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“Rosemarie’s with her gargoyle mates.”
Val stumbles toward a chair with Monty hissing at me in warning. “Gargoyles? Mates?”
“Yes.” I leave the explanations of other supernatural species and mating customs for later. “Meg is safe. I just spoke with her.”
“You did?” For the first time since teleporting her here, my mate doesn’t look like she wants to stab me. “Let me talk to her.”
“It doesn’t work that way. For the length of the contract she signed, unless she summons me, I have to leave her be as long as she’s safe with her minotaur mate.”
“Minotaur?” Val leans forward, her head in her hands. “When Nic said you were a matchmaker to monsters, she meant literal monsters, didn’t she?”
“Even we monsters deserve mates.” I don’t risk using the word love. I’ve never had much use for the emotion. “They’ll be safe. No monster would dare violate a matchmaking contract, and the magical upgrades they’re promised with a fated mate won’t happen without her full, informed consent.”
“I’m really not a believer in thismatesthing, or any Fates who ever existed would’ve done a better job of picking out mine.”
“Ouch.” I rub the space on my human form where a heart should be.
She raises her head and glares at me, smoothing a pet over the mongoose who joins her in glaring with his beady little eyes. “Prove me wrong,” she says. “Start with finding Ava. I’ll come with you to look.”
“Someone has already stolen your friend. You’re safer here than anywhere else. I won’t let you make yourself a target.”
“Let me?” Her tone goes incredulous. “Oh no, you can’t trap me here. Don’t you dare disappear again?—”
“It’s for your own good.” I teleport out, magically locking her in the suite and hoping she won’t hate me even more for it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Val
Irun to the front door and tug. The knob won’t turn. I yank at it with no luck. “Damn it, Theo.” He must’ve locked me in before teleporting.
My new little pal, Monty, stares expectantly at me.
I’m stuck in here unless I can find a way out.
“Let’s see if the demon lied about the suite giving me anything I want.” I glance up before the realization hits me that I’ve no idea how to summon or conjure or whatever they call it here. “Open the door,” I command the room.
Nothing happens.
“Open sesame?” I try.
Nope. Nada.
I glance at Monty, my gaze catching on the hint of gold on his ears and fur that matches his other form. If he can transform into a dragon, maybe he can magic our way out of here. “Want to give it a go?” I ask him.
He vanishes. Angry squeaks come from the other side of the door. I’m taking that as a sign Monty can leave, but he can’t help me. I’m stuck with whatever the room will provide.
Looks like I’ll need to blast the door open. Let’s hope Theo isn’t too attached to it. Or even better, I’d enjoy destroying something just to piss him off. “Might as well start with a bang. Send me a rocket launcher.”
A large case clatters to the floor next to me.
I flip open the latches to find a giant barrel and other random parts inside that I have no idea how to assemble. “Whoa.”
Someone knocks on the door.
Monty pops into the space beside me, back in dragon form. “Was that you?” I whisper.
The knock comes again.
