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SEVENTEEN

It was late afternoon by the time Leo finally woke, and he seriously considered going back to sleep. Of course, the beast part of him would sleep all day if it could, but Leo knew he had work to do. A true CEO never really got a day off, even when he was on holidays.

Yet another reason he might not be cut out for running the company the way his dad had.

But he couldn't leave it to Uncle Jeremy, either.

That problem could wait until tomorrow, though. First, he was going to indulge himself and go find his fated mate. He'd set the shoes on top of the desk, where he couldn't possibly miss them, and he'd head up to Mirror Academy as soon as he'd showered and dressed. She'd be waiting for him, he was sure of it, as eager to see him again as he was to dance with her. And more...

The sun was already setting by the time he reached the gates to the Academy. High stone walls surrounded the property, too high for even him to leap over. And perched on top of the gates...

Leo swore. Of all the supernatural creatures, he hated gargoyles the most. Oh, dragons could best him in battle, but at least they were flesh and blood. Gargoyles were made of living stone, and every bite was like crunching gravel.

"If you're here to enrol, you're too late. Come back next year, when you're done transitioning. You'll have a better chance then," advised the gargoyle perched on the gatepost.

"Transitioning? Huh?" Another one landed on the wall, beside a third.

Number Three hissed, "Are you still stuck in the dark ages? He's talking about gender transitioning. Going from being a boy to a girl, because only girls can study at Mirror Academy." He whacked his friend across the back of the head.

Of course, the blow wouldn't hurt a gargoyle. He just rubbed the back of his head and said, "You can do that? Why would anyone do that just to come here?"

"To find their mate, of course!" Number Three snapped. "Idiot." He addressed Leo, "That's what you want, isn't it? It's all anyone wants from this place. Not an education. Just their magically fated mate."

Leo nodded. "I'm looking for a student. She was at the ball at Tremotino Castle last night. She left her shoes." He grabbed them from the passenger seat and brandished them.

The first one shook his head. "You won't find her here. All the students have been sent home. Some dragon kidnapped a girl. The second one in a row. Wish he'd come here so we could show him what for. No dragon's a match for the three of us." He turned to his friends. "You remember that dragon who was here a few days ago? We saw him off the premises quick smart, we did. No dragon's getting over these walls with us on guard!" He puffed up his chest and spread his wings in what was probably an impressive display among gargoyles.

Leo wouldn't know. He avoided the unnatural creatures as much as possible. Unlike shifters, gargoyles were created with blood magic, stealing them from the very brink of death. Or maybe even after. He'd heard stories...

"But I have to find her. She's my mate!" Leo insisted.

Number Three shrugged. "Come back next term. We'll have dealt with the dragon by then, and all the girls will go to the next ball. Get a ticket to that, and try your luck with her then."

"When does next term start?" Leo vaguely remembered the start dates for his own university, but Mirror Academy was a private college. They could start and finish on any dates they wished.

One and Three stared at each other, before both shrugged. "Two or three months, maybe? The dates will be on the Academy website."

"What is a web...sight?" Dark Ages Dude asked.

Three sighed. "It's on the internet, idiot."

Dark Ages Dude's face lit up. "You mean the mirror you use to watch the naked people? Because the internet is for porn?"

One rolled his eyes. "Seriously? If the headmistress finds out you've been watching porn over the school internet connection, she'll take our computer privileges away. And I am not willing to forego my web comics because you needed to watch Andy's Anal Adventures episode sixty nine for the dozenth time."

"But it's the best one!" Three protested. "Watch it with me in the morning, and I'll show you!"

"No, thanks. I have better things to do than watch that filth. It's addictive, and rots your brain. Besides, people have been cavorting naked since the very first people. If you really wanted to fit in with the people of this time, you'd be using the computer to study philosophy and science and history, so that when you meet someone you connect with, they might be interested in getting naked with you, instead of you watching other people pretending to do things you can only dream of." One sniffed.

"I'll watch it with you," Dark Ages Dude said eagerly. "I love it when they..."

Leo just shook his head. Gargoyles were unnatural. And apparently addicted to porn. "Excuse me. If you could stop discussing porn for just a moment and tell me who I need to ask to get the address of the girl who left her shoes at the ball last night, I'd appreciate it." He shook the shoes, hoping that would get their attention.

"Email the headmistress. She probably won't tell you, but she might tell you the school's mailing address, so you could send them to her, and maybe let you include a note to the girl in with them, so she can contact you if she wants to. Maybe." One looked him up and down. "Don't hold your breath, though. If you're not really her fated mate, you won't hear a peep. Or you might have to wait until school goes back next term."

Leo nodded his thanks and returned to the car.

He'd draft up an email to the headmistress, all right. He'd write something so persuasive that the woman couldn't help but help him. Then he'd give it to Cat, who'd turn it into a plea so irresistible, Leo would be on his mate's doorstep by morning, shoes in one hand, engagement ring in the other.

Hmm. He should probably stop by a jeweller's on the way home, then. He knew his mother had a collection of heirloom jewellery that would be perfect for a wedding ring, but he also knew it was better to let his mate pick her own ring, if she was going to be wearing it for the rest of her life. An engagement ring she'd only wear for a few months – less, if he had any say in it – before he replaced it with something better.

An engagement ring had to send the right message. It had to say he loved her, cherished her and would provide for her all their days together, but it also had to be pretty enough that she couldn't resist putting it on. Definitely a diamond, something as flashy at the crystals adorning her lost shoes.

Leo grinned and gunned the engine. He couldn't wait to see her face when he got down on one knee. Actually, he couldn't wait to see her face, full stop.

He hoped she liked cats...