Make Me A Match (The Matchmaker) (19 page)

“Is it true?” someone called out from the crowd. “Do they
want to make matches?”

“We fear it may be so.”

Wow…wait a minute. I glanced at Owen and noticed his body
stiffen, his gaze pinned to Falconer. It was one thing matching innocent
humans, but vampires? As ridiculous as it sounded, suddenly it made sense…the
attacks, the vampires promising not to kill me. Apparently I was very popular,
but I’d never cared in the least about being popular.

“Meet Emma Watts, our newest Matchmaker.”

Two hundred heads swiveled toward me. I nodded my greeting,
too nervous to even smile. I hoped they didn’t expect me to do a welcome
speech.

“You know the history of the Matchmaker, but what you don’t
know is that we’ve come to the realization that Matchmakers can work not only
for humans…” He paused dramatically, and I had to admit that there was
something commanding about his presence. Every being was focused on him,
awaiting his next comment. “But yes, we believe that matchmaking can work on
Underworldly beings as well.”

Silence met his declaration, then a roar of questions broke
out, their voices so loud that the flames around the room actually flickered. I
had to resist the urge to cover my ears like a child overwhelmed.

“What does this mean?” someone a couple of chairs down from
me asked. The man’s fairy wings were as large as his six-foot-tall body, and
glistened iridescent in the low lamplight.

“It means…they can find a soul mate as well.”

The fear in the room was acute and pulsing.

“Unfortunately,” Falconer said, “the Underworld has
uncovered the Matchmaker’s ability too. There have been attempts on Emma’s life
not only by demons, but also by vampires.”

“The vampires didn’t want to kill—”

“We have to stop them!” someone cried out, interrupting me.

A tall, thin green man stood, prompting other beings to
stand as well. “They will soon outnumber us!”

The Jolly Green Giant’s comment caused an uproar that
thundered through the room. Crap, this was getting out of hand fast. Desperate,
I glanced at Jotham, but he remained mute, and unhelpful.

“Enough.” Falconer raised his arms and the room grew
grudgingly silent. “As you are aware, every time a human is matched, that
human’s power grows. The Underworld believes that if they are matched, their powers
might grow as well.”

Not a being moved, their gazes trained on Falconer. Their
fear grew. I could practically hear the wheels churning as every being turned
their attention to me. Gone was the curiosity; in its place was wonder, and
more than that, terror. They didn’t give a crap about finding love; they wanted
the power. I had a feeling that no matter what I did, a storm was about to
erupt.

Owen surged from his chair. “Enough of this.” His voice
rolled through the room so powerfully that the place actually fell silent. I
knew half the group hadn’t a clue who Owen was, but they all obeyed him. When
he wanted to, the guy could be downright frightening, and not for the first
time I was glad he was on my side.

Falconer turned toward Owen, surprise evident on his weary
face. “Owen, do you wish to add something?”

“Yes, this is finished. There is no reason for Emma to be
here.” He started toward me but Falconer stepped in his way. Owen knew
something I hadn’t quite caught on to yet, or he wouldn’t be storming the
platform. I surged from my chair, my heart hammering. When Jotham rested his
hand atop mine, I resisted the urge to lunge forward and help Owen.

“What can be done to stop them?” the Jolly Green Giant
called out.

“Nothing.”

An uproar of worried conversation broke out, whispered words
of anxiety and fear vibrating the very room. Fear could make people really,
really stupid.

“Silence!” Falconer demanded.

The room settled down, but their fear was still there. I
didn’t point out the fact that they were in an uproar over a piece of gossip.
After all, we didn’t know for sure what the vampires were planning. “Keep calm
and carry on” didn’t seem to carry much weight with these beings.

“The only thing we can do is make sure our Matchmakers are well
protected.”

“And if one is abducted anyway?” someone asked.

“That is the problem,” Falconer admitted, garnering another
roar of conversation from the audience. Well, Falconer had done nothing to
elevate the fear; in fact, he’d made it worse. These people needed a leader to
calm them, not invoke more anxiety. I glanced at Jotham, hoping he might take
the reins, but he remained oddly quiet and detached, as if watching a play, as
if the meeting had nothing to do with him.

“This is getting out of hand,” Owen snapped. He moved around
Falconer and gripped my arm, leading me away from the table. His desperation
made me nervous.

“There is a solution,” Falconer said.

His words gave me pause and I pulled on Owen, forcing him to
stop, too full of curiosity for my own good. Of course I wanted to know. This
was my life, after all.

“What?” I asked. “What’s the solution?”

