Free On the Prowl by Christine Warren

your party last night?”
    The picture of the friendly, dark-haired woman popped immediately to Saskia’s mind. She never forgot a face. “Of course I remember you, Corinne. I hope you enjoyed the party.”
    The woman laughed. “More than you, I think. At least no one was staring at me all night. I tell you, being the guest of honor at one of those things is highly overrated.”
    Saskia agreed, but she couldn’t decide how to react. Why was the reporter calling her the morning after her engagement? She made a noncommittal sound and hoped Corinne would continue.
    “Anyway. I’m sorry to call so early, but I decided to take a chance that with your man still sitting with the Council, you might be looking for a little company.”
    Saskia absorbed that information and felt the room tilt around her. “The Council?” she repeated hoarsely.
    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.
    “Uh-oh,” Corinne finally said, her voice full of discomfort. “Did I just totally step in it? Am I not supposed to talk about it? I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I’m such an idiot. I’m probably the worst person in the world to have an inside line on what the Council gets up to. You’d think Missy and Reggie would know better than to tell me anything. Just forget I said anything. And accept my apology. And forget I called.”
    “No, wait!” Saskia said, afraid the other woman would hang up and leave her as much in the dark as she’d been since last night. “Don’t apologize. You’re fine. I just—”
    She paused, reluctant to confess over the phone such embarrassing details as the state of her engagement and the closemouthed arrogance of her fiancé. She needed to be able to see the other woman’s face if she wanted to be able to tell how her story was perceived. That way, if the reporter gave any indication of being shocked by the truth or of digging for a story in Saskia’s and Nicolas’s private lives, Saskia would be able to cut things off and repair any potential damage.
    She took a deep breath and then took a chance. “You have no reason to apologize,” she repeated, infusing her voice with reassurance and a calm she didn’t feel. “You surprised me for a second, but not in a bad way. I hadn’t realized how nice it would be to have someone I could talk to about this kind of thing. I’m new to the city, and with the engagement and everything, I haven’t had a chance to meet very many people yet, especially not other women my age.”
    “Well, then, I’ll just have to introduce you around.” Corinne’s voice relaxed noticeably. “My friends and I decided early on that we girls need to stick together. Trust me, they’ll be more than happy to welcome a new member to our little club.”
    Saskia blinked. “You have a club?”
    “In a manner of speaking. We’re all women who found ourselves mixed up with the Others in one way or another, mostly by falling in love with one of the big lugs. You totally qualify for membership.”
    “Um, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Listen,” she said, taking a deep breath and glancing around the empty apartment. “I’ve been feeling like an idiot rattling around this place without Nicolas all morning. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in meeting me for a cup of coffee? I’d love to get out of here, and the idea of talking to someone I’ve actually met before would be my idea of heaven right now.”
    Especially someone who seemed to know more than her about her arrogant mate’s current whereabouts. But she didn’t say that.
    “Actually, that sounds like a great idea,” Corinne enthused. “My own worse half is occupied himself at the moment, and the last thing I want to do is find myself with nothing better to do than get some work done. Did you have someplace in mind?”
    For a moment, Saskia’s mind went blank. She realized she didn’t even know what neighborhood her new home was located in, let alone what cafés might be nearby.
    Corinne heard