Page 3 of Shifting Desire
Name: Arinaghwyndrelle Caelthrone aka Arina or Ari
Age: twenty-seven years old
Address: Apartment 2C, Hoboken Point
Occupation: Bar lady at The Gin Room
Relationship status: Single
Family: None.Mother died in childbirth.Father killed in a drunk driving accident
Fuck.She hasn’t had an easy life from the little information I have received.I wish I could make it easier for her but right now, I need to keep my distance.Not that it will stop me from watching over my unclaimed, unwitting little mate.
Chapter One
Ari
Gin, Glitter, and Glaring Dragons
The Gin Room smellslike citrus and sin, sharp lemon zest from the fresh-sliced garnishes and the thick, heady musk of desire that clings to the velvet couches and shadowed corners.I breathe it in like oxygen, the sweet spot between chaos and comfort.My domain, my happy place.
The music pulses through my bones, and I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips as I spin, arms in the air, trying to balance a full tray of shots without dropping them.The room is packed—Friday nights always are—but tonight feels different.Charged, like the storm is already here and I’m dancing on the damn lightning rod.
I drop off the drinks at table six and wink at the pair of vampires who frequent The Gin Room like it’s their personal hunting ground.One of them tries to tip me with a sapphire and white gold ring.I grin at him with a wink and a shake of my head I point to the damn tip jar like always.
“I hoard cash, not cursed heirlooms, sweetheart.”
He laughs, but he knows I’m serious.
I head back to the bar, dodging a satyr and a gremlin in heated argument over who stole whose date, when the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
He's here.I don’t have to see him to know.My body is attuned to his presence even though I have tried everything I can think of not to be.
The air gets tighter.Thicker.Like every molecule is aware of his presence.My heart stutters, then starts to gallop.I grit my teeth and refuse to look up.I know what I’ll see if I do—a tall, lean menace wrapped in a tailored black suit that costs more than my entire month’s pay, with a blood-red tie that practically screams his dangerous mood into the universe.
I can sense that too.His mood.Others have to speculate, check the color of his tie, and hope they guess correctly.I feel his mood before I even see him, the pop of color offered by his tie just a confirmation of what I already know.And tonight is no different, he is angry beyond measure, something I have only experienced from him a handful of times.
