Page 5 of Little Music of Night

“Sure. I can make you a cup. Want any food?”

“No,” I sighed. I was far too nervous to eat. “Thanks though.”

“Got it,” he said. “Well, let’s go get you settled with your fated mates.”

Fated mates?What the hell did that even mean?

I stole a moment to steady myself, smoothing my hands down my dress. It was my go-to outfit in the late summer and early fall, the sleeves puffy and fabric soft. I’d put my long dark hair up into a braided bun, another signature look.

Bell came around the counter and I craned my head to look up at him. He wastall. The jeans he wore hugged his hips, and did my best to pry my eyes away from the hint of taut skin I spotted when his shirt lifted ever so slightly.

He was sex in the form of a man, and absolutely someone I would have dreamed about when I was a teen. Too bad he talked too much.

“What’s your name again? I don’t think you told me,” he said.

“Christy,” I said.

“Christy. All right, come on.” He led me through the cafe, and it felt silly having him escort me.

Especially to an empty booth.

Bell planted his hands on his hips expectantly. “Christy, this is Ray and Erik.”

I stared at him for a moment, then looked at the booth. The empty booth.

“There is no one here.” My cheeks flushed. “Are you just trying to fuck with me?”

“What?” Bell frowned, taking a step back from me. His eyes darted between me and the booth nervously. “Uh. Can you . . . not see the two phantoms here?”

It wasn’t that I had a temper exactly, but I did when my time was wasted and I was being made into a fool. I glowered at the handsome barista. “You’re fucking with me, right? There’s no one here. Just like I said only moments ago, but you insisted there was.”

A chill worked up my spine and I took a step back from the booth, even as I felt something trail across my arm.

Bell stepped closer as if he were going to protect me. “Don’t even think about it,” he growled, his expression tightening.

Who thefuck was he talking to?

I felt attention on us and glanced over my shoulder. Other patrons in the cafe were staring, and one got up from their table.

“Bell, do you need help?” the man asked.

The longer I stared at the stranger across the cafe, the less real he seemed. I could have sworn he had horns and that his skin was dark red.

“No, Dante,” Bell gritted out. “We’re good. Everything is fine.”

Something touched my arm again and I jerked back, startled. “You do need help,” I spat. “I don’t know what this is, but?—”

“Monsters are real,” Bell said, wincing as the words came out of his mouth. “I’m sorry, Christy. I’ll have words with my father later. I’m assuming he intended to talk to you before the date. Some humans have a block on their sight. I guess you’re one of them. But monsters are real, and you’re here to be on a date with two of them.”

I’d had enough. This was so humiliating. Why did I come here? To find love at a culty cafe? I spun on my heels. Bell called out my name, but my vision blurred with tears as I darted for the door.

And when I glanced back, I saw them. For just a split moment, creatures, all watching me.

And the man.

The masked man from my dreams.

At the very back of the cafe.