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  “Bad idea?” Red hazed before his eyes. “You were in a bar fight when I arrived.” For the briefest of seconds, he had thought she’d been in danger. Although she’d been trained for centuries, she was still small. Delicate. It was a damn good thing the king had been there, or Caleb would’ve immediately gone for the kill. The primal need to defend her, to protect her, swirled unease through his gut.

  Sadness lightened her eyes to the color of a mountain lake. “I know. But we just wanted to get away from duty and war for the briefest time. Janie needed a break . . .”

  “Janie doesn’t get a break.” Caleb lowered his voice to keep from exploding. “Neither do you. You chose duty all those years ago, and that never ends.”

  Her graceful hands clasped on the dented table. “You’re not still angry I married Sotheby and not you? Duty called me, just as it did you when Fate made you a prophet.”

  “Fate?” His laugh emerged dark and bitter. “Bullshit. Fate has nothing to do with the brand on our necks. Nothing at all.”

  Delicate eyebrows drew down. “How can you say that? When Prophet Milner died, the marking appeared on your neck, making you one of the three prophets. Of course Fate stepped in.”

  “There is no Fate, Lily. We vampires have to figure this out.” How the hell an advanced species like vampires could still believe in Fate was beyond him. “It’s a virus, or a mutation, or something we haven’t figured out yet.”

  She gasped, her face paling. “That’s crazy. The prophecy marking is a calling, and I’m not a vampire.”

  No. Vampires were male only who often mated with human females, who then became immortal through a naturally occurring genetic alteration. He exhaled slowly. Lily’s husband had been a prophet, and when he’d died, the mark had appeared on her neck. The woman took the job seriously, which was good, but there was no big calling. “You and your husband were close?”

  “We were friends, and we’d been mated for two weeks when he was taken by the Kurjans,” she whispered.

  “I know.” The Kurjans were enemies of the vampires and had threatened to kill Miles Sotheby if Caleb didn’t stop hunting a Kurjan who’d killed Caleb’s stepsister. Caleb hadn’t stopped until the enemy was dead. “Do you blame me for your husband’s death?”

  “No. I never have. The second the Kurjans took Miles, they intended to kill him.” Sadness filled her midnight-colored eyes.

  Relief swept through Caleb. He’d hoped she hadn’t blamed him, because he truly couldn’t have saved Miles Sotheby. But it wasn’t just a coincidence that upon his death, Lily had become a prophet.

  Ever since the damn brand had marred his neck, Caleb had been trying to find a logical answer to the whole process. “You were close to your husband and lived with him. The brand somehow transferred from him to you. When I became a prophet, I was in the immediate vicinity of the dying prophet. I think it’s a virus that needs a living host.”

  “A virus?” she hissed, pink spiraling across her high cheekbones. “Bullocks.”

  God. Lily in a temper was a fascinating sight. What he wouldn’t give to see how far down that pink flush went. Caleb’s groin tightened until his zipper cut into his flesh. “Yes.” He slid his hand over her warm skin, easily covering her two hands.

  The innocent touch zipped straight through him like a shot of homemade whiskey. His heart thundered in his ears, and he forced calmness through his veins.

  Her pupils dilated, and her chest heaved out a breath. Yeah. She was affected by the simple touch, as well.

  He swallowed, his gaze dropping to the full mounds beneath the tight bustier. “You want to forget about war and duty? Come home with me.”

  She cleared her throat, dragging his gaze back to her face. Temptation curved her lips. “That would be a mistake of colossal proportions.”

  His grin came naturally. “Of course. But if you’re going to make a mistake, why not make it a good one?” He leaned forward, drawing in the scent of strawberries. “I promise you won’t regret the night.”

  Her cheek creased, and she gently withdrew her hands from under his.

  Every instinct he owned pushed him to tighten his hold and keep her in place. So he released her.

  She settled back in the chair. “We’re facing the most difficult task of our lives in brokering the end to the war between vampires, Kurjans, and demons. Nothing can distract us from finding peace.”

