Page 64 of Mated to the Human: Volume One

“Now who’s the perfect one?” The answer was simple, his Merri. His mate.

EPILOGUE

LENETTE

The office was quiet. Most everyone had already gone home for the evening, her assistant included.

The quiet emptiness wasn’t the reason she felt his presence long before he made it to her office, but it certainly amplified it. Sitting back in her chair, she watched as the shadows lining her walls seemed to tremble.

He was close now.

Old and powerful as she was, she still felt her stomach jolt when his shadow started creeping along the floor through her open door. A moment later, there he was, looking just like he had five hundred years ago when she met him for the first time.

“Your Majesty,” she said. She didn’t rise or bow or any of that nonsense humans associated with royalty. Kerak was the King of Demons, potentially older than the core of this planet, and she had no doubt he could snuff the whole thing out if he decided to. That—thankfully—had never been on his agenda.

“Lenette,” he said in a voice never as deep as she expected it to be, but no less chilling if you found yourself on the wrong side of him. “You’ve been busy.”

She chuckled. “As have you.”

Walking into the office, his gaze didn’t waver from hers. The demon king was a handsome man—black hair, black eyes, and a razor-sharp smirk. The power that rolled out around him like ocean waves was just as cutting with twice the promise of destruction. “True. Solston was supposed to be the city I didn’t have to keep my eye on, but in a matter of a few weeks, my lieutenant has shifted to his true form for all the world to see, and the humans seem determined to see all of you extinguished. Why is that?”

Lenette sighed while he settled himself in one of the leather chairs across from her desk. “What can I say?” She shrugged, demure. “They aren’t fond of a woman with an agenda.”

That smirk turned up a notch. “They never are. As for your agenda…” He let his words trail off, black eyes still trained on her face.

She swallowed. “How’s your mate?”

He didn’t move. He didn’t have to. The whip-crack snap of his power shot up her spine all the same. It didn’t hurt—only a press—and even though she didn’t need the reminder of exactly who sat across from her, she’d known exactly what she was doing bringing Reid into the conversation.

“He is, as ever, in excellent health.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “I’m delighted to hear it.”

A muscle in Kerak’s jaw flexed. “If you believe I’ll ever forget the debt I owe you, you’re mistaken.”

“No, I don’t believe you will, but I am curious why my agenda concerns you.”

“Because I’d like to add to my tab.”

She folded her hands on the top of her desk. “I’m listening.”

“The problems in Solston are nothing compared to those in other cities. Here, at least, there’s peace on the paranormal side. That’s not the case in many places.”

“I’ve heard.”

Kerak nodded. “I’d like you to use your gift to do for some of my lieutenants what you once did for me. What you did for Derek, Jacob, and Leander.”

“Find their mates,” Lenette said with a tilt of her head. Every vampire had a special power. Something unique to them. Leander’s was flight. Hers was matching paranormals with the mate that suited them best. Would help elevate them to their most complete and powerful selves. “You know,” Lenette continued as she considered the request. “We may not be the ones in the worst position, but we’re still in a war here. This battle, we won—”

“But the next is already on the horizon.”

“Yes.”

“What would you have as payment?”

She thought carefully. She could ask him to reduce the city to ash, and he’d probably do it with a snap of his fingers if it suited his purpose, but she loved this city. Had fought for a place in it. Would be fighting to keep that place. It was a fight she was determined to win. “The mages. I need them to stay in the fight.”

“Done.”

Standing, she reached across the desk. Kerak did the same, clasping his hand around her forearm as she did the same to him, sealing their deal. “Send me names and locations. I’ll see your hounds matched with their perfect other half.”

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