Page 34 of Rifted Hearts
Remi looked uncharacteristically flustered after Kat’s comment but recovered his poise in seconds. “Kaveh, maybe now is a good time to lay your cards on the table of matrimony.”
“Remi and I aren’t dating.” Kaveh felt Remi hunch beside him, a reaction so slight he wouldn’t have noticed it if they hadn’t been close. “He’s been helping me find someone.”
“I have a hard time believing Remi’s only your wingman.” Jeannette used her beer bottle to point between them. “The vibe I’m getting from both of you is more like friends with full benefits and a pension.”
“I’ve entered into an arranged engagement.” Kaveh found he needed to grip onto something, and Remi’s hand, slender and cool, was right next to him. “My family has a matchmaker who’s set me up with someone. It’s an old tradition and one I respect. Only, in our society, the details can be challenging to work out.”
“I thought your family was still in Iran.” Kat set his untouched margarita on the bar top. “They sent a matchmaker here to find you someone? Wow, and I thought my great-grandparents were too nosy about my love life. They love to talk about how they were set up by amiaiservice back in the day.”
“My family isn’t in Iran.” Kaveh felt his palms grow sweaty from the tension. Remi didn’t let go. “They live past the monstertown, inside the riftland. We call it the keep.”
Jeannette didn’t make the connection, but Kat did.
“Only drakones live in the keep.” His voice trailed off as he swallowed a few times. “Which means you’re not human. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Kaveh hated to hear the hurt in Kat’s voice. It made him feel awful. “I didn’t tell anyone for a long time.”
“He knows.” Kat pointed at Remi, his hand trembling. “You met him a few days ago, but we’ve been friends for years. You’re not talking about some online dating app. You’re telling us the Matchmaker curse has been activated. And you invited Jeannette and me out because you think one of us is your match.”
“It’s not a curse.” Kaveh didn’t know how the evening had gone so wrong so fast. First the fight with Rhys, then finding out Remi had lied to him. Now everything he had feared about telling Kat was coming true. “I’m not going to force anyone to marry me, but I have to find this person before…”
“Before they escape?” Kat continued for him.
Kaveh reached out to him, trying for physical reassurance and failing.
Kat shook his head and backed away. “I can’t handle this right now.”
He slipped into the crowd, pushing his way through.Lyall sprang up, dodging feet and gyrating bodies to follow him.
Both Remi and Jeannette moved to block Kaveh from doing the same.
“Let him cool off.” Remi sounded firm. “His thoughts are a mishmash of every bad relationship he’s ever had combined with a panic no one will ever think he’s good enough for a long-term relationship.”
Both Kaveh and Jeannette stared at Remi in surprise.
“You can read minds?” Jeannette asked. “Are you part Riftworld too?”
“Sort of and yes.” Remi paused, as if surprised by his own honesty.
“Remi and I have narrowed down the group of people who could be my match.” Kaveh tried to focus on Jeannette. Remi had a point. Forcing Kat to confront this now wouldn’t do any good. Besides, if Jeanette was his intended, he could focus on apologizing to his assistant for not telling the truth about his background later. “The drakones have enemies, both in the Riftworld and outside of it. I feel terrible surprising you like this.”
Jeanette shook her head and laughed. “First off, I’ve got ten more years and one more marriage under my belt than Kat. I got hitched for love when I was nineteen, and it didnotwork out. Second, you’re good looking and rich, if the stories about the drakones are true. And more importantly, you’re the kindest man I’ve ever met. So, buy me a whisky shot and tell me how this match-with-a-monster thing works.”
Remi gave a commanding wave of his hand, and a bartender serving two other customers left them and strolled over to take the order.
Jeanette looked pleased with the quick service. Shegrabbed the shot glass off the bar top and downed the drink in one gulp. “Is it a true love kiss that reveals your bride- or groom-to-be?”
“No, it’s expensive jewelry.” Remi motioned for Kaveh to bring out the bracelet, and Kaveh fumbled in his coat pocket and pulled out the amulet.
“Bling works for me.” Jeanette reached over and placed the intricate cuff on her wrist.
Kaveh stopped breathing while she hefted her arm up and down.
The object remained unchanged.
“Solid gold, I guess,” she said. “Awfully nice, honey, but I think you’ve got the wrong girl.”
He had trouble calming himself even when she handed it back to him. Did this mean Kat was his match? His best friend was furious at him. What was he going to do?
