Venom And Vice

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Now, the celebration would commence. Cheers and drums reverberated off the surrounding trees and filled the night sky. Men at the back of the circle brought in barrels of Faery wine, and others laughed and joked about the fun that was about to be had. I grinned, allowing myself to enjoy the celebratory spirit if only for a moment. And that was all I’d be permitted because within minutes of the festivities kicking off, I heard my name thunder in my head. Lochlan was using his newly bestowed power to summon me, and there was only one reason he would do such a thing. “Quiet!” I screamed, shoving men aside in search of him. Curious eyes turned to me, and a pathway cleared. Lochlan was at my side in an instant, twin blue flames lighting his eyes. “Rebecca’s just contacted me. We need to get back at once.” OceanofPDF.com Chapter Twelve OceanofPDF.com ASHLEY “Come on in, ladies! Let’s get this party started. I’ve got margarita mix in the fridge, salt on the glasses, and limes already wedged.” I’d been waiting for Rebecca to show up with Cat for what felt like ages. The last-minute decorations I’d snagged on my shopping trip the day before plastered slabs of vibrant color across the living room, and a Spotify party playlist was pumping the room full of energy. I’d missed Cinco de Mayo by a week but figured it worked as well as any theme for our get-together. Rebecca dropped her work tote by the door and grinned. “That sounds ah-maze-ing. Let me get changed, though. I’ll just be a minute.” I met Cat’s excited green eyes. “You’re welcome to use my bathroom if you want to get more comfy.” “I’m fine. I don’t have to get dressed up like Becca.” She tugged at her shirt self-consciously. “Either way, you’re welcome to make yourself at home since you’re stuck here for the next thirty-six hours or so. I got a new deep conditioner and face masks we can try out.” “So that’s why you’re hair is always so gorgeous. I should really spend more time with mine, but it’s such a hassle.” “What?” I gawked at her. “Your curls are adorable, and that color?” I kissed my fingertips in a chef’s kiss gesture. She gave an exaggerated sigh. “It’s my burden in life. Never sexy or seductive, but I nail adorable every time.” She arched a brow, and we both burst into a fit of giggles. “What’s so funny?” Becca asked as she swept back into the room clad in pajamas and fuzzy slippers. “I was just telling Cat how gorgeous she is.” I shot Cat a teasing look. Becca’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re unaware of how stunning you are. I bet you’ve had boys lined up since you were little.” “That shows how little you know. Not only were they not lined up but I’ve also had exactly two boyfriends, if you could even call them that. I’ve hardly even fooled around. I’m twenty and still a virgin!” Becca and I both stared in surprise. She was still young, so it wasn’t all that crazy, but she really was lovely and so incredibly sweet that it seemed hard to believe. “Nothing? Even with the boyfriends?” My mind kept running the math, but the figures didn’t add up. “It’s not that hard to believe, especially considering the circumstances of my family. I wasn’t allowed to socialize with just anyone, and the Druid boys were all … eww.” Cat went to the sofa and sat, making me realize we’d made her uncomfortable. Becca joined her in the living room. “Lochlan said he met with some of your elders yesterday to strengthen trust between the two groups. Well, mostly for the Druids. The Fae didn’t even know they existed until recently.” “I think my mom was there. She was in a right awful mood at supper.” “Yeah, he said she wasn’t impressed. Hopefully with time, they’ll come to accept that the Hunt isn’t the enemy.” “Some already have, but there’s a group of holdouts like my mom who always fear the worst.” Becca grimaced, turning to me. “Cat’s mom is massively overprotective. She’s like the exact opposite of your mom.” My nose scrunched. “I’m not sure which is worse.” Cat shrugged. “Well, it just means I’m that much more grateful for you two. You’ve already made my life infinitely better just knowing we’re friends.” “Oh my God, you can’t say stuff like that!” I cried, feeling a rush of moisture burn the back of my eyes. “There’s no crying on girls’ night! I’m going to make the margaritas, and then no more sappy stuff, capisce?” I marched back to the fridge and gathered my supplies. After witnessing my father’s struggles with alcohol, I hadn’t gone near the stuff until my junior year of college. Even then, I’d concocted a strict set of rules I followed whenever alcohol was involved. 1. Max one drink an hour. 2. No more than four drinks in a day. 3. No more than one day of drinks a week. 4. No drinking alone. Ever. I mixed my own drinks whenever I could to keep the alcohol to a single serving per drink. I never ordered doubles. I set a timer on my phone when I started each drink, and if anyone handed out shots or bought me a drink beyond that limit, I was an expert at sleight of hand. Pouring drinks into empty cups. Tossing unwanted shots into potted plants. Putting my lips to a glass but not actually taking a sip. I was stricter than a Catholic nun when it came to following my drinking rules, which was why I hardly noticed the girls talking as I measured the tequila.