Make Me A Match (The Matchmaker) (20 page)

I wasn’t even sure what the heck she was—pale as shimmering
snow, white hair that was almost silver, pale blue eyes—she was as
delicate-looking and fragile as a snowflake. And when her lower lip quivered as
if she might burst into tears, I wanted to hightail it out of there. Yeah,
emotions made me slightly uncomfortable, especially coming from this childlike
woman.

Twenty beings I’d tried to match. Fifteen matched, five
blanks. Duds.

She, apparently, would be number six.

And she wasn’t taking it well. God, I hated it when people
cried. That steel heart of mine tended to rust. I glanced toward Jotham for
help, but he merely sat in a chair by the fireplace, looking as unemotional and
as unhelpful as always.

“Perhaps,” the tall, scary-looking man looming behind her
snapped out. “You should try again.”

Ah, yes, the proud father. He was some important being in
the Otherworld. I had a feeling I didn’t want him on my bad side. Too late. I
gave them a tight smile. Exhausted, my head throbbed, my body ached, and
frankly I was tired of trying to appease others. I glanced at Falconer, seated
in one of two chairs near the hearth. Jotham was sitting in the other. Instead
of saving me, Falconer merely gave the tiniest nod. I had to resist the urge to
sigh. He wasn’t going to let me give up anytime soon.

Where the hell was Owen when I needed him?

I closed my eyes and took her pale, delicate hands in mine.
She was so beautiful and elegant that I felt like an ogre next to her. Taking
in a deep breath, I prayed to the gods that they’d show mercy and give me a
freaking vision.

Nothing.

Yeah, the gods sucked.

I was about ready to release her hands and tell her I was
done, better luck next time, when I felt the oddest stirring in my body…like a
tingle of awareness.

Lie,
a voice
whispered through my mind.

Startled, I stiffened, but didn’t dare open my eyes. Had I
imagined the word? Not Owen. Nope, this was…Oh my God, I think it was Falconer.

Do you understand?
he
added.
Lie to her.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face devoid of emotion
even though my heart hammered so hard that I was certain they’d see it pounding
in my chest. “I think…” I hated lying. Okay, that wasn’t true. I’d made my
living by lying. But this…for some reason seemed really, really wrong.

“Yes?” Snowflake girl whispered breathlessly, desperately.

Lie,
Falconer said
and I didn’t miss the tone. It wasn’t a suggestion, but a demand. According to
Owen, I should only be matching humans. It was bad enough that I was matching
these Otherworldly beings, and now…now Falconer wanted me to lie. Yet, as much
as it sucked, I knew I had to fib in order to prevent a war. But what would
happen when they realized I lied?

They wouldn’t accept that they weren’t ripe; they thought
they were above humans and therefore ready for love. In other words, they were
arrogant and egotistical. I cleared my throat. “Paris. He’s in Paris, but
that’s all I’m getting.”

I opened my eyes. Her face had flushed with excitement, the
only color in her pale body. “You’re sure that’s it?”

I nodded, all I could do. I was too afraid to speak, afraid
they’d read the truth in my tone. The way her father watched me, I suspected he
had a feeling I’d lied. They’d find out soon enough. But at least it would give
me time to think of another plan. Time to discuss this with Owen.

“Come along,” her father demanded.

She stood and leaned over, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Thank you!”

Like that, leaving behind the scent of spring and flowers,
she was gone. But it wasn’t over. Nope. I had about twenty other people milling
around, waiting their turn, a small group inside and apparently a line out the
door. The moment Snowflake left, they swiveled their heads toward me, waiting
eagerly for their name to be called.

Falconer surged to his feet, weaved around a family of
elves, and paused near me. “Five more—”

“No,” I snapped.

Falconer seemed startled by my outburst. Jotham stood and
moved quickly toward us, sensing an argument. “She needs rest.”

Thank God for small favors. At least someone was on my side
here.

Falconer sighed. “Fine. But we are starting this up again
tomorrow morning.”

No surprise. Couldn’t wait. I ignored the rumble of protest
coming from the other beings waiting to be matched, gave Jotham a grateful
smile, and then fled toward the door. I couldn’t breathe. But as I burst into
the corridor, I was startled to see a line of beings down the hallway, waiting
for me. At least thirty. They all grew silent, staring hard, probably wondering
where I was headed. I darted left, racing down an adjacent corridor. I didn’t
care if he was avoiding me, I needed to see Owen.

“Miss Watts.” Jotham suddenly appeared next to me.

