Free Absolution by LJ DeLeon Page A

threw another log on the fire and silently thanked the cabin’s owner for his foresight in stocking the half cord of wood stacked on the porch. He glanced over at Allana, who stared out the window. The watercolor of her hadn’t done her justice.
    He frowned. Two hours and neither of them had spoken more than a couple words. First, they’d found the dead husband and moved him into the shed, then they had gotten into the argument about her entering Farley’s camp with him.
    His cause hadn’t been helped when he said her life was more important than her help, as was finding her daughters and getting the three of them to safety. In hindsight, even he realized his approach had been stupid. If those glowers she shot him were an indication, her attitude toward him hadn’t thawed.
    He moved to the stove. Thank the Goddess, Crocker’s sister had a well-stocked larder and a freezer full of meals. “Dinner’s ready.”
    Ignoring her sigh, he ladled beef stew into two bowls and carried them to the rough-hewn table. He pulled out a chair and stood behind it, waiting. “You plan to starve? In this weather, I’d have to wait until late spring to bury you.” He suppressed a grin at her scowl. “Come on. You can eat while you try to figure a way to circumvent my desire to protect you.”
    Lips thinned, she walked from the window toward him. He would swear she floated across the floor. She sat and allowed him to push her chair to the table.
    He took his seat next to her. “I’d like you to teleport to safety. Preferably, out west.” He felt her ice-blue gaze bore into him like a diamond tipped drill. Forcing himself not to flinch or show emotion, he braced for the blast.
    “I may have spent my first fifteen years in the Abyss and had my children stolen from me, but I don’t play Fae games. I have lived the past hundred years in hIfreann surrounded by the Goddess’ Paladins. Honor, loyalty, and duty to the Goddess rule that world. I am well aware of my obligations.”
    “Glad to hear it. I’ve contacted Fritz. He’ll take you to the Cave of the Fallen. They may have news on your daughters. I promised to protect you and this is the best way.”
    She met his gaze with a shuddered one. “We’ll see.”
    Damn, talk about your noncommittal statements. Yet, relief warred with fear. His actions had cost him everyone who’d ever meant anything to him. If he let her get any closer, he would lose her, too. Best to park her somewhere until he and Rice took Farley’s head.
    He shoveled a spoonful of stew into his mouth and sighed. “You said the woman who lived here was named Sally, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Her stew’s really good. Reminds me of my mother’s.” He frowned. She hadn’t eaten any, just stirred it. He dipped her spoon into her bowl and brought it up to her lips. “You’re too thin. Healing Rice and me drained you. Please.” Her lips covered the spoon. She swallowed the stew, and he bit back a moan. “If you’ll eat, I’ll tell you a little bit about your daughters.”
    Interest lit her eyes. “You know them?”
    “Of them. About them, yes.” As she dug into her meal, he placed a couple pieces of buttered bread on her plate hoping she would be absorbed enough to finish them as well. “I realize they were newborns when you lost them, but you’ll need to remember when dealing with them they aren’t babies or small children who need protection.”
    “I’m well aware of that.” She blinked several times, her look faltering. “They do need my knowledge. Please, tell me more.”
    “Their names are Sophie Carlson and Kate Ellison. Deva has teams scouring Earth in search of them.”
    Her clasped hands clutched at her heart as a small moan escaped. “Are they well?”
    He rose, retrieved the pot, and ladled more into her empty bowl. “From what I’ve heard, yes. What do you know about them?”
    “King Raziel bound their powers before sending them to Earth, then lost track of them. But that won’t