The room grew quiet, their attention flicking from me to
Jotham.

“You, my dear,” Falconer said. Owen’s hand on my arm
tightened. “If the Otherworld is matched before the Underworld has a chance, we
can overpower them.”

A roar of conversation rushed through the room. War. He was
talking about going to war with the Underworld. But war wouldn’t just affect
them, no, it would affect humans as well. Oh God, I had to get to Lizzie and
make sure she was safe.

“No!” Owen demanded, but his voice was barely heard over the
reaction of the crowd. When the entire audience cheered, some even banging
their fists on their chests like overemotional gorillas, I knew we were
screwed. Owen apparently realized it as well. He pulled me up the stairs, his
steps sure and hurried.

“Owen, wait, please,” I said breathlessly.

“Emma graciously uses her powers to match us,” Falconer
continued as if I still stood there, as if Owen weren’t pulling me up the steps
toward the door and freedom even as he spoke.

“We have no other alternative,” someone said.

A roar of agreement rushed through the crowd. I knew I
looked like a deer in the headlights as they all turned to look at me. So many
people…so many matches. What if it didn’t work? What if I wasn’t powerful
enough? What if war destroyed this world?

“Everyone, please calm down,” Jotham finally said, standing.
“We will discuss this upon further consideration.”

“I don’t see what there is to further discuss,” Falconer
snapped.

“Surely tests must be done,” Jotham explained. He was
trying; I’d give him that much. “Things need to calm down. I think it best if
we adjourn and reconvene tomorrow.”

If we had until tomorrow, Owen and I could escape tonight.
But I wasn’t sure if I should escape. If I left, they would merely use another
Matchmaker, wouldn’t they? And this war would continue.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Owen,” Josh muttered, stepping
out from the back of the room where he’d been sitting, and for once I agreed
with the man. They were fighting over me, and I didn’t want to see Owen hurt,
or worse, because of it. I sure as heck didn’t want to see them go to war.

“Emma, we need to go now,” Owen said urgently.

I hesitated, unsure. If I left with him, if we escaped, he
wouldn’t be the only one endangered. No, the entire world would be on the
brink.

“Trust me,” he whispered.

Damn him, he knew exactly what to say. I slid my hand into
his, but before I could agree, Falconer suddenly appeared next to us, startling
me. Crap, this wouldn’t be good, not at all.

“Mr. Emerson, do not be difficult,” the older man said in a
low voice. “This is for the best of our people. The best for all.”

Owen stabbed a finger into his own chest. “She is mine. I am
here for her. It is my duty to protect her, and I won’t see her used by
anyone.”

“Owen, this is for the good of everyone, even you and Emma.”

I was to match fairies and elves? I suddenly felt like I’d
ended up in a weird version of Oz. Vampires and demons, and now fairies. Yep,
another typical day. Next, the Easter Bunny would want to find his soul mate.

Owen shook his head. “They can’t be matched.”

“They seem to think they can be.”

“Has anyone ever tried?” Josh asked.

“No.”

“No Matchmaker has ever flashed on an Otherworldly being, so
why would they think…” Owen trailed off as his gaze slowly came to me. “It’s
Emma.”

I flushed, feeling highly uncomfortable. Seriously, he
always had to blame me for everything.

“We all know your Matchmaker is more powerful than most,”
Falconer said, the news surprising to me. “I sensed her power, but it was
confirmed when she matched an elf the other day.”

I shook my head, confused.

“The woman in town, you matched her just before the demon
attacked.”

I wanted to deny it, but suddenly it made sense. Her beauty,
her shock…those pointed ears.

“Emma has matched the first Otherworldly being ever. The
Underworld has sensed her power. They are growing in numbers and strength. The
others worry they will soon outnumber us all. Humans grow more powerful when
matched, why not the Otherworld members?”

“What’s the plan?” Owen asked. “Emma sits around and matches
every single one of them?”

“We will see.”

Owen shook his head. “This isn’t for the good of the world.
No, it’s for the good of you. The gods made Matchmakers for humans only. They
were not produced for us.”

“You’re going to be difficult?” When Owen didn’t respond,
Falconer sighed. I wanted to intervene, to smooth all the ruffled feathers
before something happened to Owen, but I was clueless as to how.

“I hate to do this, Owen, but I must.” Falconer glared down
his long nose. “You can no longer protect her, you are not powerful enough. She
needs the Consulate.”

I stiffened. Wait, what did he mean?

Owen’s gaze hardened.

“You are no longer in charge of the Matchmaker.”

My heart sank, the denial frozen upon my lips. No, they
couldn’t do this, could they?

