over to some shifter. It was a rather calm night but busy enough that the person who called off would have left Rhys with a large crowd to deal with completely alone. Plus, I’d spent my entire life being served as a god, I didn’t mind making some damn drinks.
It had maybe been thirty minutes, when I caught the faint scent of rain covered roses. I snapped my head around and caught a pair of soft gray eyes, tinted with violet, that stared at me with an odd mixture of confidence and worry. My heart stuttered as I swallowed and squeezed the glass in my hand, shuddering and breaking under the force of it.
Why the fuck was my heart beating? I felt pinned and like the breath had been expelled from my chest. My fangs extended as I watched her pulse flutter as she began speaking. If it wasn’t for her soft but strong voice, I wouldn’t have been able to focus on it. As it stood, I listened to the stunning goddess in front of me.
“Can I have a lemon drop martini?” she asked as she slid onto the bar stool, her eyes covered with a smoky shade that brought out the purple in it.
Without saying anything I made the drink, keeping my gaze on her, worried she would disappear. Worried that I was imagining her. When I slid it across the counter without asking for money or her ID, I saw a flush fill her face and she luckily didn’t try to leave the bar. I wasn’t positive about what I would do if she attempted to. Honestly, I didn’t put it past myself to tug her back here, refusing to let her go.
“What’s your name?” I asked leaning towards her, someone trying to get my attention for a drink, but I ignored them easily.
She put down her drink, her eyes flashing momentarily and I wondered if she would lie. Instead she simply said ‘Ophelia’ and my world shattered slightly, because there had never been a more beautiful name as far as I was concerned. Rhys was there then, taking the drink from the asshole nearby but I could feel when my friend noticed Ophelia as well.
A low hum came from his throat in surprise and she looked up at him, blushing as I nearly groaned, fucking loving that I could see the blood rushing up to her face. I wasn’t positive what type of creature she was but I could smell her magic rushing through the life force running through her veins. I would probably be able to tell if I bit her…if I sunk my teeth into her soft pale skin.
“Adrian,” Rhys warned and I broke away from staring at her, those pupils growing dilated and her pulse beating at hyper speed. If I wasn’t careful I would use my magic on her and that would no doubt result in horrible things.
“Keep coming here and you’ll drink for free,” I muttered stepping away but needing to say something. I couldn’t have her going elsewhere. Places that she could be taken advantage of. At least here we could keep her safe.
She had continued to come to Widow and I had pretended to be a fucking bartender every Saturday. When she had said she slept in her car until sober enough to drive home, Rhys immediately offered to drive her. In my entire existence, I’d never felt such a driving need to protect someone. She brought out a side of me that I thought was long dead.
“Do I have to go home tonight?” she asked, taking another sip of her drink and reaching forward to grab my hand. I nearly groaned. I never wanted her to go home. Couldn’t she just live here? I mean that wasn’t asking very much.
“You never have to go home, kitten,” Rhys pointed out as I nodded in agreeance.
She offered a coy smile. “I think you would get annoyed with me after a bit.”
“Impossible,” I pointed out as she stood up and Rhys let her out of the booth, as we watched her with interest.
“Come on,” she tugged my friend’s hand and I nearly chuckled watching her drag him towards the crowded dance floor.
I saw some of the vampires near us watching in shock as Rhys smiled at her and lifted her up slightly in his arms. Ophelia was absolutely tiny and if I wasn’t positive how powerful she would become, I would fear she was too delicate. For Rhys, who towered over