  Peace was overrated. “I don’t see the Kurjans really wanting peace.” The Kurjans were a white-faced, creepy race of killers who’d declared war on the Realm. Unlike the vampires, they could not venture into the sun and lived always in darkness. All of a sudden, they wanted to end the war? Not likely.

  “Everyone wants peace for their children,” Lily said quietly.

  Ah, to be so naïve. After living for centuries and seeing the destruction supposedly enhanced species could create, how could the woman believe in good? Caleb shook his head. “Even if we’ve beaten the Kurjans down enough that they want peace, no way will the demons stop fighting.”

  The demons were a deadly race that had declared war on the Realm the second the king had let Caleb back into the fold. He’d been kicked out eons ago for backing his relative, who’d mated a shifter instead of the demonness he’d been promised to. “The demons will never stop.”

  Lily lifted a bare shoulder. “Yet they’ve reached out and asked for negotiations. As the prophets, the three of us lead the peace talks. Period.”

  A part of him really wanted to find peace for her. Just so she’d keep that sunny outlook on life. Caleb’s hand itched to touch her again. “Both the demons and the Kurjans want a chance at getting Janie. The demons want her dead, and the Kurjans want her to mate with one of them.”

  Lily nodded. “I know.”

  “What else do you know?” Caleb asked. Since he’d become a fucking prophet, he’d been assailed with visions of the future—often visions that didn’t make any sense or have to do with anybody he’d ever met. Dark and ominous, something pushed him. To kill.

  She shrugged, her gaze shifting away. “That’s it. Why?”

  “No reason.” Yeah, the prophecy virus had messed with his brain, and apparently Lily wasn’t ready to share her visions, because she was lying. Well, he was a hunter at heart, and he knew when to have patience.

  So he leaned back. “How are you feeling, anyway?” Since learning that Lily had contracted Virus-27, he’d alternated between feeling concern and anticipation. The Kurjans had created the virus to attack the genetics of vampire mates, unraveling chromosomal pairs so the woman was no longer a mate, taking her first down to human. Unfortunately, it appeared that the virus kept unraveling the chromosomes, but at least it was slow-acting.

  Lily smiled and focused back on him. “I’m a bit tired, but I’m sure we’ll find a cure before I become human again, or worse.”

  “What did your last genetic test show?”

  She lost the smile. “I’m down to twenty-five chromosomal pairs, which is still two up from being a human. So I’m not aging, but if I get down to human, then I’ll start aging again.”

  The idea of Lily not being on earth with him hurt. Bad. “I’m sure we’ll find a cure.”

  “Me, too.” Fear crossed her face for the briefest of seconds.

  Time hung like a weight around his neck. He pushed back from the table and stood, holding out a hand to the lady.

  She took it and gracefully scooted from behind the table. “It is getting late.”

  He pivoted and blocked her way to gaze down at her stunning face. He’d never wanted a woman more. One night with her was all he asked. “Have you decided? My place tonight?”

  She slipped her arm through his in a move as old as time and headed for the door. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  No, it was a truly horrible idea.

  They emerged into a chilly night. She shivered in the night air, and he quickly shrugged out of his jacket to drape it around her. The darn leather covered her a
lmost to her knees.

  The woman looked small, fragile, and definitely kissable.

  He turned and pressed her against the worn brick building, startled yet again by the delicacy of her petite frame. He stood at least a foot and a half taller, but the woman had such a presence he often forgot her stature. Slowly, he slid his hand up to cup her chin. Curiosity and need glimmered in the depths of her mysterious eyes.

  Even so, he allowed several seconds to pass in case she wanted to move away.

  She didn’t twitch.

  Her chin held a delicate stubbornness that tempted him far more than he’d ever admit. Would she still taste like strawberries?

  He lowered his head, giving her plenty of time to stop him. His lips met hers, and heat slid through his veins. The rightness of the connection clicked somewhere deep inside him.

  Then she sighed, and his head spun.

  He pressed harder, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth.

  Fire, need, and strawberries became the center of his world. The leash he constantly kept on himself snapped. He stepped into her, his body caging her, his erection brushing against her warmth.