“Her name is Emma, and you can’t take away our bond,” Owen
stated, sounding so sure that I dared to hope. “Only the gods can.”

Falconer stepped closer and lowered his voice. “You’d be
surprised by what I can do.”

Owen’s gaze narrowed, his body tight with fury. I wanted to
reach out to him, to tell him to just go along with it, that everything would
be fine. For now, we had to pretend. I couldn’t. I could just stand there,
stupidly, my hand tight around Owen’s.

“Is that a threat?” Owen said softly, too softly.

“A warning. Do not stand in the way of the Consulate.” He
turned, the robe flaring wide, and in a blink the man was gone, reappearing on
the platform below. As he left, I realized one very important thing…

Now that everyone in the Otherworld knew who I was and what
I could do, there was no way Owen and I could escape.

Hell, I was truly and completely trapped.

Owen

“You can’t just take another person’s Matchmaker,” Petunia
whispered, scooting her chair closer to mine. She’d moved a little too close, I
realized, as her thigh brushed my knee.

The urge to lift her, chair and all, and move her to the
next table overwhelmed me. I appreciated her loyalty, especially given the fact
that I’d dumped her over a year ago. But sometimes I wondered if it wasn’t
loyalty that motivated her as much as the hope that we’d end up back together.
That wasn’t going to happen.

Not now. Not ever.

“Apparently you can if you’re Falconer.”

“But…why would he?”

I glanced around the library just to make sure, but no one
was visible. We were completely alone. Everyone else was out celebrating the
discovery of Emma. Still, I didn’t trust the walls, and frankly, even though
I’d known her for years, I wasn’t sure I trusted Pet either. Someone had told
the demons about Emma’s power, and someone had set her up in town last week.

“Some shite about her being the most powerful Matchmaker
they’ve seen in years. He doesn’t think I can protect her.”

The words were difficult to say because in some ways I
wondered if they were true. Had Clarice been killed because of this mess? Maybe
Emma’s aunt had been more powerful than I’d realized, which would explain
Emma’s ability. But who had killed her…an Underworld being, or had an
Otherworldly being betrayed her? Honestly, it could have been either. And now
Emma was out there alone.

I rested my head in my palms, exhausted.

Pet’s hand on my back made me stiffen in unease, instead of
offering the comfort she’d intended. “It will work out for the good, you’ll
see.”

I straightened, pulling a book forward, trying to shrug off
her touch. There were more important things to worry about. I hadn’t asked for her
help, and frankly, I wished she’d leave. But she wasn’t getting the hint. I
wasn’t sure if she ever would. I was a bloody idiot for thinking we could be
friends.

Pet was silent for a moment, which was odd for her. “Is it
true?” she asked. “Is she more powerful than most?”

“Maybe.” But that wasn’t correct. I knew the truth. If she
weren’t powerful, those damn demons wouldn’t have sensed her so quickly. If she
weren’t powerful, Falconer wouldn’t have been so quick to take over her
training. “Yeah. She is.”

She didn’t respond, merely remained mute as she pulled a
book forward and started to slowly flip through the pages. I knew Pet well
enough to know she was pouting for some reason, but I didn’t give a shite. I
was angry. Hell, more than angry, and not Petunia, not even Jotham could calm
me. There had been only a few instances in the past when a Matchmaker had been
taken away…when those Protectors hadn’t done their job. Hell, they’d been
drunks, even a drug addict or two.

When they’d taken Emma from me, they were proclaiming to all
that I wasn’t worthy enough. I shoved my book aside, so angry that I pushed it
a little too hard and it flew across the table, landing with a thud to the
floor. “Hell.”

Pet slid me a glance that told me all I needed to know…she
thought I was going mad.

Maybe I was. I hadn’t seen Emma all day and my skin itched,
my body uneasy with her so far away. I knew she was ensconced in Falconer’s
chambers, making matches. Jotham kept me well informed.

Perhaps I should have sent word to Emma explaining why I
hadn’t been in touch. If she knew I was attempting to uncover some loophole
that would put her back into my incapable hands, she might be more forgiving. I
could tell her that Seb was researching, and even Jotham was helping. But what
if it didn’t work out? What if she hated me all over again because I’d failed?
And so I said nothing…letting her think I’d abandoned her because I wouldn’t be
able to stand seeing the disappointment in her eyes. Hell, maybe she was better
off with the Consulate.

I sensed Seb a brief moment before he appeared, the air a
few tables away shimmering right before he took shape. The look upon his face
told me everything I needed to know. He had something.

