Rebecca Zanetti: Tamed

“I don’t like that weapons won’t work down here,” Dage said grimly, opening his can of grape drink.

“I know.” Caleb smoothed his hands over the nearest dark table, his voice echoing off the rocks. “But that protects us, as well. The atmospheric pressure we had to create in order to keep from being cooked so close to the earth’s core also prevents the laser guns from firing. Any guns, actually.”

“You trust the Kurjans not to create something new?” Lily asked.

“No,” Caleb said flatly. “But they don’t have time, I think. Plus, each entrance is being fitted with a state-of-the-art detector that instantly freezes the person who tries to bring in a weapon.”

“A metal detector?” Dage asked.

“No. Weapon detector.” Lily turned around to face the king, having read the schematics. “Everything from plastic to metal to silver . . . these things detect it all.” The Realm’s scientists had been working around the clock. “After the peace talks, we’re hoping to leak the designs to the humans to use in their airports.” At least, that was her plan. The queen, a former human, agreed, as well.

Caleb rolled his shoulders, focusing on the king. “You, Janie, and Talen will be here. Two shifters to your left, two prophets to your right, the witches next to them, then two Kurjans, and finally two demons.”

Lily stiffened. “What do you mean, two prophets? Isn’t Guiles coming?”

“Yes. Prophet Guiles will be here,” Caleb said slowly, focusing those odd multicolored eyes on her.

How dare Caleb? He hated being a prophet so much, he wasn’t going to take part in the most important peace talks of their time? Disappointment tasted like ashes. Lily frowned. “I can’t believe you aren’t going to be there.”

“I am going to attend.” Caleb drew in a deep breath, waiting patiently.

Lily gasped. They’d already addressed this. She needed to attend, as well. Just who did he think he was?

Dage grinned. “I’m going to check out the other entrances—from a distance. I promise I won’t step inside.” Taking a deep swig of his drink, he sauntered toward the closest entrance.

A very rare temper tickled the base of Lily’s neck, so she donned her most polite smile. “Prophet Caleb, while I appreciate your desire to keep me safe and away from danger, all three of the prophets are required at the peace talks.”

The grin he flashed warned of an explosion, even so deep into the earth, with rumblings all around them. “Three points here, Prophet Lily. One, you know it pisses me off when you give me that crappy smile. Two, you know it really pisses me off when you call me Prophet . And three, you are not going to be here.”

She reached deep for patience. Even worse, an odd hurt filled her. Though Caleb drove her crazy, he was one of the very few people she’d thought saw the real her. The one with strength and not the fragile lady from centuries ago. “Yes, I am. You’re explosive, Guiles is arrogant, and I’m the peacemaker. What do you think I’ve been doing as a prophet for the last three centuries?”

His broad hands settled on her shoulders, shooting instant heat through her body. “You’ve done an amazing job, especially counseling soldiers in so much pain. There’s no doubt you’re the leading expert in our world on PTSD with your constant schooling as well as personal experience. But this is war.”

“No. This is peace.” That pretty much summed up the differences between them. Caleb looked for the blade, while Lily looked for the sheath. “Why don’t you want me here?” A hurt she wanted to mask slipped out in her tone.

His gaze gentled and he blinked. “I can’t do my job and protect the king if you’re here.”

She frowned. “Why not?”

“Because when you’re in a room, you’re all I see.”

Flutters cascaded down her throat to her heart. The sweetness, the blunt honesty he’d no doubt wanted to hide, shone in his eyes for the briefest of moments. A real vulnerability, and one he had the courage to express.

“Caleb, I—”

“Stop arguing. Lily needs to be here.” Dage finished his stroll around the cavern and ended up back at their lift. “Just like Janie needs to be.” He smacked Caleb on the shoulder hard enough the sound echoed through the room. “Suck it up, and forget personal feelings.”

Caleb frowned and released Lily.

Lily shivered from the sudden coolness. How odd that it was cool. She glanced around the room again. “What if the quantum physics that created this crazy room fail?”

Caleb followed her gaze and shrugged. “We all fry.”

Lily nodded at two guards flanking the doorway as she strode into the infirmary, her gaze catching on Jane Kayrs, who was patching up a soldier with a wound across his upper arm. “What happened?”

Janie finished with the bandage and gave the soldier a sweet smile. “You’ll be fine, Charlie.”

The young tiger shifter grinned back. “You should see the other guy.” He stood and grabbed his ripped shirt to tug over his battered chest, turning toward Lily. “Hi, Prophet Lily. We had a small skirmish with a band of Kurjans last night, and I thought a Band-Aid would suffice.”

Janie shook her head, fondness curving her lips. “You needed ten stitches. Thanks for coming in before your arm fell off.”

Charlie smiled and gave Janie a half-armed hug. “Thanks for the stitches.” With a respectful nod at Lily, he headed for the door.

Lily eyed Janie. Dark circles lined Janie’s eyes, and her pretty skin was porcelain pale. “How long have you been working in the infirmary?” Lily asked.

Janie shrugged and stood, stretching her neck. “All night. The fight was more than a skirmish. The Kurjans attacked an outpost of ours near Portland.”

“Your medical knowledge is impressive, considering you haven’t gone to school yet.”

Janie walked to the sink to wash her hands. “I’ve had battlefield training, I guess.”

Curiosity welled up in Lily. The young woman had been prophesied to change the world, but had anybody ever asked her what she wanted to do? What she wanted to be? “Are you interested in attending medical school?”

Janie turned around, wiping her hands on paper towels. “Not really.” She pursed her lips. “I’m interested in the medical field, and I like to help. But when the peace talks are over, and if I survive my twenty-fifth year, then I’d like to study psychology. To help people the way you do.”

Warmth slid through Lily along with alarm. “First, I’m flattered. Second, what do you mean about your twenty-fifth year?”

Janie blinked. “That year is the year it all happens. Whatever it is, I’ve always known the prophecy comes true while I’m twenty-five, which I am right now.”

“That’s frightening.” Lily’s heart sped up.

“I know.”

One concern at a time. Lily smoothed her face into calm lines. “When was the last time you ate?”

“Um, last night?” Janie smiled. “In fact, I’m starving. Let’s go find something to eat.” She tucked her arm through Lily’s. “Did Dage read you the riot act for our bar fight?”

“Not really. How about you?” Lily could eat.

“No.” Janie stifled a yawn.

“That shifter was cute,” Lily said as they maneuvered out of the infirmary into the warm sunshine brightening the main street of the vampire headquarters. Gorgeous maple trees lined the street with red leaves falling, the grass beneath already yellow as winter approached. “I’ve always found feline shifters impressive.”

Janie nodded. “I agree. Charlie was my first kiss, you know.”

“Really?” Lily smiled and glanced up at her friend’s face.