  He tangled his hand in her silky hair, tethering her, taking all he could.

  She sighed and kissed him back, a soft sound of surrender emerging with her breath.

  Fisting her hair, he angled her so he could go deeper, invading her mouth. Possessive and fierce, he wanted all of her.

  A car alarm went off blocks away, dragging him back to the present.

  The woman might kiss like the devil, but she was a lady, and he wasn’t going to take her the first time on a street corner. So he broke the kiss and slowly released her.

  Her perfect blond hair was mussed and her lips swollen from his. Rosiness covered her cheeks, and desire burned bright in her eyes.

  He bit back a groan at the need to bury himself in her. Even so, he couldn’t help running his knuckles across the breasts pushed high by the underclothing. The softness almost dropped him to his knees.

  She breathed in, her entire body shuddering, a vulnerable look of surprise flashing across her face. “Caleb.”

  His body rioted with the need to finish what they’d started. But his brain kicked into gear. One kiss, and reality had slapped him upside the head. He’d never be able to walk away this time, and the last thing he wanted was a mate—even one who couldn’t wear his mark because of the virus. Lily was a sweet, kind, gentle woman who deserved protection. Right now, he was needed on the front lines, peace talks or not.

  So he stepped back and zipped the jacket up and over those amazing breasts. “You ever ride a motorcycle, sweetheart?”

  Her mouth formed a perfect O as she glanced behind him to the Ducati quietly waiting on the other side of the street. “A motorcycle?”

  Chapter Three

  Lily smoothed her face into calm lines as the helicopter set down in the mountains of Idaho. Five other Black Hawks followed suit, and soon the deserted area was crawling with vampire soldiers. Make that vampire, shifter, and witch soldiers.

  She bit back a yawn. After Caleb had driven her home on the bike the previous night, and after the amazing kiss that had all but shocked her with an impossible level of passion, she had gone to bed . . . to toss and turn, and not from her usual nightmares. The ones she was beginning to fear.

  The kiss had revved her up beyond belief, and even now, she could still taste him. Spice and male. But sleeping with him would be dangerous to her heart, and she had enough concerns.

  Caleb was a soldier who moved around. He didn’t want to settle down and would certainly leave after the peace talks.

  Falling for him would just leave her alone and sad.

  She moved to open the helicopter door, and the pilot, Jase Kayrs, turned around to flash a grin. “Stay put, Prophet. We’re not secure yet.”

  “Don’t be bossy,” she said calmly to her friend, one of the many soldiers she counseled for PTSD.

  He rolled his copper-colored eyes, making him seem not quite as dangerous as usual. “I’d like to be included in the peace-party talks, Lily. Can you arrange that?”

  Probably not a good idea, considering Jase had been kidnapped and tortured by demons for years. The scar on his handsome face showed the suffering he’d endured, although now he was happily mated and seemed to have found peace. Lily smiled. “Your brother put Caleb in charge of deciding who will attend.”

  While the prophets would lead the talks, the king had a say in the proceedings.

  Jase eyed her. “My brother listens to you.”

  “Maybe.” Lily scooted closer to the door just as it opened.

  Caleb grasped her hips and set her on the ground, his warm palms leaving heated imprints on her skin. The scents of pine trees and male surrounded her. “Wear this.” He plopped a hard hat on her head.

  She frowned and squinted up at him as one of her dangling earrings caught. “You’re not wearing one.”

  “My head is harder than yours.” He held out his hand. “Earrings.”

  Frowning, she handed them over, surprised when he drew a box from his back pocket. “For you.”

  She blinked. Her heart leaped to her throat. She flipped open the lid to reveal stunning solitaire diamonds. “I don’t understand.”

  He shrugged. “I saw them, and they reminded me of you. Beautiful, elegant, and simple. Please wear them.”

  She blinked and inserted the diamonds as if in a dream. Heat rose into her face. Was Caleb trying to court her? “Thank you, Caleb.”

  He nodded. “I meant to attend the surprise party for your birthday last month but got caught in a fight in Iceland.”

