Free Briannas Prophecy by Tianna Xander Page A

surveyed the room, looking for a big crowd of people where she could manage to lose herself. Amber strode up behind Brianna and leaned close to whisper in her ear as she looked at some necklaces. “Are we renting a room this year?”
    Brianna jumped, then scowled. She turned and swatted the other woman on the arm.
    Amber leapt back laughing.
    “It’s no wonder my nerves are on edge. You nearly scared me to death,” Brianna hissed, holding her hand to her chest as her heart pounded against her ribs. She cast her gaze around. “I wonder how much a taxi would cost.” She turned to Amber, and worried her lower lip.
    Amber gave her a wry smile. “Probably about as much as a room.”
    “I don’t know if we should stay here.” Brianna leaned back and forth, trying to get a good look around Amber. The strange man was gone again. He was most likely hiding somewhere where he could see her, but she couldn’t see him. “I wish I didn’t have to worry so much about money.”
    Amber nodded. “Yeah, I even feel guilty for splurging once in a while when I buy things at gatherings like this.”
    “I know what you mean. I keep asking myself if I shouldn’t resist the urge and pay a bill or buy a new tire for my car.”
    “If you put new tires on that rickety, old rust bucket of yours, the tires would be worth more than the car.” Amber swallowed the small square ice cube she’d fished out of her drink. “So, do you want to stay or not? Staying here may be expensive, but it’s not as costly as getting charged with drunk driving. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a few already.” She gave Brianna a lopsided grin, popped another ice cube in her mouth and bit down.
    Brianna smirked, “A few drinks or a few drunk driving charges.”
    “Ha, ha, you’re such a comedian. Don’t quit your day job,” Amber teased. “You know very well I’ve had a few drinks, and I don’t ever want to get a drunk driving charge.”
    Brianna wrapped her arm around Amber and squeezed. “Very true. I suppose we probably should stay here. The last thing either of us need is an arrest record.” She hadn’t had much to drink yet but she planned to have a few drinks later. She made a face. “I guess I just wanted to justify the expense. And you know there’s nowhere to camp around here. So we can’t even get out the cheap way.” There was no need to explain her reasons. Her friend was well aware of her financial situation.
    Amber put her cup to her lips, tossed her head back and shook a few more ice cubes into her mouth. She winked, then gave Brianna a conspiratorial grin. “Leave it up to me to think of the perfect excuse.” Talking around the ice, she buffed her perfectly manicured silver iridescent fingernails on her sleeve.
    “By the way, you do know what they say about people who chew ice cubes, don’t you?” Brianna said with a shameless grin. “They say they don’t get enough sex.”
    Amber grinned and winked. “That’s not surprising. I told you I don’t get enough of that kind of action.” She turned, her smile faded and the teasing glint left her eyes. “Don’t look now, hon, but here’s our friend.” She tilted her head, a nearly imperceptible movement, not wanting the man in question to realize they were aware of his constant scrutiny.
    As they both watched, he nonchalantly ducked behind a silk plant in the corner of the ballroom. He may have been out of their sight, but they knew he was still there waiting and watching.
    Brianna looked thoughtful. A slight frown creased her brow. “That’s another good reason to stay here for the night. We don’t have to worry about being followed home when we leave. I wonder what his problem is.”
    “I don’t know,” Amber replied. “But I have an idea. Wait here. I’ll go get a room and come right back. We’ll leave through the ladies’ room. If he stays true to form, he’ll wait just outside the door. We’ll slip out through the other door in the