I was about to get pissy, because I was as fucking powerful as both these dudes. Nothing I hated more than being underestimated because I was a woman. Then trollie met my gaze full-on. “And I especially do not want to get on your bad side. That bottle is on me.”
Thank you very much.“I’m a badass,” I said out loud.
Asher and Rayge both laughed, their deep husky tones blending together for a moment until they realized they were almost coexisting. That shut them both up. “Asher,” I said quickly, “this is Rayge. He’s been keeping me company.”
Asher sighed. “We’ve met before, Maddison. Rayge and I actually have some history.”
The shifter made a derisive noise into his fresh drink, which appeared like fucking magic as usual. “History.That’s one way to look at it.”
Asher shrugged, and then just like that, the male testosterone dropped a few points and I was able to breathe and relax again.
Asher leaned over and grabbed two clean glasses, and I poured shots for us both. My buzz was still going strong, but I was definitely in need of a top-up. When I picked up my glass, Asher did the same.
“You ready, baby?” he said, meeting my eyes over the rim of his glass. My chest clenched, and I tried to swallow down all the emotions that made me feel. Fucking Asher. Always destroying me one perfect word at a time.
“Ready,” I said, deciding not to call him out on his use ofbabywhen we were not in the place for shit like that.
I threw my drink back, and he did the same, his face screwing up. “Demon brew. I should have guessed.”
I stared at the bottle for a beat. “Did you just say demon brew? That sounds … bad…”
Rayge chuckled again, softer this time, as he lifted his eyes to meet mine. “It’s the mean asshole version of fey wine. You’re going to really wish you’d stopped at one bottle in the morning, even with your metabolism.”
Well, fuck.
I shrugged. “Too late to worry about it now. Might as well enjoy my buzz.”
39
The morning light cracked me over the head like the bitch face asshat it was and I groaned, lifting a hand to my aching face. What the hell happened last night? Did I get into a fight?
I tried to squint an eye open. I had the vaguest sense that I wasn’t in my normal room. The light was coming from a different direction or something, but the moment a sliver of the world came into view, I knew I was going to vomit.
“Ugh.” I tried to wrench myself up, but something hot, hard, and fucking heavy was holding me down.
“Gods,” I groaned, before I covered my mouth with my free hand.
Somehow Asher knew I was about to barf and he had me up and in his arms in a heartbeat. We reached the toilet in time; I sprawled across the floor, hugging the white bowl. Asher didn’t leave my side, staying close, holding my hair and stroking my back softly as I vomited and vomited until there was nothing left but dry heaving.
Resting my head on the seat—yeah, disgusting, I know—I fought through the pain and nausea. I almost cried when Asher left me, but it was only briefly, then he was back with a bottle of water and some green disgusting-looking concoction.
“Demon brew does not mix well with fey,” he said softly, like he knew words were painful today. “And even worse with demigods, apparently.”
“Ugh.” I groaned again, but I did manage to lift my head and swallow down a cool sip of water. I waited a second to see if it was going to reappear, but thankfully it stayed down.
“This will help,” Asher said, and I gagged as he held the sludge out.
Shaking my head, I tried to move away from him and his hippie bullshit. “Give me Tylenol or fucking morphine. Anything but that shit.”
Asher chuckled, and I debated if I could punch him and not vomit. Or if I should punch him andtryto vomit on him. Both were viable options.
“Those human pharmaceuticals will not work on you now that your power is unlocked, now that … your mortal shell has been destroyed. Your natural healing will take care of you in a few hours.” He waved that shit at me again. “This is just to take the edge off now.”
Gritting my teeth, I attempted to stand, only to lose my balance and crash into the wall. Asher caught me before I could do any permanent damage, and I shook him off. His hands on me felt so good and right, but now that I wasn’t drunk I remembered what he’d done. With startling clarity, I remembered how I’d felt. How he’d all but destroyed me.
I couldn’t go back there. Not now. Maybe not ever.
Like he was following this jumble of thoughts, he said, “We need to talk, Maddi.” He brushed his hand through his hair, and it was such a familiar gesture that I almost reached out to do the same.