  Oh. So they were a birthday present. Even so, he’d spent time choosing them—just for her. “It was no big deal, just a little get-together. But as a prophet, you should spend more time counseling and mediating situations than fighting, don’t you think?”

  “Absolutely not. I’m meant to fight, not to compromise.”

  “Then why are you here? These are going to be peace talks.” Couldn’t he at least hope for peace? She fingered the solid stone in her ear.

  “I’m here to protect the king and Janie in what is sure to be a battle.”

  “Not little old me?” she asked with what felt like a flirty smile.

  “I’ve told the king that you are too much of a security risk, considering the Kurjans have been after you for years.” His jaw seemed to harden.

  “I’m attending the talks—we need to find peace.” The man wasn’t going to keep her from doing her job.

  He shook his head. “There will be no peace.”

  Sorrow filled Lily for the briefest of moments. How could he live every day and not even think there was a chance for peace?

  His gaze swept her from head to toe. “You couldn’t wear jeans even to head into the bowels of the earth?”

  She glanced down at her deep green skirt and matching blouse. “This is fine for mine shafts.” They might be heading into the earth, but she was on duty and at work. “You could look more like a prophet.” Though the man looked beyond good.

  His faded jeans covered muscled thighs, and the worn T-shirt spread across his broad chest hugged impressive strength. “I’m a soldier, not a prophet.”

  Actually, he was both. Lily nodded toward the gaping opening in the rock, set into looming mountains so tall snow had already dusted the peaks. Farther down the hillside, where she stood, fall had turned the leaves brilliant colors of red, gold, and orange. The month of change was a perfect time for peace talks. “I take it we’re at the north entrance?”

  “Yes.” Caleb pressed a hand to her lower back in a touch that was both reassuring and possessive. “The Realm will have all control of the northern entrance, while the Kurjans control the south, the demons the east, and the witches the west.”

  Lily nodded and stepped lightly over a pile of rocks, glad she’d worn her boots. “How far down are we going?”

  “The mine was deserted years ago, and after our
alterations, reaches about five thousand feet down, made possible by a blend of string theory and quantum physics—magic, in other words. It’s an impossible depth, and we’re combining some dangerous science to pull it off. Are you claustrophobic?”

  “No.” But Jase Kayrs was, and this was another reason he couldn’t be allowed to face off with the demons during the peace talks. “Have we agreed upon the number of people present during the talks?” Lily asked.

  “Yes. Besides the three prophets and Janie Kayrs, each species gets a dignitary and bodyguard at the table. Or rather, across the fire.” Caleb escorted her into the darkness and snapped a switch to show lights strung along the ceiling. “We have a mine lift here, and there are stairs to the side in case we need that way for an escape, though it’d take an awfully long time to make it out that way.”

  Lily swallowed and stepped onto the lift to take a seat and strap herself in. Freshly cut wooden boards surrounded her on three sides and smelled like Christmas. They must’ve used pine trees. “I take it we’ll have soldiers stationed along the way?”

  “They’re in place now and will remain so until after the peace talks next week.” Caleb sat and secured his harness in the sturdy seat.

  “I feel like I’m about to go on an amusement ride,” Lily said, butterflies in her stomach.

  “This is faster.” Caleb reached for a lever.

  “Hold it,” a male voice called out before the king leaped onto the lift, a grape energy drink in his hand. He took a seat on Lily’s left and buckled in. “I want to go down with you.”

  Lily smiled at the king as her stomach clenched. “Good morning, Dage.”

  The king lifted a dark eyebrow over a narrowed silver eye. “Prophet. I’m pleased to see you’re fine after your bar fight last night.”

  “That’s kind of you.” Lily kept her voice solicitous and fought the urge to roll her eyes. A lady didn’t roll her eyes.

  “Do we need to discuss the danger involved?” Dage asked.

  “No.” Lily clasped her hands together, fully aware that even the king put her on a pedestal. The only person who saw her as a woman and not a prophet was currently glaring multicolored eyes at her. “Stop glaring, Caleb.”