I resisted the urge to sigh. Sadly, I was so used to people
appearing and disappearing that I didn’t even stumble. Just when I’d thought
I’d actually escaped…

“You did well, my dear.”

I continued to walk, unsure of where I was going. Anywhere
was better than Falconer’s chambers. “Thank you.”

“You deserve your rest. I’ll speak with Falconer about
perhaps matching fewer tomorrow.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Seriously, did the guy not see I was
eager to get the heck out of here? When Owen had said we were going to France,
I hadn’t known that I’d be stuck inside the entire time. “You don’t happen to
know where Owen is, do you?”

He reached out, resting a gentle hand on my arm. “Emma…we need
to talk.”

I slowed my steps, my unease flaring. “You look pretty
serious.”

“My dear, Owen is not your Protector anymore.”

I paused, releasing a harsh laugh. “You’re not serious, are
you?”

“You heard Falconer last night.”

I threw my arms wide. “Yeah, but he didn’t mean…forever, did
he?”

“He did. I’m afraid Falconer never jests.” He looked
serious, so freaking serious. Oh God, he wasn’t kidding. “You’ll be protected
by the Consulate now.”

My anger flared. “So they can use me?”

He didn’t respond and I knew I was right. Damn it all, where
the heck was Owen? Why hadn’t he fought for me, at the least, sent a freaking
letter to explain? “Where is he?”

The old man sighed. “I believe he’s in the library.”

I turned and started down the hall, leaving Jotham behind.
He’d sworn he wouldn’t abandon me. He’d said he was here for me. The doors to
the library were open, and the closer I stalked to them, the angrier I became.
He’d said his job was to protect me. So, where the hell was Owen? I moved into
the library and headed down an aisle, searching for him.

I heard the soft murmur of conversation and followed the
sound. Who the heck was with him? It sounded like a girl.

I turned right and found Owen and Petunia…kissing.

My heart dropped, a cold chill racing through my body. For
what seemed like eternity, I could only stand there, staring. As Owen reached
up to Pet’s shoulders, reality slapped me full on the face. Horrified, I spun
around and started back toward the door. My entire body had grown numb. I
couldn’t think; I could barely breathe. I only knew I needed to escape. Stupid,
I was so damn stupid to trust him.

“Emma,” Owen called after me.

I ignored him, hurrying my steps. Suddenly he appeared in
front of me. Unable to stop myself in time, I stumbled into him. “Damn it,
Owen!”

The numbness fled as soon as it had arrived and piercing
pain mixed with heated anger. I slammed my fists against his shoulders before
shoving away and stumbling back. “Get the hell away from me.”

“It’s not what you—”

“Not what I think?” I released a harsh laugh. “I’ve been
here before, remember? Seen it plenty of times in my line of work. You’re here
with Petunia instead of watching after me, that’s what I think. What happened
to your job? What happened to never abandoning me?”

“I was researching—”

“Don’t.” Shaking my head in disgust, I started around him. I
wasn’t sure which hurt more, that he had abandoned his job so easily, or that
he had kissed Petunia.

He gripped my upper arm. “Emma, please—”

“You’ve moved on. Given up.” I jerked away from him and
released a harsh laugh. “That didn’t take long. So much for never leaving my
side.”

“I didn’t have a choice!” He started after me, his jaw set
with anger. “I’ve been researching, whether you want to believe me or not. I’m
trying to figure out how the hell to get you back under my watch.”

I moved toward the open door. “Don’t bother.”

“Emma, she kissed me. Don’t do this, you know I have no
feelings for her.”

I paused on the threshold, my heart begging me to believe
him. If I believed him, I’d be no better than those housewives I’d worked for.
Maybe someday after falling so deeply in love with him, I’d find out he’d
cheated on me and then…and then I’d be destroyed. I couldn’t let that happen.

“You forget, Owen. I know better.”

“Emma.” He sighed. “We need to talk—”

“Don’t follow me, I mean it.” I stepped through the door and
slammed it shut.

Frantic to escape, I raced up the steps of the arena. I
heard the door open, knew he watched me, but prayed he wouldn’t follow. I
needed time alone. Time to think, and I couldn’t think when he was near.

I fled through the door and into the hall, then darted
right. I needed Lizzie, someone to talk to, someone who would take my side. But
Lizzie was an ocean away. Alone, I was alone.

My footsteps slowed as I let the silence wash over me. Could
I trust Owen? I sank back against the wall and slid to the ground, my knees to
my chest. Dare I trust Owen? He was the only one I had here. My heart wanted to
believe in him, but my mind…my rational mind told me he was just like every
other guy. He’d kept things from me, he’d lied, he’d abandoned me.

