“One round,” Charlie said, “and then we really must be going. My driver is waiting.”
“Oh fine. If you must. One round then,” Cassius said. “Metluk, you first. I’ll start the asking.”
“Risk!” Metluk announced, puffing out his chest and giving Andromeda a wink.
Cassius glanced in Liam’s direction, his gaze locking with the human’s as he said, “Stick your hand in the fire for fifteen seconds.”
Metluk flipped him off. “You’re an asshole, Cass.”
Cassius turned back to his friend and shrugged. “If you weren’t prepared for a challenge, you should have picked ruse.”
The vampire growled but stuck his hand into the flames, glaring at Cassius as he did so. Charlie winced at the smell of burning hair and then flesh as the other vampires counted down from fifteen. She was relieved when Metluk finally met the challenge and yanked his charred hand from the fire. Reaching for the chalice near his feet, he drank deeply of the contents. Each of the vampires had a similar cup, and she supposed it was filled with blood by the way his arm was already healing.
“This is fucking insane,” Liam grumbled beside her.
She squeezed his hand supportively.
“Andromeda, risk or ruse?” Elsa asked, her bright red hair shining in the firelight from her place on Cass’s other side.
“Ruse,” she responded.
“Tell us about a moment you questioned your relationship with Metluk.”
She shrugged, her fangs extending as she answered quickly. “Easy. The last night I spent with his cousin and her mate. It will be difficult to give up group sex now that we’re mated.”
Metluk hissed and glared at her protectively.
“Her answer is true,” Elsa said through a laugh.
Next in line was Cassius, and he looked across the circle to Valcrun before stating “ruse” in a loud, clear voice.
“Coward!” Metluk snapped.
“Admittedly so,” Cassius said proudly.
Valcrun glanced around the group, shadows from the crackling fire dancing over his face and giving him a demonic appearance. He smiled wickedly before asking, “When you had Princess Charlie in your bed, how did you manage the wings?”
All the vampires burst into laughter, but ice filled Charlie’s veins so thoroughly it began to snow around her. The crackle of her power danced across her skin, and she felt the burn as her eyes filled with the same celestial magic.
“Don’t answer that,” Liam barked at Cassius.
“What’s that, human?” Cassius grinned wickedly.
Liam stood, his overall size dwarfing any of the vampires around the fire. “I said shut the fuck up about it. It’s no one’s business but yours and hers.”
“Ooh hoo hoo hoo!” Valcrun said. “He’s feisty. Fine. I retract my question if for no other reason than Charlie’s mood might douse the fire.” He held out his hand to catch one of the snowflakes she was putting off.
She took a deep breath and the snow stopped falling, although a few flakes had already built up on Liam’s shoulders. She tugged his hand, and he sat down again.
Valcrun cleared his throat. “Instead, you may answer this. What position do you aspire to on the Nochtbend court?”
Cassius swatted the air with one hand. “A gentle toss of a question, Valcrun. You’re going soft. I aspire to no less than becoming master, as most vampires do.”
“True,” Valcrun said. “Princess Charlie, you’re up.”
“Risk,” Charlie said. It was her safest bet. Her celestial magic made her practically invulnerable, and she didn’t want to be asked about her romantic history with Cassius.
Sabine shifted on her log, her keen eyes studying her and Liam. After a few quiet moments, she lowered her chin and shot her a wicked grin. “Kiss your human guest.”
