Make Me A Match (The Matchmaker) (22 page)

“Rennie,” Bay called out. “Come up here!”

The man who had been pushed to the floor by the guards only
moments ago started hesitantly toward us, his face furious. Hell, couldn’t Bay
see that these vamps wanted to be matched about as much as the fates wanted me
to match them?

“I don’t need one,” Rennie hissed. He obviously liked having
a good time and didn’t want a soul mate cramping his style. I didn’t blame him.
Relationships were freaking messy.

“We shouldn’t have to match if we don’t want to!” some vamp
from the back of the room cried out as he surged to his feet. He was a dark
shadow among many, the light not daring to reach them. I swallowed hard,
searching the room for as many possible exits as I could find. When the time
came, could I escape?

“Aye!” A female vamp agreed.

Their glowing red eyes flashed angrily to me, as if it were
my fault they were here, my fault they had to have soul mates.

“Calm down,” Bay demanded.

“We will not!” Before I had time to sit back down, Rennie
surged forward in a blur of movement. Suddenly I was shoved against the stone
wall, a steel hand at my neck. “Why should we believe her anyway?”

In a blink Bay was there, hissing at Rennie. “Release her,
you bastard. Or you will—”

The lights went out. The entire room grew black, but for
those glowing red eyes in front of me. I couldn’t breathe…the air around me
gone. I reached up, desperately clawing at Rennie’s arm, but he didn’t relent.
I was going to die.

A great burst of fire suddenly lit the room, hovering in the
air. Shocked, Rennie released his hold and I fell to the ground, gasping for
breath. The fireball flew through the air, hitting a crowd of vampires. Their
bodies twisted and spun, their screams echoing across the stone room as they
burst into flames. Sucking in great gulps of air, I grasped the edge of the
table and managed to get to my feet. Relief was sweet. Maybe, just maybe, I
wasn’t going to die after all. Finally, the Consulate had arrived.

“About freaking time,” I rasped through my sore throat.

Hearing me, Rennie spun around.
Crap
. I lifted a chair and swung it toward the vampire as he raced
straight at me. It hit him against the chest and the hard spindles splintered,
pattering to the floor. With a grunt he stumbled back, but it didn’t stop him.
When his lips lifted into a hiss, I realized that I’d merely pissed him off.

I stumbled back directly into a hard body. Firm fingers
gripped my wrist, the stench surrounding my captor made me gag. “Let go!” I
growled, struggling in his grip. “You heard Bay.”

“I’d much rather taste ye than be matched.” I knew that
voice well. Terrified, I froze. Tipper had found me. Just when I thought I was
a goner, Bay surged forward, tearing Tipper away and tackling him to the
ground.

Thrown off-balance, I tripped on my long skirts. My ankle
twisted painfully as I fell off the platform, hitting the stone floor hard.
With a groan, I ignored the pain shooting up my calf and managed to drag myself
under the nearest table to catch my breath. Only a moment…I only needed a
moment to recuperate. As the lights surged back on, momentarily blinding
everyone in the room with their brightness, my hope flared. Frantic to reach
the Consulate, I pulled myself out from under the table and into the middle of
the room.

But no…there was no Consulate, no team of men coming to my
rescue. My hope and my heart sank. There was only one man who stood in the
center of the room, fighting a horde of vampires.

Owen.

Just Owen.

Owen

Forty-nine to one.

Sure, I could handle those odds. And then I’d fly away in my
UFO and live happily bloody after. I lowered myself to the terrace that
overlooked the large stone room below, and glanced between two columns. Four
wooden tables full of vampires, four guards at the top of the room, near a
platform holding only Emma and Bay. I didn’t allow myself to focus on her. No,
if I saw an injury, hell, even if I noticed fear on her face, I wouldn’t be
able to control myself. I needed to focus on my goal, getting her out of here,
and I couldn’t let my emotions get in the way.

I’d visited the vampire lair in the past with Jotham when
he’d been attempting to form a treaty with the bloodsuckers, but I didn’t know
the building well enough to feel comfortable.

