The taste of sweet berries and florals slid down my throat, bubbles tickling the roof of my mouth. It was delicious and fruity, but there was a strange syrupy aftertaste . . .
“Breena,” Aine warned, eyes shooting bullets.
Breena grinned like a cheshire cat after finishing her sip. It wasn’t her usual bubbly smile, no, this smile had gone completely rogue. She let out a depraved giggle.
“Buckle-up, buttercups! It’s going to be great craic tonight!”
“Fecking hell, Breena! What did ya do?” Aine fumed, hand clutching her throat.
She pulled a small purple vial from the pocket of her cardigan and rolled it between her fingers.
“A wee bit of fun! It’s just a harmless Liplock potion! Thought it’d be a thrilling drinking game!” Her words were light, but a devious smirk lingered.
“You drugged us?! Breena!” My shock came out as an incredulous laugh, eyebrows raised.
Aine growled, “Liplock! Seriously?”
I wasn’t well versed in the Craft, especially the Si’s version of it, so I had no idea what that meant.
“What’s it going to do to us?” I asked.
Breena innocently shrugged. “Oh it’s nothing serious. I took it too! It’ll just enhance anyattractionswe have to anyone. To break the potion’s curse, we just have to kiss someone we think is cute by sunrise. That’s all! See,fun!”
“What happened to,enough about men, it’s girl’s night?”Aine snapped, brows pinching. “Hmm, Breena?”
Breena swept a lock of hair back as she shrugged. Her lips clamped together, holding back another rising giggle.
My palm slammed against my forehead.
“What she left out: every moment we don’t kiss someone, the sensation ofwant, ofneed, will keep increasing until we’re practically humping a wall begging for it to stop.” Aine rubbed at her temples. “Not to mention what will happen at sunrise if you refuse to kiss someone?—”
This sounded less like fun and more like pure humiliation.
“Wait, what will happen if we refuse?” I nervously asked.
“Details, details.” Breena waved a dismissive hand, as if it were nothing important. “You’ll just have one full day dealing with a consequence. Usually, it’s something silly like having blue hair, being extra gassy, losing your vision, or having your clothing randomly disappear throughout the day . . . no biggie.”
The blood rushed to my face as I pictured all the embarrassing things I’d either have to do tonight or suffer through tomorrow.Great.
“Welp, guess I’ll be getting thoroughly wasted tonight so I don’t remember a damn thing,” I said sarcastically. “So, can I just kiss whoever I encounter first at the bar to get this over with?”
“That’s the spirit! And right—just make sure it’s someoneyou findattractive!” Breena jumped up and down clapping her hands excitedly. “Now go! Both of you go put on something scandalous! You have ten minutes and then our Enbarr arrives!”
Breena used her hands to scoot Aine out of the living room.
Aine snarled back.
I took that as my cue and reluctantly trudged to my room, grumbling the whole way. I just hoped Breena didn’t plan for us to go to a certain club, where a certainassholewas head honcho.
Souls take me.
The hoofbeatsof the Enbarr suddenly halted.
Breena, at least, had taken mercy on us by summoning one to take us into the city, rather than a blister-filled walk. She’d shoved me into these ridiculous, glittery-gold heels. I warned her they’d end up in some dumpster at the first sign of torn skin. Her only response was a whispered incantation over them, assuring me they wouldn’t.
Doubtful.
Aine exited the carriage first, scrunching her face in disgust.
