Free Briannas Prophecy by Tianna Xander Page B

hall.”
    Amber tossed a look over her shoulder. “Just manage to stay away from him till I can get back. Go tease Pan or something.” She winked. “Just try not to stray too far from this spot if you can help it. I don’t want to have to go searching for you again.”
    Brianna watched as Amber disappeared into the crowd. She turned and noticed the strange man approaching her, his lips twisted in a parody of a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
    She cast her gaze around the room frantically and saw Pan joking with two other men in the corner. Brianna hurried up to them. “Hi! How are you all doing tonight?” Batting her eyelashes, she turned toward the man dressed as Pan and remarked. “I hope you’re not too warm tonight. Although I do have to admit, you looked much more ah…comfortable last year.” She winked.
    Pan’s pleasant smile turned into a devastating grin she found almost irresistible. His black eyes twinkled with a devilish gleam. The man’s tanned, blond good looks were not lost on her either, though Brianna leaned more toward tall, dark, and handsome men.
    “I was, until the police made their appearance anyway. The cold plastic benches at the police station were a little hard on the uh…” He cleared his throat. “The tackle. Even through the thin sheet they made me use.”
    Brianna’s cheeks burned. She suppressed a shudder of mortification. What she’d said last year was an embarrassing stain left indelibly in her memory, and it returned to haunt her. She hoped he didn’t remember her. She gave a slight grimace. “I’m sorry I brought it up. I really didn’t mean to be fresh, but…” She stepped closer and whispered, “There has been a man following me around most of the night. I’m trying to stay away from him without it looking like it. You know what I mean?”
    He bent his blond head closer to hear her whispered words. There was no way he could have missed the apprehension in her eyes, the fear. The three men looked around slowly. Their combined gazes fell on the sinister looking man who stood in the corner watching her.
    “You mean the Vampire wannabe in the corner, wearing the overdone black eyeliner and the blood red cape?” He was careful not to gesture in any way that would inform the man he was the subject of their conversation. Then, in a louder voice, he said, “What’d you say your name was again, darlin’?” He bent down, his eyes level with hers. “My name is Ethan.” He gave her what appeared to be a genuine smile and held out his hand.
    “Nice to meet you, Ethan. I’m Brianna. I hope you’re enjoying the party.” Smiling, she took his hand, letting his big warm fingers envelope hers. She leaned closer, lowered her voice even more, “His aura is off. Can you see it?” she asked, with a worried frown. “And he is putting out bad vibes. I can feel the negativity rolling off him in waves.” With her magical antennae finally working properly, she could feel what Amber had felt hours ago.
    “Yeah, I see it,” he replied grimly, his lips thinned, his eyes narrowing. They watched as the man stopped a waiter, took a handful of crackers from him and pushed him away. “What a real paragon of social etiquette we have here.”
    Amber walked up behind her, a room key concealed in her hand. “I didn’t think you’d really have the guts to talk with him. I was just kidding, you know,” Amber hissed in her ear.
    “Are you two together?” Ethan asked, clearly suspicious. His dark eyes turned toward Amber. It seemed that he was prepared to protect Brianna, even from another woman.
    “Yes, we’re together. Ethan, this is Amber.” She turned to her friend. “Amber, meet Ethan.” She turned back to him. “I really hate to ask this of you, Ethan, but do you think you guys could distract that guy enough to keep him from noticing when we leave?”
    Ethan grinned, completely disarming Amber, who fanned the napkin she carried in front of her flushed face. “We can