It had been easy gaining access through the fields of
poppies that surrounded the castle. Vampires were nocturnal and the sun had
just risen. It also helped that they had egos as big as Russia and didn’t think
they needed guards outside. Still, as I’d snuck into the building, I’d been
surprised to see they were awake. But then they had a new, exciting toy in Emma
and they were obviously trying to figure out how to use her to their best
benefit.

Unable to help myself, I glanced at her. My heart clenched,
emotions I didn’t want to dwell upon surging to the surface. She looked brave,
I’d give her that much, and I’d never been more proud of her. But I could sense
the nervousness, see it in the flicker of her gaze as she glanced around the
room. She was waiting for the vamp she’d just matched to return and proclaim
her as a fraud. She’d lied to him to save her own hide, the smart chit. But she
knew as well as I did that he’d be back soon.

“We shouldn’t have to match if we don’t want to!” some vamp
cried out as he jumped to his feet.

“Aye!” another vamp agreed.

I focused on their leader, Bay. As vampires went, he was one
of the more rational and controlled beings, but that wasn’t saying much where
vampires were concerned. He was losing his grip on the room. Vampires were an
unruly bunch to begin with; they didn’t like to be told what to do. I’d never
envied Bay and his leadership role, and I’m sure at that moment he didn’t
either.

Bloody hell. Not good. Not good at all. Perfect time to
intervene. The only time. A vampire advanced toward Emma, slamming her against
the wall. I had to resist the urge to travel there immediately. Shite. With my
hands trembling, I jerked on the breaker box, throwing the room into darkness.
A gasp of surprise whispered through the room. Slowly, I lowered myself to the
ledge above the door.

Now or never. Conjuring a fireball, I tossed it toward a
group who had gathered close to the front of the room. They burst into flames,
their screams echoing against the stone walls. I felt absolutely no guilt. In
fact if anything, I only wanted to kill more of the bastards. I disappeared,
reappearing on the floor below.

Through the darkness I could see that the vamp had released
his hold on Emma. I could sense her energy, feel the life in her, and my relief
was immediate. She would survive. But I didn’t have time to go to her. A
vampire noticed me, his hiss of outrage the warning I needed. As he raced
forward, I lifted the crossbow, aimed, and hit him in the gut. The lights burst
back to life just as he stumbled, falling. The bright lights helped my cause,
momentarily blinding the vamps. I was able to shoot three more through the
heart before they had regained their senses. Vaguely, I was aware of Emma
stumbling her way down the aisle toward me. I might not get out alive, but if I
could at least hold them back while she escaped…

A few cowardly vampires raced from the building, giving up
easily, most likely thinking I had backup. Unfortunately I still had a good
twenty-five or more to fight. I pulled the sword from the sheath on my back and
swung it wide. The sharp blade sliced through the neck of the first vampire to
reach me, but two others hit me before I could lift the weapon again. We
slammed to the floor hard and the sword fell from my hand, clanging across the
stone, the crossbow useless at my side.

“Owen!” Emma called out.

I lifted my knee, shoving one vampire off. “Emma, go!”

The other vampire took his friend’s place and leapt atop me,
his cold hands at my neck. I swung my arm upward, smashing the end of the
crossbow into his temple. The vamp didn’t even flinch. His hands tightened
around my throat, preventing air from filling my lungs. Black spots floated
before my eyes.
 

Concentrate
. I
needed to concentrate and use my powers. I disappeared, reappearing a few feet
away gasping for air. Emma had scooped up my sword and swung it toward the vampire
who’d been strangling me. The blade hit the beast hard enough to pierce his
arm. He cried out, stumbling to the side.

But the moment we injured one, two others took his place. A
vampire raced toward Emma, dagger raised.

I disappeared, reappearing in front of her. “Damn it, Emma.
Leave! Escape! I’ll hold them off.”

