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It’s her. My fated mate.
“Can I help you with something?” she finally asks. There’s an impatience behind the words she’s trying to conceal, but barely.
I’m unfazed by it. She should be impatient. We’ve been waiting our whole lives to meet, after all.
3
SOPHIA
“He’s still staring,” Tia mutters as he steps around me.
I sigh under my breath as I swipe the dirty mugs from the counter and fill another order. My body is on autopilot, but my mind is turning over her words.
I shouldn’t care. I know I shouldn’t. In fact, I never care about the men that wander in and out of this bar. I’m not here to get swept off my feet and carried away from Armstrong. I like my feet firmly planted on the ground while I try to stuff my pockets – though I use that term loosely – so I can take care of my mom. I have enough going on with her, and I don’t need one of these guys to take an interest in me.
But when I spin around and push a drink toward my latest patron, my eyes flick to his. They’re teal, so bright they almost seem to shine in this dim bar, and a soft smile tugs at his lips. He runs a hand over his silver hair braided down his back and I can’t help myself. I walk over to him.
“Can I help you with something?” My voice is much too high, though he won’t know it. He’ll probably notice the pink starting to tinge my cheeks.
What is wrong with me?
He shifts so that his body is more open toward me, but he doesn’t reach across the bar and try to touch me. It’s a small gesture, but I’m surprised by the space he’s giving me. Not many of his kind would do so, but it makes me start to relax. Even if I shouldn’t.
“You look quite busy,” he says, and the deep rumble of his voice makes my stomach flip.
Why do I find him so charming? I’m already being pulled in, my body leaning toward him without my mind agreeing. I plant my hands on the bar to stop myself, and I catch the quick flick of his eyes as he looks down at them.
“Not too busy,” I blurt out, not wanting to draw too much attention to my jerky movements. Oddly enough, I feel more comfortable around this guy than most in the bar, and even that is putting me on edge in its own way.
He cocks his head, his eyes roaming across my face. “No?” His gaze sweeps the crowded room. “It’s pretty packed in here.”
I lean farther forward until my hips are pressed against the bar, stopping me. I should stop, but the voice in my mind is growing quieter the longer I stand here. His eyes are too kind, and even though he’s tall and muscular, he’s not trying to be intimidating.
“I’m just that good,” I say, and I swallow hard as he chuckles. The sound does something to me, and I find myself smiling along. “I’m Sophia, by the way.”
He nods. “Drex.” Another chuckle escapes him as he softly shakes his head. “So you’re an excellent waitress, huh? What else are you good at?”
I smirk, my gaze dropping away from his as I try to reel myself in. I take the second to glance over my shoulder, but I spot Amber taking care of three different guys, all warriors by the looks, and Tia is working half the room. They don’t need me, so I turn my attention back to Drex, and for a moment, I let myself take him in.
He’s handsome.
The thought surprises me, but I can’t deny it. He looks good and seems to have a sense of humor, which only makes it better.
“A lot of things,” I find myself saying. “I’m a great cook, can speak three languages, and am quite the comedian.”
His tongue swipes along his bottom lip, and my mouth goes dry as I watch. I swear I see something flicker in his eyes when I look back up, but he doesn’t comment on it. “Humble, too.”
I flip my hair over my shoulder and give him a half shrug. “I can’t be a master of all, Drex.”
His grin grows wider as he leans in, and for a moment the tension builds between us. I didn’t even realize how close we’d gotten to each other until right now. But I don’t want to pull back. For once, I’m not worrying about money or my mother or the mess my life has become.
For once, I’m just having fun.
A hand drops down on Drex’s shoulder, and I jump back, startled from the motion. I look up as he leans back to see an Odex standing there. He smirks at me before looking down at Drex.
“It’s time to get our sorry asses back before we’re stuck running early morning supplies.”
For the first time all night, the smile on Drex’s lips slips. I’m surprised by the way my heart sinks a little, but I squash the feeling. I wasn’t foolish enough to think this would go on for too long, but I’m still sad to see him go so early.