Tears of frustration burned my eyes. My hands fisted against
the floor, my anger growing with each moment I thought about him. I wouldn’t
sit around feeling sorry for myself, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let the
Consulate use me.

Sniffing back my unshed tears, I surged to my feet. Time to
take control of my life. I didn’t need this crap; I was in charge of me, no one
else. I was leaving. I was going back to Lizzie, back to Michigan, back to
doing what I knew best…catching cheating husbands.

Determined, I started down the hall when a shiver of unease
raced over my skin. I froze. I knew without looking that someone was behind me.
Not Owen. The energy was different somehow. Just as I was getting ready to turn
and confront the being, muscled arms wrapped around my waist, jerking me back
into a hard chest.

“If you know what’s best for you, you won’t fight,” someone
whispered in my ear.

Owen

“Owen, Owen, are you awake?”

I resisted the urge to sigh as I rolled to my back. Petunia leaned
over my bed, wearing nothing but a short white nightgown. Bloody hell, I
couldn’t deal with this right now. I rubbed my hands over my face, praying she
was just some nightmare. She and I needed to have a long-overdue talk.

“Owen?”

“What is it?” I sat up, the room spinning, Pet wavering in
and out of focus.

Vaguely I was aware that I still wore my trainers, jeans,
and T-shirt. Had I actually dozed off? No, impossible. I hadn’t slept in a
long, long while. Still, the muddled feeling in my mind was odd, something I’d
never experienced before. What had happened last night?

“Your reputation is vindicated!” She did a little hop,
thrilled, although I hadn’t a clue what she was talking about.

Bloody hell, my head felt fuzzy. Almost as if…as if someone
had drugged me. Slowly I stood, my heart slamming against my rib cage in
denial. Drugged, or more likely someone had used a spell on me. I reached out,
gripping the bedpost for support. Shite, I needed to find Emma and fast.

Petunia stepped closer, frowning. “Did you hear me?”

I glanced toward the windows. It was dark. How long had I
been out? “What?”

How much time had passed? I searched my memory, attempting
to recall the evening. Emma…I’d been heading after Emma…going up those steps
and then…nothing. I stumbled across the room, my legs leaden. I couldn’t bloody
control my own body any longer. Someone had wanted me out of the way. I reached
for the lamp and pulled the switch. The room burst into life, making my
throbbing head flare with pain.

“The nerve of them, to make it seem like you couldn’t handle
her, and now…” She released a loud chuckle and paced my room, her slippers
swooshing against the floorboards. Everything seemed loud…too damn loud. “That
will teach them.”

“Pet, Christ, what the bloody hell are you talking about?”

She spun around to face me, her eyes sparkling with triumph
and laughter. “They lost her!”

I didn’t know what the bloody hell she was talking about and
didn’t have time to play her games. I had to find Emma, make sure she was well.
I moved past Pet and pulled the T-shirt over my head, tossing it to the bed.
When I found out who had drugged me, they’d pay.

“The nerve,” Pet continued, as if I actually cared what the
Consulate thought of me.

We’d leave. No matter what, I was getting her out of here.
The cottage. Clarice’s cottage would be a safe base…for now. I reached the
wardrobe and pulled out a white button-down shirt.

“Owen, don’t you know?” Petunia sounded shocked, and that’s
when the alarm bells went off. Something had happened to Emma.

My shirt in hand, slowly I turned to face her. “Tell me.”

“Your Matchmaker!”

My veins turned to ice, my fear so real, it brought a bitter
taste to my mouth. “What?”

“Your Matchmaker is missing!”

I froze. In the middle of my room, I froze. I couldn’t move,
my body no longer worked. Frantically, I reached out with my senses, trying to
find her. Nothing. Hell, she was out there alone? Suddenly everything made
sense. The abduction attempts, the spell that had made me sleep. “How? When?”

She shrugged as if it made no difference. “Sometime last
night.”

I glanced at the clock. Four in the morning.
Shite, shite, shite!
I jerked my shirt
on, not bothering to button it. This was my fault. All of it. I started toward
the wardrobe and grabbed my dagger, sliding it into the waistband of my jeans.

“Owen, do you realize what his means? They implied you
couldn’t handle her, and now they have to eat crow and accept the blame!”

“What it means,” I growled as I started toward the door. “Is
that she’s out there unprotected.”

Her smile fell.

“How long has she been missing?” I asked as I reached for
the door handle. I couldn’t sense Emma…why couldn’t I sense her? I felt like
someone had reached inside and torn a vital organ from my body. Hell. She was
off property; that’s why I couldn’t sense her.

