Rebecca Zanetti - Tamed

Lily Sotheby settled back into the worn leather of the booth, her fingers around the stem of a wineglass. This cabernet is, um . . .

Piss. Hilde Freebird pulled the label off her longneck beer as Garth Brooks crooned from the jukebox. You dont order wine at a honkey-tonk, Prophet.

Shhh, said Janie Kayrs, the other accomplice, eyeing the peanut shells lining the taverns floor. Dont call her that.

Oh yeah. My bad. Hilde pushed her glasses farther up her nose and nodded at a group of men playing pool. Fit and hard, several wore handmade silk suits. They seemed out of place in the dive bar as well. Have you chosen?

This was such an incredibly bad idea. No. Lily tracked the distance from the booth to the door. If the king discovers were at a bar, hes going to kill me. What in the heck was she thinking, bringing the vampire kings niece to a public bar? Half of the immortal species wanted to kidnap Janie; the other half wanted her dead.

Janie snorted. I know. Were safe because nobody in the world would expect to find us here. But Im twenty-five, have been for several days, and Ive always wanted a real night out with the girlswithout vampires or bodyguards.

Hilde nodded. That is important for a human woman, which you are. And getting the prophet laid is an admirable goal.

On all that was holy. Lilys face heated. Im sure I dont remember how to, ah, copulate. Shed mated a vampire three centuries ago, and hed died shortly thereafter. Once mated, a vampire or mate could never become intimate with another being . . . until now.

Well, first you need to stop using the word copulate. Jane took a swig of beer. How odd is it that a virus created by our enemies now allows you a second chance at love?

Forget love. Lily had just wanted a night free of work and worry. Having sex with some stranger was not the way for her to relax, regardless of her friends attempts. Virus-27 is designed to unravel our chromosomes until we become bacteria . . . no doubt Ill die before that happens. But, for now, the virus took away the physical repercussions of vampire mating, and she could actually touch a man again without inflicting a horrible allergic reaction upon them both. If she found a man. She smoothed down her long skirt.

Speaking of copulationHilde clucked her tonguedid you have to dress like a puritan?

Lily examined her flowered gown. This is how I dress.

At least ditch the sweater. Without waiting for agreement, Hilde grasped the sweaters hem and yanked it over Lilys head. Oh my.

Lily glanced down at her breasts rising above the bustier. This is to be worn underneath the sweater.

Not if you want nookie. Hilde shoved the sweater in her bulky purse. Come on. Unlike you, Im a widow who hasnt contracted the virus and thus I still cant touch a male without an allergic reaction. You must get some for both of us.

Lily tried to relax and smile at her friend. Hilde had moved in with the vampires when her granddaughter had mated one of the kings brothers, and shed become a friend to Lily and a pain in the butt to the vampires. This top is indecent, Lily murmured.

Janie smiled, pretty blue eyes lightening. You look beautiful. She leaned forward. In a couple of days, youre going to be so busy brokering the end to the war, you wont have time for fun. You deserve this. Now pick a man.

Lily cleared her throat. As one of three Realm prophets, I feel the need to caution you about strange men and pre-matehood sex. While the prophets technically belonged to the Realm, a coalition of vampires, shifters, and witches, in reality, they belonged to Fate and would broker peace among all species. You really should wait until youre mated or married.

Shut up. Hilde grinned as the waitress set down shots of tequila. Waiting until the woman had bustled away, Hilde pushed glasses toward the other two women. Heres to ending the vampire war.

Lily took her glass. To peace. Tipping back her head, she allowed the liquor to slide down her throat, bringing instant warmth. Her eyes watered.

Janie played with the label on her beer. So, ah, Caleb Donovan is supposed to arrive at headquarters in a few days.

The mere mention of the vampires name sent heat spiraling through Lilys body to pool in her abdomen. All three of us prophets will be involved in negotiations.

Hilde rolled her eyes. Come on. Even though Ive only been at headquarters a short time, Ive noticed how you blush whenever the Realm Rebel is mentioned.

Lily sighed. We dated briefly centuries ago, but my parents arranged a marriage to somebody else. Caleb was angry, but duty called. Shed always wondered if shed made a mistake in choosing duty.

Janie sighed. Ignore duty while you can. Caleb is hot. Maybe you should scratch an old itch and forget finding a human male for the night.

No. Lily straightened her shoulders. Caleb was kicked out of the Realm and only returned because your uncle needed allies in the war. Then, when Fate marked Caleb as one of the three prophets, the chance for anything between us ended. Hes so angry, and he hates being a prophet.

Thats because hes a vampire and a soldier. The soft approach doesnt work for him. Janie frowned. Sometimes Fate gets it wrong. Trust me.

Enough talk about Fate and mistakes from the past. Lily glanced around the tavern, trying to distract Janie from the seriousness of their lives. The bartender is handsome.

Her friends instantly swiveled to check out the blond behind the bar. Green eyes, broad chest, hard-earned tan.

Hilde blew out air. A twenty-five-year-old human male in that good shape? I bet he could go all night.

Lily coughed out the scent of peanuts, dust, and tequila. For goodness sake. I cant do this. Especially with a human whod been on earth only a quarter of a century. He was just a kid.

Janie nodded. Yeah, I agree. You need a guy with some mileage . . . experience matters.

Lily turned in slow motion to eye the psychic. Youre too young to be so wise. Tell me you havent been dabbling with some guy with mileage.

Janies eyes sparkled. Dont ask questions if you dont want the answers.

Yeah, right. The poor woman never had a moment to herself. Someday youll find your bliss, Janie. Lily straightened her shoulders. Now, lets finish our drinks and go catch a movie.

Hilde frowned. No sex?

No. Im a prophet, for Petes sake. I cant sleep with one of these boys under thirty years old. Lily sighed. Dignity was her middle name, darn it.

Hilde pushed her beer away. Seriously. No sex?

Now, that would be a shame. One of the men from the pool area slid around the corner, his wide shoulders blocking the nearest light. Sex with strangers can be exhilarating.

Hildes smile lit up her green eyes. Exactly. Scooting from the booth, she all but shoved the man in. This is Lily, and shes trying to get back out there after ending a relationship a long time ago.

The man held out a hand. Paul Dunphy, and I know what you mean.

Janie slid from the booth and gave Lily a look. Well go play darts. I expect to see his license if you decide to leave with him. The woman followed Hilde.

Lilys mouth dropped open. She shook her head, I, ah

Paul captured her hand and shook. Its all right, Lily. No judgment here. He yanked on his silk tie and loosened the top. I like your bar.

This is my first time here. If Paul didnt stop ogling her chest, she might have to kick him. This doesnt seem like your kind of place.

We finished signing a deal around the corner, and this seemed like a good place to let off some steam. Im a financial broker. His voice lowered on the last as if the statement should impress her.

Thats nice. Lily tried to signal her friends. Time to leave.