Her hair hung in clumps around her pale face, those eyes
wide with fear and adrenaline, her breathing as harsh as mine, but it was the
red marks around her neck that sent my anger boiling over the edge. Didn’t she
understand how close she was to death? It wasn’t something noble, or beautiful.
Death was ugly, painful, and I wouldn’t see her go through that. At least not
here, not now.

“Go!”

She scowled, sword in hand. “I won’t leave you!”

The vampire reached me. Momentarily distracted, I looked
away, swinging the crossbow and hitting him across the face. Ten vamps were
fighting amongst themselves at the front of the room. Five were headed our way.

“Emma…” I spun around, intending to tell her to leave, but I
was too late. I saw him coming at her before she had time to react. Emma raised
the sword, hitting the vampire at the same time his dagger sliced across her
arm. Emma cried out, stumbling. I didn’t think, merely lifted the crossbow and
shot the vampire. His dagger fell, the vamp stumbling to the ground, groaning.

It wasn’t until she teetered toward the ground, her legs
giving out, that I realized the direness of her situation. In a flash I was at
her side, sliding my arm around her waist and pulling her close. “Are you
okay?”

She nodded, but the pain in her eyes told me otherwise. She
was far from well. She had only moments before she passed out. “Go. I’ll
mentally call for Jotham once you leave, he’ll meet you in the fields. The
vamps won’t follow, they can’t stand sunlight.”

“I won’t leave you!”

I wanted to shake some sense into her, but I didn’t have
time. “Then we will both die and this will be for nothing!”

“Oh my God, you’re not here to get us out.” Stunned, in
pain, she dropped the sword to her side. “You’re here to die.”

I released my hold and shoved her toward the door. “Just go,
now.”

“Owen.” She shook her head, her lower lip quivering. “Don’t
you get it? I can’t leave you.”

“Bloody hell.” I spun around just in time to hit a vampire
across the face with my crossbow. But it was too late. We were surrounded.
Slowly, I stepped closer to Emma, my back to her. At least twenty, if I had
counted correctly…and they were all ready to feed. They’d smelled Emma’s blood
and their hunger would not be denied.

Emma’s uninjured hand slid into mine, her fingers cold,
trembling. It was over. I had failed…again.

“Go,” she whispered. “Just go. You can teleport out of here.
There’s no reason for both of us to die.”

I looked down at her, taking in her pale, sweaty face. “I
won’t leave you,” I said, repeating her words. “I promised I’d never leave you,
and I won’t.”

Tears shimmered in her blue eyes, making them sparkle,
probably the last thing I would see. “Owen, don’t. Please.”

I gave her a soft smile and for that brief moment it was
only the two of us, and nothing else mattered. “We’re in this together, Emma.”

“Enough!” Bay roared, shoving aside two vampires to get to
us.

The leader paused, his breathing heavy, the suit he wore in
tatters. He might not be able to stop the twenty or so vamps out to kill us,
but maybe he and his army could. The guards shoved their way to the forefront,
pushing at the other vampires until they backed up a few steps.

But their attention wasn’t focused on Bay. No, they were
focused on Emma. The blood was slowly draining, dripping down her arm, her
hand, and pooling onto the floor.
Drip
.
Drip
.
Drip
. They could smell it, and it fed the beasts. They wouldn’t be
denied for long.

“We were friendly at one time,” Bay said, his gaze on me.

“We were,” I managed to respond. “Until you tried to steal
my Matchmaker.”

His mouth quirked. “Fair enough. Word is that you’ve been
banned from the Consulate.”

I felt Emma’s shock next to me but I didn’t respond. She
wouldn’t last much longer, could barely keep standing. I tightened my hand on
hers. If Bay was going to help us, I wished he’d get on with it.

“The Consulate and I have disagreed,” I explained.

He laughed. “I’ve misjudged you.”

But just as quickly as it had come, his laughter faded. He
was silent for a long moment, the only sound the slight hiss coming from the
surrounding vampires who were just waiting for word to attack.

Finally, he stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Go,
Protector. Take your Matchmaker. I have a feeling she’s useless to us anyway.”

