“Professor Fenrys said not to stress over remembering every card in the deck as much as just the suites and their structures.” Felix runs a hand through his hair, his lips pulling tight in a grimace. “But Professor Anstead seems like she wants us to know most of the cards’ interpretive meanings for readings.”
“Ugh, I don’t want to think about it.” Amaya leans forward, grabbing Ember’s notebook and holding it out of reach. “Let’s do something fun.”
Wynter grins and I force my eyes off his full lips.
Morgan struts in, his gaze flickering between me and Wynter. He ignores the open spots and nudges his knees between ours until he’s made himself a space. He leans back, his arm resting behind me, and I lean closer to Felix.
“Rune, your elbow is in my spleen.” Felix squirms and I mutter a hasty apology, everyone shuffling to make space. I clench my jaw as Morgan insists on still sitting close to me, and on his other side Wynter leans in.
“You okay? You seem tense.” He pointedly glowers at Morgan.
“Fine.” I grit my teeth, mentally calculating if it would be poor manners to knock out Morgan under a friend’s roof. Probably not my best chance at getting invited back.
“Icould use a drink,” Morgan suggests, giving Wynter a calculated grin. What is his problem? He announces to the room, “Let’s do draw-offs!”
There’s a resounding “Yes!” and Ember throws her hands up in defeat. Wynter rolls his eyes and gets up to grab drinks, Morgan and Amaya joining him.
“I should help.” Felix is suddenly on his feet.
“No—not you,” Kasper groans, standing less enthusiastically. He grumbles on his way out, “I don’t feel like cleaning up glass this session.”
“What’s draw-offs?” I ask Ember.
“A drinking game. Amaya taught us.”
“First, we take a shot, then all try to draw our Major Arcana,” Amaya explains. “Whoever does it quickest doesn’t have to take a shot next round. Whoever’s slowest has to drink a mug of spirits. Usually someone gets sick, but we’ve all gotten better at drawing.”
“Oh.” Dread rises in me. I’m definitely going to be getting sick. I clear my throat. “Maybe I’ll watch for a round.”
I never drank much back home. I used to capitalize onothers’inebriation to gather information. Still, if I leave now, it feels like defeat.
“Nonsense, she’ll play.” Morgan returns and sets a shot glass in front of me, sits, and loops an arm guardedly around my shoulders. I cringe.
When Wynter returns a moment later, setting far too many spirits on the coffee table, his silver eyes flicker between us,concern pinching his brow. Kasper returns with a bottle of something clear, tinged green, and lifts it up to a sound of groans.
“What? Wormwood’s good for your gut.” Kasper gives a devilish smile. “Maybe you slowpokes,” he points at Felix, Ember, and me, “will be a bit quicker to draw your cards if you don’t want to have to drink the green smog.”
He pours a very full cup and then sets the bottle down beside it.
“You don’t have to drink.” Ember leans in at my side.
I consider that, but I’ve never really let myself have much fun, and never been presented with the opportunity. This pact I’ve made with Draven will soon likely change what I’m allowed to do. So, for tonight, at least, I just want to feel free to have fun with the friends I’ve chosen.
“I’ll be fine, thanks though.”
TWO HOURS LATERand I’m definitelynotfine. I’m seeing stars and the phraseI’m too drunkseems to be the only thought I can really hold on to. I’ve lost three rounds but at least the game helped me successfully draw the World far faster than before. I’ve focused on pulling Strength after, using it to create a bit more resilience to the alcohol. I swear Wynter lost the last two rounds on purpose, just to spare me. Morgan moves closer and closer the more spirits I’ve downed, even trying to set me in his lap. I hate the way he’s been pawing at me tonight.
“Why don’t we play a new game?” Morgan side-eyes me, lifting a glass. “What about Candor or Cup? You can tell the truth to a question or take a drink instead.”
Looks like I’m about to spill the truth or dinner.
“What did everyone do before coming here?” Felix asks, starting with something easy.
“I worked in a flower shop,” Ember says.
“I actually took a year off to travel,” Amaya shrugs.
“Me too!” Cleona smiles bright, the two sharing a grin.
