his hand off my arm, my skin buzzing where

snapped back. I straightened my dress, trying to r

is voice dropping into the low, sandpaper territory that always m

ing me up. His eyes flickered to my hairline, whe

flinch. I just rolled my eyes, a sharp, d

ck to hit, Noa

l, the hem of my black gown swishing against m

d down on the countertop, catching the attention of the guy pouring drinks. "Five sh

trying to drink away their problems. Five glasses slid across the c

alcohol scorched its way down my throat. I needed to go numb. I needed to d

sharp edges of my anxiety. By the third, the thumping bass of the music didn't feel like it was att

ngers feeling a little clumsy now. The salt was messy, stickin

the liquid slosh against my rim. My vision was starting to go soft.

the haze. She was suddenly there, her eyes wide as she looked at the 4 e

room already fuzzy. My hip against the bar to keep from sliding off the e

anding it back to the bartender. She turned me around by my shoulders, her grip firm and grounding. "Khi, look at

out of my throat like lava. "What's one more." Xalia's expression softened that look of pity I h

, her hand firm on my waist as I navigated the room like a glitchy video game charac

wn onto a velvet armchair in a corn

iling was spinning slow, lazy circles. "I feel like....

e a bottle of water she snatched from a passing tray. "Drink. All of it." Before she could dash

and the door. She pointed her finger at me, dead serious. "Khi, stay. D

ng like it was filled with h

t didn't even bother to find a seat in my ears. I looked at the bottle water like it

ling like they were made of jelly. I had destination, just a desperate need to not be here

braced for the impact, but it never came. Instead, a pair of strong arms

eyes. "You really don't need to keep hurting yourself just to get my

grip tightened, his thumb grazing the ribs just under my chest. "I'm already watching," he whispered, his tone

hort-circuited; I couldn't tell if the heat was radiating from hi

d my coordination into a joke and made the room

inally managed to gasp,

eeling like they were made of lead. I managed to stumble for

y eyes struggling to focus on those blue eyes of h

sounded more desperate than dangerous. "I don't wa

eep one hand on the wall just to stand. "God, you such a light drinker, Drama Queen," he teased, his tone shifting bac

t the room decided to do a full 360. The floor felt like it was made of liquid, and my knees completely

e this time; he hauled m

n," he muttered, starting to steer me

I almost tripped over again. "I want more. I want.......more alcohol." No

ok like shit and you barely being here for

lenged. "Who care

He snapped, his jaw ti

ard him, my hand catching the lapel of his shirt to keep

his eyes tracking the way I w

I win, I get more tequila. If I lose....I'll listen to you.

y fingers were brunched on his shirt. He didn't pull aw

ner of his mouth-the kind that told me h

dropping low. A flirty rasp that

ook on your face when you loose." He straightened up, his hand still fir

roat. I blinked, trying to focus my eye

es landed on a long folding table near the window. A group of ho

ger toward the noise.

arm. "You want to play pong? Against me? Khoine, you can

bravado. I tugged on his lapel, pulling him down to my level. "Or ar

reached up, his fingers grazing my jaw for a split second before he tucked a loose s

nsity. "Just making sure you are ready for the consequences when you loose.