“If you’ll excuse me.” I didn’t wait for Petunia’s response,
but moved quickly across the open space, past the empty tables and far enough
away that hopefully she wouldn’t hear. “What did you find?”

“I’ve checked with the guards, and no one other than
Matchmakers and Protectors were allowed access the night Clarice died.” He slid
his hands into his jeans pockets. He was uneasy, which made me uneasy as well.
“So, if she was murdered, it was by a Protector or a Matchmaker.”

“Protector.”

“How do you know?”

I raked my hands through my hair. I’d known, hadn’t I? All
this time my gut was crying out the truth, but I hadn’t wanted to admit it.
“The night it happened, I felt off. I went to check on her, and outside her
chambers, in the hall, I could sense the energy of a Protector. I thought
nothing of it, as Protectors walked that hall constantly. I should’ve known
better.”

“We all thought she had died of natural causes, Owen. How
could you have known that she might have been murdered?”

Instinct, damn it all. Why didn’t I trust mine? “I should’ve
known.”

“A Protector.” Seb sighed and I knew what he was thinking:
If Protectors were involved, this could shake up the entire system. “Will you
tell the Consulate?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “No. How can I when I don’t
know who to trust?”

He nodded, and I knew he understood. There was a part of
Seb, although he wouldn’t admit it out loud, that blamed the Consulate for his
girlfriend’s death. “What will you do?”

“Get Emma and get the hell out of here.”

He quirked a brow, amusement flashing in his dark eyes. “And
you think you can, with this many people about?”

I glanced around the room, but could sense no one other than
Petunia. Still, I kept my voice low. “It’s the best time, isn’t it? With this
many people around, it’s easy to come and go.”

Seb stepped closer, lowering his voice. Any amusement was
gone from his gaze. “You understand what you’re doing? You’re going to
basically steal Consulate property.”

My anger flared. “She’s not a bloody object. She’s a human
being.”

“I know that, don’t get your knickers in a knot.” He slid a
glance toward Petunia. She’d been sitting there watching us the entire time. He
obviously didn’t trust her. Neither did I. “But they don’t. If you take her,
they will consider it stealing. Not only will the Consulate be in an uproar,
but the entire Otherworld will be searching for her. You, my friend, will be
public enemy number one.”

“They won’t find her.”

He smiled a half smile. “The elusive cottage.”

“Only you and Jotham know the location, and I trust you to
keep the secret.”

He lifted his hands in surrender. “I have this long, and I
will take it to my death.”

“If only Clarice had stayed at that cottage, she would have
been safe. But she had insisted on coming to the monthly meeting, she’d had
something important to say. I could sense her nervousness, her excitement.”

Slowly, things were starting to fall into place. I had no
doubt that whatever she knew had gotten her killed.

“Even if she had, she couldn’t have stayed there forever.”

I knew what he was implying. Emma might be safe there for a
while, but it would be no better than being in a glorified prison. “She’ll be
protected there.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I know I can’t keep her
there forever, but for now it will do.”

“Will she be protected? Can you save her from the Consulate,
the Otherworld, and the Underworld? One man?”

I wasn’t offended; it was a valid question. “I will, at
least until I can find proof of Clarice’s murder.”

Seb nodded slowly. I wasn’t sure if he doubted me, and I
didn’t care. I would do whatever it took to see that Emma remained safe,
whether it meant giving up my own career and becoming the enemy to the very
people who had saved my life over a decade ago. Eager to move on, I started to
head back to the table.

“There’s one more thing.”

I paused, glancing back. “Yeah?”

Seb shifted, looking uncomfortable, so unlike him that I
couldn’t help but frown. “I…worry about her sister. I’ve been checking on her
from afar, as you asked. But if this blows up, if they think Emma is dead, will
they go after the sister?”

Unease sent a shiver over my body. Hell, I hadn’t even
thought about her family. If anything happened to Lizzie, Emma would never
forgive me. Fortunately, I knew Seb had a plan. “What are your thoughts?”

Seb rubbed the dark scruff upon his chin. The guy looked like
he was being forced to eat something rotten. “I want…to take her into
seclusion.”

Shocked, I studied his features, looking for signs of
suspicion. Why the hell would he care about Lizzie? Yeah, Seb was my friend, my
best mate, actually. But since when did he have empathy for anyone but himself?
“Why?”

He flushed, actually flushed. “She’s so damn innocent. She
trusts everyone—”

“In other words, the complete opposite of Emma.”

Seb grinned and I couldn’t help but smile back. In that
moment, I finally understood. Bloody hell, Seb actually liked Lizzie. “All
right,” I said a bit warily. “I’ll trust you to protect her.”

