“Fine. You win. I’ll drink.”
Caroline and Jenna raised their arms and cheered while Natalia looked on with an amused expression.
Giving into the inevitable, I held the glass up at eye level to examine it. At first glance, the liquid looked clear. It was only when you peered closer that you noticed the flicker of an orange and red flame.
The colors swirled, quickly staining the rest of the liquid. Faster and faster until the entire glass looked like it was filled with fire.
Abruptly, a flame surged out of the top of the liquid. It licked along the surface, shooting high before burning itself out to leave only clear alcohol behind.
“You want me to drink this?”
“I do.”
“How did you make it do that?” Jenna crowded closer for a better look at the shot glass.
Dahlia closed one eye in a slow wink. “Magic.”
She did not just use that word in front of a human.
Dahlia’s microscopic smile grew into a real one at the sight of my glare.
“No, really. How did you do it?” Jenna asked.
No wonder the djinn had taken a chance in exposing herself. Jenna never would have believed her anyway.
“It’s a secret of the trade,” Dahlia murmured with an amused glint in her eye.
Jenna no longer pursued her question, leaning forward to try to steal my shot. “I’ll take it if you don’t want it. I’m curious as to what magic tastes like.”
I moved it out of the way. “Hold on, Ms. Grabby. I’m getting to it.”
There was no way Jenna could be allowed to drink what was in this glass. Some of the things Dahlia used in her cocktails weren’t meant for human consumption.
“I made this with Aileen in mind,” Dahlia said when it looked like Jenna might launch herself at me. “I’ll make you one later.”
Jenna settled into her chair with a pout but didn’t argue.
Connor patted her on the back in commiseration and held out his mostly empty glass. “Want the rest?”
Jenna eyed the small pool of liquid at the bottom before shaking her head. “No, that’s yours.”
Why didn’t she have that mindset when it came to my drinks?
Knowing I was out of reasons to delay, I bolted back the shot.
Liquid fire scalded my esophagus. It ignited a path down my throat and into my stomach where it settled for a moment before spreading. The lava snake dove into and through my veins, lighting up all my nerve endings before vanishing as quickly as it had come.
I wheezed.
Connor gave my shot glass a thoughtful look as Caroline and Natalia started cackling. Jenna looked on in wonder.
“Are you trying to kill me?” I gasped, barely able to speak. “What the hell did you put in this?”
There was a satisfied tilt to Dahlia’s lips. “A little bit of this and that. It probably won’t kill you. Though it may make you impervious to fire for the next twenty-four hours.” The corners of Dahlia’s eyes crinkled. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Gratitude isn’t the foremost thought in my mind,” I responded through gritted teeth.
More like terror that I’d done irreparable harm to my insides.
