Nathan's face appeared beside us. "This is nice and all, but we need to go. He wasn't the only Scattered here, and I'm not sure how long our primary force can hold the door."
"I second this notion," Inara said from his shoulder. I'd forgotten her in the battle.
"Watching a pair of vampires go at it isn't why I came on this little trip." She made a face and shuddered. “Besides, fang boy is right. Lowen just messaged to say more Scattered have ported in. It won’t be long until the rest can’t fight them off.”
Liam started to climb to his feet. He stumbled, only catching himself at the last minute.
"I agree. We need to rendezvous with the rest." He took a step, nearly falling again. Nathan caught him.
Something was off.
It was Inara who put it together. "I'll be damned. The vampire's blood drunk."
Liam shook his head. "I'm not."
He pushed away from Nathan, moving carefully to the sword the captain had dropped. He nearly toppled over trying to grab it, reaching and missing more than once.
"She's right." At least I no longer felt so bad about my time as a statue. "You're drunk."
Liam straightened, smoothing down his shirt as he met my eyes, his attempt to appear professional and sober more than a little adorable.
"Come on, killer, let's get out of here," I told him.
"I'm not drunk," he insisted.
I nodded, bending and grabbing the sword he'd had trouble with. "Oh, I believe you."
He pouted when he saw me holding the sword. "Why do you get the sword and I don't?"
I smothered my laugh, knowing I shouldn't encourage him when we were in a life and death situation.
"Touch your nose," I told him.
Hey, sobriety tests worked for cops. No reason to think they wouldn't for vampires too.
Liam, in a rare show of compliance, followed my order. He touched the tip of his nose, the carefulness with which he did speaking volumes.
"See, not drunk," he said around a pleased smile.
I nodded.
I shoved him lightly. He staggered back like I'd put all my strength in it.
"That's why," I said.
Nathan watched it all with the excitement of a little kid offered a gift he’d never known he wanted. "I am never going to let him live this down."
"Good." Maybe it'd keep Liam humble. He needed that arrogance put in check every now and then.
Liam frowned at me. "Mean."
I smiled at him. "You love it."
He shot me a sultry look. Had the circumstances been different I wouldn't have hesitated to take him up on his offer. This version of Liam was surprisingly irresistible.
"I do indeed," he purred.
Inara made a rude sound. "If you two are done flirting maybe we can get on with it."
