How many bars had she and the Curs closed out? How many times had one of them gotten into a fight only to have the rest step up to protect their back? A unit even when they weren't on the battlefield.
"This shows a critical lack of judgment," Wren continued as if Raider wasn't even speaking. His attention was locked on Kira, letting her know who was the real recipient of this lecture. "You're unfamiliar with this world and its customs. Drinking until you're intoxicated puts you at a disadvantage."
Graydon picked up the glass in front of her seat, taking a sip and grimacing. "Not as much as you might think."
He handed the glass to Wren, who sniffed it. His forehead wrinkled, and he took a small sip. "What is this?"
Graydon's eyes seemed to glitter with amusement. "You weren't really drinking, were you? At least notkeeva."
Raider straightened out of his slouch, his dismayed gaze shooting to Kira's. "No."
Kira winced.
"You wouldn't mess with tradition," he said in a hushed whisper.
"Technically, tequilaistradition," she pointed out.
He pounded on the table. "Getting drunk is the tradition. That's why I got thekeeva."
"If it's any consolation, I switched our drinks on the third shot so neither one of us would get too drunk," she told him.
He stared blearily up at her as his head started shaking and then kept shaking. "I thought we were sharing a moment." He flopped back in his chair. "I feel so used.”
Consternation filled Kira. "At least I thought I switched them."
"You did," Finn assured as he joined them. "Keevacan be intoxicating for humans as well."
"Oh boy," Kira said, staring at Raider with new eyes. She'd thought he was pretending to be worse off than he was. Turns out she was wrong.
She scrubbed a hand over her face. "He is going to be so mad later."
Blue appeared at her side. "Yup. As soon as his hangover subsides, he's going to be gunning for you, Nixxy."
Great, just what Kira needed, a vengeful Raider.
She clapped her hands. "All right, let's get you out of here. I think we've done enough toasting for one night."
Raider shrugged out of Blue's grip, grabbing one of the only upright glasses and holding it up. "Not yet. There's one more toast to be done."
Kira hesitated. She had an idea of who she meant, and it was the last person she wanted to toast. "Maybe some other time. I think we've both had enough."
"No," Raider insisted. He swayed, nearly toppling over before righting himself again. "No, you toast her death. You've never done that."
Even as drunk as he was, Kira could see the resolve in his face. She wasn't going to get out of this. Not this time.
"I don't want to do this," she warned.
He grabbed one of the intact glasses that had fallen onto its side, righting it before pouringkeevainto it. Finished, he shoved it into her hand.
"Prove to me she's dead." He lifted his glass in front of her.
This entire night had been leading up to this. All the drinks, the trips down memory lane, the names of their dead, all so he could maneuver her into this moment.
Her gaze met his, anger licking her insides, her control slipping.
He knew what this would cost her and didn't care as long as he got his result.
Her chin lifted, and she swiped the glass from the table, downing the contents in a single gulp.
