“Three,” he pushes the slit back ever so slightly, revealing more of my hip.
I gasp at his touch, startling as Cal and I tilt both of our ales back and begin drinking. The drink falls quickly into my mouth, the liquid running down my throat as Cal’s head and mug tilt upward as well. I watch as some of the ale sloshes down his beard, the two of us drinking as quickly as possible. My eyes land on the Prince’s when I feel his fingers reach just under the slit on my leg, his heated touch making me scowl at the pure rush of fire that pulls between my legs. I shift away from his tantalizing fingers and take one last drink, throwing it to the ground just as Cal does the same.
“A tie!” Keane yells to the now formed crowd around us. I pretend to fiddle with my dress and reach down for his hand to not so gently remove his fingers from my leg. Keane just looks back at me impressed, his brown eyes scorching into mine.
“I’ve taught you well, Alex,” Cal beams.
I give the Prince one last warning look before I turn back to my friend with a grin, “you have.”
Cal’s hands land on my shoulders with a squeeze, his eyes looking at me with affection as he shakes his head in mock apology. “But I cannot end this in a tie.”
“Again!” he yells to the crowd.
“What?” I take a step back, watching as Cal turns to the crowd to rile them up even more.
“Cal!” I laugh, “I cannot. You’ll get me properly drunk.”
“Good,” he turns to me with a wink, “maybe I’ll finally hear your singing voice tonight.”
“Joke’s on you, Cal, because my voice is amazing.”
“So you keep telling me,” he laughs.
Keane lifts a brow at my side as the sound of coin being passed around the barrels calls attention to the room. The group of Warriors circling around us is even larger now, with everyone placing their bets and gaudily chatting about the first tilt.
Cal eyes me with persistence and holds out two new ales in front of him. I take a deep breath and look at the golden liquid within, knowing full well that I’ll need to stick to water for a long while after this next drink.
“Alright, Cal,” my grin is sly as I reach for one of the mugs, “oncemore.”
Cal gives a hearty laugh as the crowd around us begins to cheer.
“Where is this competition within my own court?” Keane yells out to the crowd, eyes narrowed in mock disappointment, “two Knowledge humans showing more spirit for drink than any of you out there! Such shame.”
The crowd laughs as a voice reaches us from somewhere in the circle, “my coin’s on the big man.”
“No way, that human woman has been swinging back toddies all night. She knows what she’s doing.”
“She bested Lady Alanna the last time she was here.”
“The big man will surely outdrink her.”
“We’ll see if either of them can hold their drink after this one…”
I turn to the man in crowd at that last comment, my brows raising in challenge for openly questioning if we’d be able to hold our drink. He and the others standing around him all look at me with wide eyes before they begin chuckling, their hands slapping at each other’s backs at my challenging gaze.
“Alexis…”
The Prince’s sensual voice pulls me back to him and Cal, his eyes glittering with mischief as he watches me interact with the men of his court. I do my best to ignore that gaze and reach my mug up to Cal in a final salute.
“On the count of three,” the Prince announces, stepping between us.
Cal gives me a wink over his mug as I roll my eyes again.
“One…” the crowd begins counting with the Prince.
“Two…” Cal I shift on our feet.
“Three!”
