Page 27 of The Monster's Desire

Goose bumps pebble on my skin as I march down the sidewalk. It’s cooler here than it was in Haven. North Falls is higher up in the mountains, and I’m guessing that has something to do with the ridiculous temperature difference.

I meander the streets, looking for the landmarks Shelby mentioned and curse under my breath when I catch sight of my stalker over my right shoulder.

I toss a middle finger in the air and keep on walking.

* * *

“You’re being followed by a vampire,” Shelby says.

“I did, in fact, notice that.” I toss myself into one of the club chairs in her office. “This place is nice.”

“Don’t try to distract me.”

My eyes rake in the small, but nicely furnished, room.

Shelby leans against the dark wooden desk in stretchy leggings and a soft T-shirt. Her blonde hair fans around her face as she leans into my personal space. We knew each other for years before Nan relocated us to Haven.

“Why is the council’s vampire following you?” she asks as her eyes search my face.

“He’s my appointed bodyguard.” My eyes roll so hard, they practically get lost inside my skull.

“Right,” she says dubiously.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumble, resting my head on my hand. “I’ve got an appointment in less than an hour, but I wanted to see you.”

“Are you really planning on staying there?” she asks in a condescending-as-hell tone. It sends my hackles up. I haven’t kept my profession a secret, but it’s not like I tell everyone I know, either. It’s very much something that depends on the person.

I haven’t told Shelby, because I know how she was raised. Sentinels are notoriously snotty. It comes from their heritage. Being related to angels seems to ensure they think they’re better than everyone else. For the most part, I ignore it.

“It’s not that big of a deal. I’m not even going to be here for that long.”

Shelby snorts. “I can’t imagine being forced to live in that shithole. I’m really not convinced it’s safe.”

“I’m more confused by this entire situation and why I need a bodyguard in the first place.”

Shelby laughs, but it sounds forced. “They probably aren’t taking any chances. The entire ward feels thin enough to evaporate at any time. It’s impossible to miss. They don’t want to risk losing your gifts before the job is done.”

“My apartment is in—”

“A whorehouse,” she says, laughing. “Yeah, I heard.”

“Don’t call it that,” I snap, frowning. God, could she be any more condescending? “I was going to say a basement.”

Shelby is very much a product of her family and the culture of the community she grew up in.

Sentinels tend to be self-righteous assholes about, well...everything outside of how they do things. One of the guys at work, Saber, is half angel. That probably explains why I can only stand to be around him half the time.

“Everyone deserves to make a living,” I say defensively. That disdainful look is really starting to rub me the wrong way. “As long as the choice is at their discretion, and they aren’t being forced, then honestly—”

“Are you ready?” Echo asks, making me jolt.

That silent fucker.

I didn’t even notice him popping in.

“Carina isn’t back with lunch.” Shelby jabs a finger at the vampire. “How did you get past my protection spell?”

Echo looks extremely unimpressed with my old friend. “I waltzed right in the front door. You offer a service to the public, meaning all laws of lore regarding my kind do not apply. You’ll find we simply don’t come in, because we purposely choose to avoid your closed-minded bigotry.”

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