Locked In Love

1. Ash

Ash

“Istill can’t believe you persuaded me to sign up for this.”

“I can’t believe you’re running late,” my best friend’s amused voice rang in my Bluetooth headphones as I rushed down Portswood Road. “Actually, scratch that. Yes, I can. The day you’re early to anything is the day I announce I’m attracted to men.”

“Bite me.”

Cassie’s laugh was as colourful as her personality. “Darling, I literally just reminded you that men don’t do it for me. Even if they did, I wouldn’t be letting your disgusting fangs near me anytime soon.”

“They are not disgusting,” I insisted, skirting around a group of humans.

It was early evening, and thanks to the copious bars that lined the street, there were swarms of students from the local university clogging up the pavement.

“I brush them twice a day and floss. Given I can’t even get cavities, I think that should earn me a medal. ”

I could almost hear Cassie’s shudder through the phone. “Listen, we’ve been over this. You can’t drink blood and not be disgusting. It’s plain nasty.”

As a witch, Cassie liked to tease me about the whole drinking blood thing. “It’s delicious.”

“It’s unnatural.”

“Blood is literally the most natural substance on earth and keeps me alive, but okay.”

I rolled my eyes, glaring at a human who didn’t move out of my path. For fuck’s sake, I wasn’t the tallest, but surely I wasn’t invisible?

Wait, actually, I was. I’d put a compulsion net on me so I could rush through the crowds at inhuman speeds.

Whoops.

Darting around him, relief mixed with anxiety as the escape room appeared in the distance. “Anyway, stop trying to distract me. I’m nearly there now, and I still need to yell at you for making me do this.”

“Listen Ash, I love you, but this has gone on long enough now.” I groaned internally at the no-nonsense tone Cassie was unleashing. “You need to get over Gareth.”

“I am over him,” I protested.

“Okay, then you need to move on. You broke up with him for a reason. You need someone who actually listens to you and cares about what you think. That’s why you’re doing this.”

This was a blind date set up by none other than Cupid themself. They’d paired up with a huge matchmaking organisation, H2H, with the aim of helping you find your perfect match in time for Valentine’s Day.

While God had decided to gift both angels and demons with fated mates, the rest of us supernaturals weren’t so lucky. We had to rely on our own instincts and choose someone just like the humans did.

But with us, there was no divorce, or even until death do us part. No, if we chose to mate with someone, then we were stuck together for the rest of eternity.

I thought I’d got it right with my ex, but fuck me, what a prick he turned out to be. My only saving grace was that I’d broken it off before we’d taken that final step and mated.

The ad for this event had talked the big talk, promising to set us up with the magical match that’s just right for you.

Somehow I doubted even the great Cupid would be able to sort out my clusterfuck of a dating life. Right now I’d settle for someone who listened to me. They could look like a literal troll, but if they paid attention to the words coming out of my mouth, I’d mate them in a heartbeat.

You might be thinking I’m not asking for much, but don’t underestimate how much I like to talk, especially when I’m nervous. Or excited. Or bored.

It’s like they forgot to install the off switch in my brain, letting me know when the words should stop.

So yeah. I got it. I was hard work.

But I wanted to find that person who didn’t think I was difficult. Who was actually interested in what I had to say.

Wasn’t sure they existed, but perhaps Cupid would have a better chance of finding them than I had.

A tall figure was pacing outside the shop. Every few seconds, he’d check his phone before resuming his impatient movements.

Oh dear. I’d probably fucked it up before I’d even arrived.

“Cass, gotta go. I’ll call you later.” I yanked the headphones from my ears, stowing them in my pocket.

My date’s head snapped around, clearly having heard me. I ran the last few metres, skidding to a stop in front of him.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

What was Cupid doing?

I’d been expecting someone more along the lines of my ex, Gareth. A few inches taller than me, built but not overly muscled. Stubble all over his face because he couldn’t be bothered to shave. I was also expecting maybe another vampire. Someone who matched me in terms of power.

This man was none of those things.

