Tamed Read Free Page A

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 almost 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