She shrugged.

“How long?” I demanded, startling her so that her lower lip
quivered. I didn’t have time for her emotional baggage right now. Would I forever
be punished for those few months of dating? She either didn’t realize how
important this was, or was too self-centered to care.

“I don’t know. Someone went to check on her just a bit ago
and found her missing. They’ve searched the castle.”

“Shite.” I tore open the door and ran into the hall. They
wanted Emma for her powers, but would they go to war to win her back? Yes, she
was more powerful than most, but war would mean lives lost. They had other
Matchmakers to take her place.

I turned a corner and in my haste I almost slammed into Pet.
She disappeared just in time, reappearing beside me. “Owen, I want to help.”

Hell, why couldn’t she leave me alone? “Tell me everything
you know. What happened? Where is she?”

She rested her hand on my shoulder. “It’s bad news.”

Now she cared? It wouldn’t work. I shrugged off her touch,
in no mood. “What happened?”

She shook her head, her lower lip quivering as if on cue.
Bloody hell, how had I not noticed how fake she was? “We don’t know, but we do
know she’s gone.”

Gone. Emma wasn’t here. I couldn’t sense her. It was as if a
very part of me was missing, leaving behind something cold, and empty. I moved
past her, knowing she’d follow, and headed down the hall toward Emma’s room.
Halfway there I disappeared, reappearing inside her chamber. It still smelled
like her…warm vanilla with the slightest sweetness of lilacs. But she was gone,
I could sense it. Feel it in my soul. Gone from the castle, maybe even the
town. A cold numbness washed over me. My fault. All of it was my fault.

“How did she leave?” I asked, my voice catching with
emotion. “What about the guards?”

“No one saw a thing.”

Numbness gave way to anger. Furious, I spun around to face
her. “They’re lying! Someone is lying!”

She nodded, looking startled by my outburst. “They’ve sent
men to Michigan in case she returns home.”

“She’s not there, they know that.”

“How do you know for sure?” She spread her arms wide. “She
wasn’t happy here. There is hope.”

But she was happy…with me. Wasn’t she? Until that moment
she’d spotted Pet and me kissing. I’d ruined everything, all the trust she’d
had in me. The truth was, I’d been so shocked I hadn’t pulled away from Pet as
quickly as I should have.

For one long moment I stood there, fighting for answers.
Hell, maybe she had returned home. I started to turn toward the door, intending
to transport to Michigan and see for myself, when I spotted the stuffed animal
on the floor. Half hidden under the bed, it could have easily been overlooked.

“She left her cat.”

Pet stepped closer, those perfectly plucked brows drawn
together in confusion. “Her what?”

“Her cat.” I moved across the room and knelt by the bed. The
blankets were still smooth, not a wrinkle. “She didn’t sleep here at all last
night.”

I reached out, picking up the worn gray cat, soft with age.
“She never would have left without the stuffed animal. Which means last night
someone took her.” Most likely after she’d seen Petunia and me kissing. Someone
had taken her. I was sure of it.

She’d been unprotected and it was my fault. My anger flared,
burning through my body. I dropped the cat to the bed. “I will find her, and
when I uncover who has taken her, who has betrayed us, they will pay.”

I spun around, intending to leave, when I met Petunia’s
gaze. Her pupils were wide, her breath coming out in shallow pants, a fine
sheen of sweat, so fine a normal human wouldn’t have noticed, glistened across
her forehead.

Suddenly, I knew.

It all made sense, didn’t it? I disappeared, reappearing
directly in front of her. Before she could scream I had her by the throat,
slamming her against the wall. “Where the hell is she?”

Pet clawed at my hands, her gaze pleading. “Owen, please,
you’re scaring me!”

I tightened my grip. “Don’t lie to me, tell me now! Where is
Emma?”

Pet flinched but didn’t answer.

I felt Falconer’s energy right before he addressed me.
“Owen, dear God, what are you doing?”

I released Pet and spun around to face the man. He wasn’t
alone; I could see the guards in the hallway, drawn to Pet’s frantic energy.
“Emma is missing.”

“Yes, we will find her. There is nothing to worry about—”
Falconer broke off as he got a look at Pet’s pale face. “Are you well, my
dear?”

I didn’t give a shite if she was okay. “Someone took her,
and Pet knows who.”

“I don’t!” she cried out, pressing her hands to her throat
as tears streamed from her eyes. “He’s gone insane! Crazy!”

