I smile sweetly in return.
“You’ll start drinking on the count of three,” Keane continues.
I steady my grip on the handle of the mug.
“One…” he begins the countdown.
“Two…”
I give Alanna’s smirk another look over, letting it fuel me.
“Three!”
I bring the mug to my lips and tilt my head back, letting my eyes land on the Prince. He lifts his brows in surprise and holds my gaze with a small grin, watching as I let the ale fall down my throat in a warming embrace. Everyone in the crowd begins yelling, their cheers urging us to drink faster as even more coin is passed around. I tilt my mug higher and drink for all I’m worth, Keane’s eyes never leaving mine until he watches my hand cut down smoothly, throwing the mug onto the ground below.
“MY GIRL!” a booming voice yells from the crowd.
I feel Cal’s arms wrap tightly around my waist before he lifts me up in cheer.
“Please tell me you bet on me, Cal!” I laugh as he drops me back to the ground.
“Always, Alex,” my friend nods with sparkling eyes.
“Then don’t ever ask me to remind you why we’re friends again,” I chuckle.
“Never again,” he laughs as well, the two of us looking at eachother with foolish grins.
“You have Warrior in your heart, human,” Alanna approaches with a smile.
“I don’t think it’s Warrior, Alanna,” I laugh at the blonde Discerni, “just a small desire to take exact some revenge. You knew this would happen when you brought me here, didn’t you?”
She shrugs, “perhaps.”
“I’m glad I beat you, then,” I tell her honestly.
Alanna gives a cool laugh and walks back to the barrels, pouring another round before losing herself to the crowd.
“For the record,” Keane moves in next to me, “revengeisWarrior. You have a lot more of our attributes than you choose to acknowledge, Lady Alexis.”
My heart beats against my chest as I look up at him. The angular plains of his face are looking at me so strikingly, every feature matching the heavy intensity behind his eyes.
“Is that so?” I hold his gaze, “and what other attributes are those?”
A small smirk touches his lips as he leans in to whisper, “you have a strong desire tolive, Alexis.”
I quickly pull away with a frown.
“If you think the idea oflivingis engaging in a drinking game born out of revenge, than I have thoroughly overestimated you, Your Highness.”
“That’s not what-”
“-It’s fine,” I give him a small smile and try to hide my disappointment.
I break his gaze and turn to find Cal again, but my big friend is farther away, laughing and drinking as he collects his coin.
“Alexis,” Keane’s hand grabs and pulls on my wrist, bringing me back to him. I look into his brown eyes in small anger, not appreciating his hold though noticing that my body still embraces his touch.
“That’s not what I meant,” he says seriously.
