“I didn’t think it would,” Tarian replied before waving them off.
The battle was all but won, and his people would soon be free.
He pushed to his feet, wincing as battered muscles stiffened in protest. There was still some cleanup to take care of and an angry vampire to face.
He hoped he’d made the right choice, because he had a feeling he’d be regretting it for eternity.
Chapter Eighteen
Melissa stared up at the bright pink lettering above the glass doors.
Fated Match, she thought, find your mate anytime, anywhere.
Except it hadn’t worked that way for her.
She’d ignored the texts and voice messages from this agency for two weeks. Though she was sure Abbey’s heart was in the right place, she hadn’t been up to rehashing the demise of her relationship.
If she closed her eyes, she could still see the regret etched on Tarian’s face when he’d limped his way up to the control room. All her father’s men had been busy securing and transporting the necromancer group. The witches had been standing by, ready to escort the trucks to the supernatural version of a maximum security prison. Last she’d heard, any death race guards employed at the prison had been transferred. There would be no chance of an escape using necromancer powers.
It should give her a sense of satisfaction, knowing Dominic would pay for his crimes, but all she felt was hollow.
Tarian had tried to apologize, tried to explain, but she hadn’t wanted to hear it. Eventually he’d wrapped an arm around his shaken sister and walked out of her life.
Striding forward, she pushed open the glass door and stepped into the pristine waiting room of Fated Match.
“Melissa,” Chloe called, rising from her seat at the reception desk.
She plastered a smile on her face and strode over to the witch. “You win. My voicemail gave up from exhaustion two days ago.”
The other woman just grinned unapologetically. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Abbey said you had a rough go of it.”
“And then some,” she agreed, leaning against the desk. “So they’ve got you manning phones?”
Chloe waved the question away. “I’ve seen four clients today, organized files, updated our systems and even managed a quick lunch. You know this place wouldn’t run without me.”
“Seems like it.” Melissa glanced at the hall that led to the offices. “Is Abbey expecting me?”
“No,” Chloe replied. “It’s Vivian who wants to see you.”
She arched a brow. What did the siren want?
Chloe shrugged. “You’re a big client, and we kinda screwed you. You can’t blame her for wanting to smooth any ruffled feathers.”
“I don’t have any,” Melissa said. “It’s not your fault I fell for the wrong guy.”
“Still, let her grovel a bit. For me. Please?”
Pushing away from the counter, she inclined her head. “How can I refuse?”
Chloe clapped her hands and gestured down the hall. “She’s free. Head on back.”
Melissa turned away as the phone rang. Chloe give the standard Fated Match greeting as she headed down the hall.
Vivian had the largest office, hidden behind the last door in the hallway. She knocked twice before opening the door.
“Melissa,” Vivian said, rising from her desk. “Come in.”
She stepped into the elegant room decorated completely in silver. The white wallpaper was threaded through with silver stripes. Silver edged the colorless armchairs and coffee table.
Vivian’s desk had the shine of metal even though it was designed like wood, and the gorgeous siren herself stood behind it.
“Please, have a seat,” Vivian said, indicating the chair before the desk.
“I heard you wanted to see me,” she said as she dropped into the chair.
“To apologize.” Vivian took her seat and folded her hands over the gleaming desk. “As the head of Fated Match, I wanted to assure you we have taken your situation very seriously and made some changes around here.”
“Oh?”
“It is no longer an option to refuse to disclose your race. We’re looking into security measures for members and are thinking about offering a new service of monitoring first dates. From a safe distance, of course. Nothing obtrusive, but it will add an extra level of safety.”
“For a price, I’m assuming.”
The siren’s smile never faltered. “In order to make reparations to you, I’d like to extend you our platinum level membership for the next decade. Free of charge.”
“No offense, Vivian, but I’m not going to want to use your services for quite some time.”
“I understand. We just wanted you to know how much we value your patronage and assist you in any way we can.” Her smile slipped slightly. “Though the unfortunate events surrounding your abduction occurred outside of a Fated Match event, we still take responsibility for your chance meeting in our office.”