Stonebound: Shifters Forever Worlds (Skeleton Key) Read Online Free Page A

ached, his head felt like it was going to burst.
    Are you there?
    His lion responded with a low roar.
    So the lion stayed inside?
    You’ll always be in me?
    The lion snorted his agreement, unless Tino resorted to having a witch suppress him again.
    Never. Never again.
    Tino opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a dry hacking sound. He reached for a glass of water, downed it in a single gulp and then tried again.
    “What the hell.”
    He could talk!
    Except his voice sounded like his lungs had been run through a cheese grater.
    “We have a busy day tomorrow. We have to find our father.”
    Marco Ricoletti could help him, teach him the way of the lion shifters.

Chapter 6
    T wo days later , one day after he’d planned to, Tino was on his way to find his father.
    He was freshly shaved and showed and had paid the barber a visit, having him take down the long hair and bring it to a more respectable buzz.
    He’d found Marco Ricoletti’s address with the help of his mother’s attorneys. That extended the delay in getting to Marco’s.
    I need to start thinking of him as my father, not as Marco.
    Maybe later.
    His father lived in a villa. In Rome.
    All this time, so close, and yet I never knew.
    Tino looked at the gates before him. Solid metal. In the distance, on a slight hill, the villa glowed in the morning light. The sun’s rays highlighted the walls, glinting off the windows. He pressed the intercom button and when a voice answered, he spoke. “Cristiano Carrera.”
    The gate swung open. Cristiano slipped into his coupe and nosed the car slowly up the drive, fighting the urge to floor it, anxious to meet the father he’d never known. Eager to ask questions about his relationship with his mother.
    Sadness pierced Tino’s core at the thought of his mother. God. He missed her.
    Would Marco miss her? Would he care? They clearly didn’t keep in touch—or did they?
    No, he knew his mother wouldn’t have done that.
    Tino put the car in park and bounded up the stairs two at a time. He paused in front of the door, deliberating if he should knock or ring the doorbell.
    He didn’t have to make that decision. The door opened and a dark haired, green-eyed woman in a black, clingy, calf length dress studied him with a curious look in her eye.
    The housekeeper?
    “I’m Iniga.”
    That didn’t tell him much. “I’m Cristiano Carrera. I was hoping to see Marco Ricoletti.” Tino glanced behind her, wondering where he was.
    “The nature of your business?”
    Tino frowned, that wasn’t her business. Or maybe she was his personal assistant or secretary.
    “He’s here?”
    Iniga shook her head. “He’s not. I’m his wife. He’s traveling. Away on business.”
    Disappointment shot through Tino.
    “Oh. Maybe I should come back at another time, Signora Ricoletti.”
    “Oh, nonsense. Come in for some refreshments.” She tugged on his sleeve.
    Why not?
    She could tell him about his father. Maybe set up a get together, break the ice, even.
    Fifteen minutes later, on a plush wing chair, across from the attractive woman, Tino had drunk half the cup of coffee.
    His lion snarled in Tino’s head. He pushed the lion away.
    It’s a very good idea. I think she can help me.
    The lion’s responding snarl was insistent, and loud.
    Tino took a long draw off the coffee, then set the almost empty cup down.
    “You never said what it was you needed from my husband, Signor Valenti.”
    “I’m sorry, Signora.”
    “Call me Iniga.”
    “Iniga.” Tino rubbed his temple. His lion had quieted, but a strange wooziness had taken over.
    Could he tell her? Should he? She’d find out sooner or later, from Marco later, if not from Tino today.
    “It’s awkward. I don’t know how long you’ve been with Marco…” He wasn’t sure how to proceed.
    She frowned. “Continue.”
    Tino nodded, wishing he could shake the fuzziness away.
    “Marco is—”
    “Your father.” A grimace fleetingly crossed her face, then the sign of