He released a wry laugh. “Trust
me
? As if I’d do anything to harm her? Please, the woman is a damn
menace. If anything, you should be worried about me.”

I released a wry laugh. “Right.”

“No, truly, I’m honored you trust me with the chit,” he said
dryly. “Believe me, I’d rather be at the bleedin’ dentist than with her.”

Yeah, he was definitely protesting too much. I was still
grinning when Seb disappeared and I started back to the table, still stunned
when I settled in the chair next to Pet’s. Seb actually had feelings for
someone. He’d been so destroyed when his Matchmaker had died that I hadn’t
thought he’d ever recover. I only hoped he didn’t hurt Lizzie, because then I’d
have to hurt him for Emma’s sake.

“You were talking about Emma?” Pet asked as I pulled a book
forward. It was less a question and more of an accusation.

“Yes.” What was she getting at? There was meaning behind her
question. There was always meaning in everything she said or did. Whatever it
was, I didn’t have time to appease her.

“What’s she like?”

I resisted the urge to tell her to leave me the hell alone.
Shite, I didn’t want to deal with this. Not now. I knew why she was fishing for
answers, and I didn’t have time for her jealousy. Seb had been right when he’d
told me months ago that Pet hadn’t gotten over me.

She rested her hand on my forearm. “Owen?”

I shrugged, not daring to make eye contact. No, that’s what
she was looking for…some sort of affirmation that we had a connection.
“She’s…normal.”

Like no one I’ve ever
met. Strong. Stubborn. Beautiful.

She pulled her hand away and focused on a book. I could tell
by the stiffness of her shoulders that my response hadn’t been natural enough.
Pet knew Emma and I had a connection. Hell, she should know; she had fallen for
her Matchmaker. “She’s young.”

“Yeah.”

“Like…our age.”

“Yeah.” What was she getting at? Whatever it was, I knew it
couldn’t be good. I tossed my book aside and grabbed another. I was just about
to hint that maybe she should head to her chambers so I could work when she got
to the point.

“You like her.”

It wasn’t a question. “Yeah,” I said, admitting the truth.
“I do.”

Frantic, she scooted back, knocking a book off the table in
the process. It hit the floor with a thud. “I’m sorry, I should have…” Her
voice caught as she trailed off.

Guilt and annoyance combined. Still, I could admit I felt
bloody bad about dumping her, even a year later. But we’d only dated a bleeding
six months. What’d she want? A proposal?

“No, you’re fine.” We both leaned down at the same time,
reaching for the book. Our fingers brushed. I paused and she froze, sucking in
a sharp breath. I felt nothing, but then our relationship had fizzled out
pretty quickly. She was pretty, and yeah, I’d noticed. But I knew I couldn’t be
tied down. I thought she’d felt the same way. But as she shivered next to me, I
realized that she hadn’t felt nothing after all.

“Why?” she whispered, her breath warm on my face.

I lifted my gaze, meeting her tear-filled eyes. “You know
why, we don’t have time for relationships.”

Her lower lip quivered. “You would with her.”

“Pet, you know I can’t—”

Before I could get the excuse out, she leaned forward and
pressed her lips to mine.

********

Emma

“Concentrate, Emma,” Falconer said, the sternness of his
tone not going unnoticed.

I didn’t want to freaking concentrate. It felt like I was
working at a factory. Get everyone matched as quickly as possible, one after
the other. They might as well have been sitting on a conveyer belt. I shifted,
the heat of the fireplace where I stood overwhelming.

But it didn’t work that way, as I soon found out. Yeah, the
first few matches had gone through without a hitch. I felt like I was doing
something positive, the energy rushing through me in a sweet wave of pure
bliss. But when I hit my first stalemate, it had gone downhill from there. They
didn’t understand why it wouldn’t work. Unfortunately, I did.

How was I supposed to tell the governor of the fairies that
he apparently wasn’t evolved enough for a match? That the universe, the gods,
whatever, didn’t think he was mature enough to have a soul mate quite yet?
After I’d held his hands and drawn a big blank, he hadn’t taken it well. And
that wasn’t the first fail. Nope, just the first in a long line.

“What do you mean, you don’t feel anything?” The softly
spoken being in front of me tortured me with her large, innocent eyes. She
wanted it badly; I had a feeling she wanted it too badly and that was why she
wasn’t ready. Hadn’t Falconer said that the moment you didn’t think you needed
a soul mate was the moment you found yours? She was desperate. Love and
desperation didn’t go hand in hand.