Free Tamed by Rebecca Zanetti

that thought?”
    Lily reached over and placed a soft hand over his. “We’re discussing peace talks, gentlemen.”
    Crimson rippled beneath the Kurjan’s skin, and his eyes flared as they focused on Lily’s hand. “I do hope you’re not trolling for another prophet as a mate, Lily,” Franco said, flashing yellow canines.
    Caleb frowned. Just how deep did the Kurjan’s little crush go, anyway? “She has the damn virus you bastards created and can’t mate anybody. You know that.”
    Franco clucked his tongue. “If she gets the cure, then she’ll be able to mate again.”
    Dage leaned forward, his entire body taut. “Do you have a cure?”
    Franco chuckled. “Do you think we unleashed a virus on the world without a cure for our own mates?”
    Caleb rubbed his chin, his gut swirling. Every ounce of evidence they’d found proved the Kurjans hadn’t created a cure and didn’t give a shit about their mates. “You’re bluffing.”
    “Am I?” Franco brushed lint off his black uniform. “Prophet Sotheby? What would you give for the antidote that would cure all vampire mates as well as all witches?”
    Lily lifted her chin. “While we should save such talk for the negotiations, what would the Kurjan nation request in exchange for the cure?”
    Franco leaned forward. “The nation requests nothing.”
    Caleb’s shoulders hardened to rock. “Excuse me?”
    Lily tightened her grip on his hand. “What do you want, Franco?”
    “You.”
    Another kick under the table kept Caleb from lashing out. He turned incredulous eyes on the petite blonde who’d dared to kick him. Twice.
    She smirked at the Kurjan leader. “Don’t tell me you created an entire virus to catch little ol’ me, Franco. I don’t believe you.”
    Franco lifted a shoulder. “Freeing you from your mating mark turned out to be a nice side effect of the true purpose of the virus, I have to admit. Again, what are you willing to sacrifice for a cure? A real one?”
    Then, the most dignified, ladylike, soft-spoken woman in the world pushed back from the table, planted both hands, and leaned toward the camera. “Not a damn thing. You’re a liar and a fraud, and there’s no cure for the virus. When you want to truly negotiate, you know where to find us.” She glanced at the king. “Disconnect.”
    Franco growled through the speakers.
    Dage blinked.
    “Now,” Lily said with a snap.
    The most powerful vampire in existence then punched a button, and the screen went black.
    Lily stepped back and executed a half curtsy. “Gentlemen.” With her head lifted, she skirted the table and quietly exited the room.
    Silence beat around the space for several moments. Finally, wide-eyed, Dage turned toward Caleb. “What the hell did you do?”
    Caleb shook his head, trying to get his bearings. “Nothing. Why?”
    “Because no way in hell was that the Prophet Lily Sotheby I have known for three centuries,” Dage growled, anger vibrating along his arms.
    Against all rational thought, Caleb smiled. Then he chuckled. Finally, he threw back his head and laughed, hard and deep. Joy, intrigue, and satisfaction sang through his veins. Glancing at Dage’s incredulous expression, he laughed harder.
    Now that was the Lily Sotheby he’d always suspected shimmered beneath the polite prophet. The moment hit him as right, just as his brain finally caught up with his heart. He loved the stunning prophet. “You’re wrong, King. You just met the real woman.” With a whistle, Caleb stood and headed toward the door. “My woman.”

Chapter Nine
    Lily stood closer to the wide window, grateful to be inside the heated lodge and out of the wind swaying the trees. She stood in a gathering room with a pool table to her right and a bar to her left. Her gaze focused on the training field to the north of the main lodge. An impressive display of knife fighting combined with martial arts blurred the movements of the fighters.
    “She’s incredible,” said a deep voice from behind