Falconer’s gaze shifted to me, a wariness there that had me
wishing I’d left the castle and searched on my own when I had the chance.
“Owen, you are being ridiculous.”

I ignored Falconer, focusing my senses on the man, taking in
his pupils, his breathing…had he been involved? My heart slammed wildly in my
chest. I wanted to scream; I wanted to kill someone. Hell, I didn’t know who to
trust anymore.

Falconer started toward me, his steps slow and cautious as
if he approached a wild animal. “You don’t know—”

“I know!”

“Calm down,” Falconer hissed.

A few guards moved into the room, drawn by my anger. I’d
become the enemy, when only months ago I’d been their ideal Protector. But
months ago I hadn’t known the truth; I’d been blinded by my loyalty.

“I will not calm down,” I seethed. “You said you’d protect
her!”

Falconer paused a few steps from me, the guards behind him,
just waiting for an order. “Young man, I do not like your tone.”

“An Otherworldly being must have taken her, or at least had
a hand in her abduction. We both know that, you just don’t want to admit it.”

“There are many visiting the Consulate at the moment.”

So he thought to place the blame on a fairy or elf? Typical.

“Owen, please,” Pet whispered. “We are your friends.”

“Are you truly that jealous?” I asked, turning my anger on
her. “That you’d give the life of another to appease your petty vengeance?” I
stepped closer to them both. “Know this…when I find out who was involved, that
person will pay with their life.”

********

Emma

When I woke up, I saw steel bars and cement flooring.

To be honest, it wasn’t the first time I’d been in a cell,
but this was definitely different. I wouldn’t have any grandmother to bail me
out, and I hadn’t been put in prison for trespassing…for the fifth time. No,
I’d ended up here when I’d done nothing wrong but trust the Consulate.

I shoved my hands against the moldy mattress I lay upon and
managed to somehow get to my feet. The room around me spun, as if I’d been
drugged. I gripped the bars for support, waiting for my brain to stop
thrumming.

Something had happened…something…

I took in a deep breath, trying to relax my tight lungs, but
nothing seemed to work. It only made me dizzier. I’d been in a hall at the
castle when someone had grabbed me from behind. Yeah, that sounded right. I’d
been running…running because Owen had been kissing Petunia. Oh God, that hadn’t
been a dream. I gripped the bars and leaned forward, resting my head against
the cold steel.

I wasn’t sure which was more disgusting…the memory of them
kissing, or the scent of refuse that surrounded me in my dungeon. This was what
I got for trusting a man. I shoved my hands against the bars with an angry
growl and stumbled back.

Where the hell was I?

Slowly, I turned. Three walls of stone, one wall of bars.
Was I even still in the castle, or had I been carried outside the walls? I
squeezed my eyes shut and thought of Owen.

Where are you?

He didn’t respond. He didn’t appear, surprising me. I leaned
back against the stone wall. I was really alone. It was almost as if the stone
ceiling and walls surrounding my cage insulated me from the outside world, from
life. Other than the soft drip of condensation coming from somewhere in those
dark shadows, the place was completely silent. I went to the bars and peered
down the halls as far as I could. Nothing but more stone. Only a few windows
high up on the wall provided weak light.

Frustrated, I paced along the barred wall, looking for a way
to escape. There had to be a way out. As soon as I escaped this mess I was
headed back to Michigan, back to a life I understood. I sighed, feeling the
sting of tears. How had I lost control of my world? I rested my head on the
bars. Who was I kidding? I’d never had control. No, I was doing PI work that I
didn’t really enjoy, using Lizzie as an excuse not to move on.

I shook the bars. “Damn it!”

If
I got out of
this mess. I paced the cage, wondering who had abducted me. At this point, I had
a long list of enemies. They could have killed me, but they hadn’t. No, I was
here for a reason…and I had no doubt that reason was to match. And when they
came for me, wanting to use my powers, I would get my chance to escape, my
chance to start over. I had to believe that.

“Pretty, pretty bird,” someone said in a singsong voice that
sent a shiver over my skin. From the far corner of the room, a dark shadow
emerged. “I’ve been watching you.”

A vampire. I could tell the moment he stepped into the light
from the windows above. Long, greasy hair, pale face, evil grin…yep. My very
own creepy stalker. Lucky me. I had to resist the urge to step back. Where
would I go anyway?

“I’ve heard Matchmaker blood tastes ever so yummy.” He
rubbed his hands together, his gleeful grin baring yellowed teeth. Who the hell
was he? Maybe I wasn’t here to make matches. Unable to help myself, I took a
step back, then another and another until my back hit the stone wall.