There was a hiss of disapproval from the other vampires who
had heard; I could feel their anger and disbelief mounting. I didn’t envy Bay.
We had to get out of there immediately, before they overpowered their leader
and we were screwed.

Emma reached out, briefly touching Bay’s arm. “Thank you.”

Bay looked just as surprised as I felt. Really, thanking the
bastard was a bit much, considering she was here because of him.

She started to pull back, only to pause. When I saw the odd
look flash in her eyes, I almost groaned. I knew exactly what was happening.
Slowly, painfully, she leaned forward and whispered near Bay’s ear, “University
of Lyon. She teaches medieval history.”

Bay blinked at her, stunned. But I hid my surprise well. We
didn’t have time for questions, and I didn’t wait around to hear his words of
thanks. While the other vampires were hissing their displeasure and the guards
were holding them back, I scooped Emma up into my arms and raced from the room.
It was as I reached the hall that I heard the uproar behind us. Bay would only
be able to hold them back for so long.

“Thank you, Owen,” Emma whispered, her breath warm across my
neck.

I ran down the dark hall, toward those massive double doors
and freedom. “There’s no need to thank me.”

“I know.” She smiled up at me as I kicked open the doors.
The brilliant sun that burst inside was almost blinding, but I welcomed the
light, for it would protect us. “You were just doing your job.”

Yeah, just my job. But we both knew that wasn’t true. This
wasn’t my job. No, this was…more.

“It’s okay.” I didn’t take the drive but climbed a hill of
poppies, praying I wasn’t too late. “We’re almost there.”

But I knew it wasn’t okay. Her blood had already soaked my
shirt, warm and wet, draining from her body and branding mine. The vampire had
cut an artery. “I can’t believe you managed to get injured again.”

“Next time,” she whispered, her voice so weak I could barely
hear her. “I’ll be more careful.”

I managed to reach the top of the hill and stopped, laying
her upon the flowers. “Emma?”

But she didn’t answer. My chest grew heavy, the denial
frozen on my lips. Slowly, her lashes lowered, her eyes closed, and she lay
still upon a bed of blooms as red as her blood. As she lay there, her pale skin
glowing from the rising sun, I realized I could still save her. Maybe. Just
maybe.

I rested my trembling hands atop her chest. Her heart beat
painfully slow, so very slow. “One more time, Emma,” I whispered. “Just once
more.”

I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and pulled the
injury from her body.

********

Emma

One moment I was drowning, sinking into a sea of dark,
desperate pain. The next moment Owen was there. Owen…his energy, I recognized
him, how could I not? His energy pulled me out of that pool of despair, lifting
me higher…higher. The pain receded and warmth surged forward, sweeping through
my body. A brilliant, wonderful warmth. The sort of sensation I’d felt before.
A sensation I knew well by now.

Owen.

Startled, I jerked my eyes open, only to groan and close
them again as brilliant sunlight pierced my corneas, blinding me momentarily.
Frantic to understand, I shoved my hands into the bristly field grasses and sat
up, surrounded by swaying red poppies. Somehow I’d made it outside that vampire
lair and into the fields beyond. Slowly, I looked down at my body. Brilliant
scarlet soaked my torso, making my clothing stick to my skin.

Bemused, I turned, searching for the man who had saved me
yet again. “Owen?”

He sat next to me, only about ten feet away, his body
silhouetted against the sun. I smiled, relieved. “Owen.” But as I crawled
toward him, my smile fell. Those green eyes were hazy, unfocused, and he was
still, so still as he stared at me. “Owen?”

Slowly, he slumped, his body folding as he fell onto his
back, eyes closed.

“No,” I whispered. “No!”

I surged toward him, barely noticing the stiff grasses
biting into my sensitive palms. He was pale. Oh God, so very pale. The sting of
tears burned my eyes, as my heart denied what my mind knew was true. “Owen?”

Lightly, I slapped his left cheek. He didn’t move, didn’t
even flinch and I knew…