“No, this isnotwhat we’re doing tonight!”
She stomped into the kitchen, momentarily disappearing. When she popped back out, her hands held three wine glasses. The liquid glittered in hues of lavender, swishing gently with each step.
“It’s finally the weekend!” she announced triumphantly. “We’re gonna shake out our wings and rustle up our skirts! Not sit around like old biddies letting our snatches collect dust!”
I chuckled and placed my book aside. I’d never actually seen Breena or Aine’s wings. Most Si kept them magically hidden away, said to only appear in necessary, life-threatening situations and in moreheatedmoments.
Aine didn’t even bother looking up from her tome.
It’d been a week since I’d convinced Lochlainn to enter meinto Fecunditas—the Eostre Trials. A full week of pure academic exhaustion.
Breena and Aine were fuming when I told them everything. I expected them to freak out at mentioning Alvar, or the Floramancyattack I’d unleashed on Lochlainn, but no, they did just the opposite. They kicked their feet like giddy schoolgirls. Aine beamed like a proud mama that I’d showed my fangs to Lochlainn. The only part thatactuallyworried them was the bit about me going off to Fecunditas alone.
The Si were definitely creatures to be admired—or feared, depending on the day. By nature, they were fiercely loyal. Aine and Breena were the closest friends I’d ever had, and they worried over me like the sisters I never knew I needed.
Although I objected, Breena went to Lochlainntwice—harassing him about adding her and Aine to the team. Each time, she came back muttering hexes under her breath. They wanted to help, to protect me. And, of course, feed their wild Si nature with the little thrill of bloodsport.
“You might have to physically drag me out of the chair,” I whined, flopping my head back against the seat. “I’m so sore from training.”
Aine flashed a taunting smile, narrowing those almond-shaped eyes at me.
“And whatspecificmuscles have ya been training at Shadow Daddy Bootcamp that have ya so sore?”
I let out a gasp. Then grabbed the pillow behind my back and launched it at her. Laughter spilled out of my chest before I could help it.
“It’s not like that! Looking at him makes me wanna peck his eyes out!” Definitely not true, but I was determined to believe it. “The lessons have been . . . surprisingly helpful,” I admitted. “But he’s been a dick all week. Literally shows up,grunts some instructions, then leaves me alone to figure it out.”
My breathing picked up speed as I vented.
“And do you know what that sadist made me do yesterday? A two-hour hike alone! To the Scurboga Gate. Told me it was astone’s-throw away. Jerk!” I dropped my voice, mocking his exact words: “To be in nature is to ground, and to ground, is to clear the mind.” I huffed, already feeling a slight flush speckle my neck.
“Uh-huh.” Aine chuckled, raising a judgy eyebrow. “Okay, so he’s a shite teacher. But you’re really telling me the sexy, smoldering bad-boy look doesabsolutely nothingto your lady bits?”
“Nope. Not a thing.” I anchored my mouth shut, fighting the smile that tried to betray me.
Aine just stared, scanning me like she’d scented my pheromones.
“We’ll see about that.” She sat up, face serious. “But I don’t trust him.”
“I second that! Besides, I think there’s a brawny, young Ossory who’s in the running for her. He seems quite smitten,” Breena said, winking.
“Right. That puppy-eyed boy who kept harassing us about ya. With the abnormally large shoulders,” Aine said, cracking her neck. “He’d make a nice pet. But if he bites, we’re euthanizing him.” Her lip ticked up.
I combed my hand through my hair. “It’s a no to both—to any and all men, for that matter. My life’s too complicated as it is.” I blew out a breath.
“Enough about men!” Breena chimed, pushing a glass into each of our hands with impatient excitement. “Tonight isgirl’s night! Tonight, we drink to celebrate life, share in laughter, and surround ourselves in endless love!” Her smile was radiant asthe firelight illuminated the gold flecks on her cheeks like stardust.
I immediately snorted.
“Abso-fucking-lutelynot! In no realm will I cheers tolive, laugh, love!”
Breena reprimanded me with a quick frown, but her smile sparked back up. “Fine. Then let’s simply cheers to an unforgettable night!”
Aine groaned from behind her glass. “So we’re really doing this then?”
“Looks like it.” With a defeated sigh, I scooted forward, holding up my glass. “Cheers, witches!”
“Fates bury me.” Aine deadpanned. “Cheers.” She lifted the drink to her lips.