He towered over me, topping out at at least six foot three. His form was lean but rugged. Sharp cheekbones free of even a single hair sat atop the most beautiful mouth I’d ever seen in my life. His plump scarlet lips were just begging me to kiss them. Maybe suck on them a little.

And don’t even get me started on the long lines of his pale neck. My eyes lingered on one of his carotid arteries, my fangs descending against my will.

He was also no vampire. No, he was a fucking water mage, and a powerful one at that. I could smell it on him.

Why was that such a turn-on?

Cupid hadn’t given us any information about the other, just a notification of a time and place to meet. Now I kind of wish I’d had a heads up so I could stop the torrent of words that was about to erupt.

Scratch that. Even a picture wouldn’t have done him justice. There was no stopping this now.

“Hi! I’m Ash. God, I’m so sorry I’m late.

I put on my green shirt, but then I managed to get toothpaste down it.

Then I changed into this one, but my trousers didn’t match so I had to change those too.

At least my shoes go with everything. My friend Cassie got them for me for Christmas.

She’s such an angel. Well, technically, she’s a witch, but you know what I mean. Do you celebrate Christmas?”

My date’s face didn’t move except for his eyes. They swept down me slowly, taking in the way I was bouncing on my toes, my hands swinging at my sides. Then they slowly came back up to rest on my face.

I waited another beat, but he remained silent. “You are Lochlan, right?”

His chin dipped the tiniest inch. “Aye.”

A Scottish accent. Kill me now. There was no way I was going to hold it together in front of this perfect specimen.

Lochlan stepped to the side, opening the door and silently gesturing for me to step through.

My heart sank at his lack of responses. Trust me to fuck it up before the date had even started.

You’d think that would be enough to stop me talking.

Instead, my brain decided to fill the quiet.

“I couldn’t believe my luck when the notification came through to meet here instead of a bar.

Bars are so impersonal, ya know? Besides, I love doing escape rooms. Especially if the puzzles are more complicated than the usual lock and key ones.

My favourite types are ones where you move an object, and a secret door opens.

It’s like I’m living in a spy novel. I’d make a great spy!

I can be really sneaky when I need to be. Like a mouse.”

Lochlan didn’t respond, just continued studying me in the same inscrutable manner as before.

Fortunately any awkwardness was broken by the games master who’d apparently overheard my word vomit. “Ah! I see you’re not new to escape rooms.”

I inwardly slapped myself on the cheeks. Pull it together, Ash. I turned my attention to the games master who was smiling widely, the light catching on her nose stud. “Oh, I love your hair.”

“Thanks,” she beamed at me, fluffing her hands through the pale pink streaks. “It’s not as pink as yours though. How do you get it that colour?”

“I have a really talented hairdresser.”

Actually I had a witch called Cassie who, amongst other things, had a knack for creating otherworldly hair dyes. It even sparkled.

Our host turned to my silent date. “Have you done an escape room before?”

To my surprise, Lochlan returned her smile, speaking warmly. It was like he was a whole different person. “No, I haven’t actually. I wasn’t sure if this was gonna be my cup of tea, but I’ll give anything a go once.”

Yep. That was definitely a beautiful Scottish burr he had going on. I surreptitiously rearranged myself so he didn’t see the effect his voice was having on me.

I had to stop fucking this up, if for no other reason than I wanted to have this man whisper things in my ear all night.

I needed it.

“Well, I’m glad I’ll be your first time,” I said flirtatiously, letting my fingers drift down his arm. “I promise to be gentle.”

Lochlan jumped, his face paling as he stepped out of my reach. He cringed as his gaze met mine.

I felt my smile turn brittle. Fine, Lochlan. Message received. I gestured to the door the games master was holding open. “After you.”

There was no point fighting this. Sure the attraction was there on my end, but clearly it was missing the mark for my date. He probably didn’t like how much I talked. Or my hair. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Oh well. I’d get through the next hour, and we could go our separate ways and chalk this up in the ‘we gave it a go’ column.

I needed to give up on the idea of finding someone who’d accept me as I was. Because what I was, was clearly too much for anyone to want to put up with long term.

Even with Cupid’s help, I couldn’t stop myself from fucking up.