“You haven’t heard?” Josh asked.
Dang it all, why couldn’t Josh be my Protector? Yeah, he was good-looking in his tight black T-shirt and jeans, but he didn’t compare to Owen, and that more than surprised me. Clean-cut Owen who always followed the rules, who rarely had a lock of hair out of place, fascinated me. With Josh, I wouldn’t have to worry about that heated attraction. But the truth of the matter was it was more than just attraction. I trusted Owen like I trusted no one else.
“What is it?” Owen snapped, crossing his arms over his chest, in no mood for games either.
Here he was lecturing me about not showing my emotions. Amused, my gaze traveled from his broad shoulders to the hard planes of his face. Owen was jealous. I resisted the urge to grin. Maybe he was more human than I’d thought.
“They’re arriving.”
Startled, I pushed Owen aside to get a better view of Josh. “Who?”
Josh’s gaze went immediately to me. “The Otherworld. I could sense them from my room.”
Confused, I looked to Owen for explanation.
“How many?” he asked, not explaining in the least.
“Hundreds.”
“Shite.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “War?”
I stiffened. “Wait…what? War?”
Josh shook his head. “No, there was no sense of urgency, only excitement.”
For some reason, I didn’t feel much better. Owen said a monthly meeting was normal, but apparently not this kind of meeting. Wait…Otherworldly? I raked my mind, trying to remember who they were.
Owen began to pace the room, his agitation obvious. “I should have sensed them sooner.”
“Who are they, Owen?” I asked.
“Just Otherworldly members, friends of the Consulate,” Josh explained.
Right. Friends. Then why was Owen pacing and rubbing the back of his neck? I knew that look on his face well; he was plotting, his mind spinning. But why? What had changed?
“No one to fear, nothing for you to worry about,” Josh added.
I ignored the guy. I hated the way he talked to me so condescendingly. Like I was a cute little Matchmaker who needed to keep her mouth shut. He reminded me of Falconer. Owen might be a pain in the butt at times, but he had never treated me like I was a dimwit.
“Was there a meeting planned?” Owen asked as he headed toward the side of the room and grabbed his jacket. Although he wore a T-shirt and jeans, with the jacket he looked like a preppy rich playboy. But he hadn’t grown up rich at all. I’d misjudged him in so many ways. I had been right about one thing…he thought it was his responsibility to protect me. Call me egotistical, but I had a terrible, unsettling feeling that the reason Owen was upset was because this meeting had something to do with me.
“No, no meeting planned,” Josh said. “Just the typical monthly gathering.”
“Have you seen Seb?”
“Nope.”
“Damn, what about Petunia?”
Josh shook his head. “You need something? I can help.”
Owen ignored him and looked my way. “Emma, please retire to your room.”
I stiffened, confused. There was that straitlaced guy again. Just when I’d put him on a pedestal, just when I’d thought we’d gotten past this leaving-me-in-the-dark crap. “You can’t be serious.”
“Indeed, I am.”
“Indeed?” I was furious, anger burning a path through my veins. “Don’t do this, Owen.”
“Would you like me to escort her?” Josh asked a little too eagerly.
I ignored him and shoved my palm into Owen’s chest. “Oh, no. No. This is not going to happen. I’m sick of you treating me like a child.”
Josh watched us from the sidelines, amusement in his blue eyes. “My, isn’t she a hellcat.”
“This is none of your business, Frenchie, so stay out.” I turned my glare to him, which only seemed to make Josh more amused.
Owen took my hand, drawing my attention back to him. “We don’t know what’s going on, Emma. It would be best if you went to your room.”
“No, what would be best—”
“Enough.” Lord Falconer’s voice carried through the chamber, echoing against the stone walls and startling me silent. His footsteps were slow and steady as he made his way toward us, those black robes sweeping across the mats in a hypnotic movement. I’d never liked him, and the fact that he’d overheard our private conversation made me more than uneasy. “There’s a meeting, and Emma is needed.”
Suddenly, heading to my room didn’t sound so bad. I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to argue.
“What’s going on, my lord?”
Falconer’s gaze flicked toward me. “We shall proceed into the meeting arena.”
He hadn’t answered Owen’s question, and apparently didn’t feel the need to, as he turned and strolled back toward the door. We had no choice but to follow.
“Owen?” I whispered as we fell into step behind Josh and Falconer.
He gave a slight shake of his head, telling me to keep my mouth shut, and I would…for now. My suspicions had been right; this was about me. Why would Falconer want me otherwise? No, not want, insist I come along? I pulled at the hem of my tank top, feeling ridiculously underdressed in my workout clothes.
We turned the corner and started toward the double doors ahead. I could hear the low rumble of conversation coming from the arena and my nerves flared. How the hell were Owen and I going to sneak out now?
“There has been a meeting called,” Falconer finally explained as we headed toward those doors. “By the Otherworld.”
“Why?” Owen demanded.
I worried that Falconer would take offense by Owen’s hard tone. We didn’t need any more attention than we already had, and we sure as heck didn’t need any more enemies. I shoved my elbow into his side, but he ignored me.
“Why is everyone here?” he demanded again.
Falconer paused outside the doors and turned to face us. “The members of the Otherworld are worried about an impending attack.”
Okay, but what did this have to do with me?
“We’ll discuss it at length inside.” With a wave of his hand, the doors opened. A variety of ethereal creatures filled the room, conversing in low, murmured voices. Fairies and dwarves, angels even. They each shimmered with their own powers, beings so beautiful that it almost hurt to look directly at them.
“They’ve always been here,” Josh whispered next to me. “You’ve just never been able to see them until now.”
The roar of conversation died down to a soft murmur as beings turned, sensing our arrival. Curious faces focused on Falconer, and then shifted to me as if they knew immediately who I was…what I was capable of.
“Please, come to order,” Falconer cried out, his voice echoing across the room. There had to be at least two hundred beings in attendance in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. So many faces, the room blurred before me.
“Why?” Owen demanded again. “Why are they upset with the Underworld?”
“There is a rumor circulating,” Josh whispered.
“What?” I asked, but before he could answer, Falconer gripped my arm and led me down the steps. Helplessly, I glanced back at Owen, but I knew we had no choice but to follow along for now.
Jotham, along with the other Consulate members I’d seen when I first arrived, was seated at the high table. I focused on his kind face as we made it to the platform. At least he was here. At least I had one person on my side.
“Sit, my dear.” Falconer pulled out a chair at the end of the table.
I lowered myself carefully onto the hard seat. Murmured conversation started up once more, a wave that rolled over the crowd, threatening to drown me. I could hear the whispered words of those closest to me…they were wondering if I were old enough, experienced enough, powerful enough. Maybe I wasn’t, and what would they do if I couldn’t help?
The torchlight provided an eerie glow of light and shadows that
danced across the strange faces in the crowd. I searched for Owen, focusing on his familiar form as he settled in a vacant chair in the third row.
“You’ve arrived because you’ve heard the rumors,” Falconer said, pacing the platform slowly. “You’ve heard the rumblings of the Underworld. You feel that they are restless, gathering, and you don’t know why.” He turned toward me. “This is why. Our Matchmakers.”
A flush of heated red rushed up my neck and into my cheeks, but no one seemed to notice my discomfort, and they continued to stare unabashedly at me. I knew how those monkeys at the zoo felt.
“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?”