pretending to be suspicious.

He laughed and her body hummed in pleasure. That wasn’t good. There should be a cure for unwelcome, unwanted attraction. Why didn’t they have one? And fuck it, why did he have to be such a contradictory asshole that she needed one?

My turn to be insulting? he asked. Teased? She just wasn’t sure, but he turned serious. You still determined to wear priestess red for the rest of your life?

The entire table, which hadn’t been obviously eavesdropping, hushed.

I am who I am, Lord Jain, she said quietly, but firmly.

She wasn’t what he wanted, and she wouldn’t sacrifice what was such a big part of herself to make him happy, because that would make her miserable. He didn’t push her—they’d had that conversation many times before—he just changed the subject. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. A little of both, she decided.

So, you don’t live here, but I assume you know the Keep and city? Care to show a stranger around?

She wasn’t sure what to make of that request. Except...it felt more like an invitation for smoking hot sex. Could she trust him not to use the der’lan prayer? Not to forge the mating bond? She was tempted. Very, very tempted.

A few hours, Selene, he said quietly, and this time everyone around them pretended not to hear. No promises. No obligations. Just a bit of your...time.

She snorted at that. Neither one of them was interested in talking or enjoying the city. Jumping into bed? Hell, she’d take whatever was convenient. Table, wall, floor, who cared? While her body screamed yes, her mind remained leery.

No bonding prayers either, she said telepathically.

Her telepathy wasn’t common knowledge, and she enjoyed surprising

Reviews for Sacrifice

[Crush · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great start to a series. Love the Goddess Cult and Lady Rona crew.