Page 97 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

“Yeah, guys, I think this is enough,” Azaire says.

“I think Zaire’s right,” Jermoine adds.

“Just pour the shots,” Kai’s voice is tight.

“Okay, okay, but what about the rest of us?” Yuki shouts. I glance at him and he nods once. “You’re gonna drink it all over whatever big dick competition this is.”

Breck whistles and the others look away while Kai snorts.

“What?” Yuki asks. “Did I misread something?” he says sarcastically.

Kai turns back to me. “I’m ready for another. But if you’re not…” he shrugs.

I look at Jermoine and lean back, resting my arm on the chair next to me. “Pour the shots.”

He sighs and does. This time, Kai finishes a moment before I do and whoops, rather loudly.

“Two to one.” Yuki shakes his head. “But I mean, three to zero would’ve been embarrassing.” He didn’t say it with any animosity, I don’t think. Simply a dim-witted comment and a chuckle.

But Kai scoffs, standing up and tipping over a bit. “What’d you say to me?”

I stand up. Either the room is spinning or my head is twisting, or perhaps it is both. The faces around me are all staring, but they look… different.

Less like the people I know.

Kai shoves Yuki and I put a hand on Kai’s shoulders. I’m about to say “calm down” or “not now” or some string of words to convince him not to hit Yuki again when he turns around and knocks me square in the jaw.

I’m unsure if it is the force or the dizziness that sends me to the ground, where I would’ve fallen on my face if I hadn’t put my hands in front of it.

Someone tugs me up and over and I’m met by Kai’s face. He punches near my jaw again, but he hits the floor next to me two times before he finally connects with my cheek.

He picks up my shirt by the collar and I… feel nothing. He punches me again and I hear the others shouting, but the ringing in my ears keeps me from understanding. Then Kai is disappearing, being pulled back by some invisible force that I finally make out to be Azaire when I sit up and see my brother holding back my old friend.

Fleur is at my side at once, grabbing my hand and holding my face and asking if I’m alright.

Then I hear Azaire groan.

I push myself up, stumbling out to see Kai land another punch on Azaire while Yuki and Jermoine try to hold him back.

Breck is on the floor with a bloody nose.

I make my way to them, prepared to bloody Kai further, but not before Azaire grabs Kai by the collar of his shirt and shoves him into the marble wall.

I’ve never seen Azaire fight like this.

“I always knew you were his bitch,” Kai spits. “But isn’t this?—”

Azaire knocks him in the jaw and Kai spits blood. This time, Jermoine grabs Azaire and Kai runs to me.

Then I’m punched in the face again.

I roll up my sleeves but miss the first punch to Kai’s face; my torso twists too much and I stumble. Kai knees me in the ribs.

I elbow him in the gut, three times. He elbows me in the forehead so hard I see stars. Then the ceiling. I lay on the floor. Azaire comes to my side and so does Fleur.

“Luc—”

“I’m fine.”

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