Page 143 of Voidwalker
“Fionamara,” Antal chided. “That’s a horrendously bad idea. Even by your standards.”
He set his glass on the table, ready for another pour.
Fi hated when that smug ass daeyari was right.
Boden slumped into a groaning mess after three rounds of their drinking contest. Fi wasn’t such a lightweight, and though Kashvi’s cinnamon and juniper liquor packed a hot punch, she emerged from that first onslaught with the room spinning only slightly.
Antal’s unphased posture, she took as a personal insult.
Three more rounds and an onset of nausea later, her confidence flagged. Another two rounds of “would you rather fight one Beast daeyari or a dozen miniature Void horses?” and Fi’s head hit the table. She groaned as her vision swirled. Her stomach vacillated between flaming hot and trying to somersault out of her abdomen.
“You can’t get drunk, can you?” she accused in her most vicious slur.
Antal propped his head on one arm, studying his empty glass with a mild look.
“I can,” he said. “Just not with this human excuse for liquor. Burns off too fast.”
“Prick.” Fi hiccupped. Antal’s grin was punch-worthy.
At least he was grinning again.
“Fi-Fiii,” Boden moaned through the cradle of his arms. “I’ve got to feed aurorabeasts in the morning.”
She rolled her head for a glare. “Whose fucking fault is that, Bodie?”
“Your fault. Why have you done this to me?”
“Wellexcuse mefor helping you live a little.”
He groaned and clutched his head. “I’d rather be dead.”
“All right,” Kashvi interjected. “Let’s get you two home.”
Miss Brooding Buzzkill had abstained from the entire ordeal, warming her stiff hands on a mug of hot tea instead. This left her with the unenviable responsibility of grabbing Boden before he fell out of his chair. Pushover.
Fi stood on her own. A little wobble. Nothing serious. Had the tavern always looked so… tilting? One moment, she faced a wall. Next, the ceiling.
Her backwards careen stopped against something hard. Fi’s flailing hand found no floorboards. Instead, fabric. A brush of cool skin. Antal’s chest. He locked an arm around her waist to stop her slumping to the floor.
“I’ll take Fionamara home,” Antal said. She could hear his stupid grin. And something buzzing.
“Forget it,” Kashvi said. “I’ll grab her after Boden.”
Antal scoffed. “What do you think I’m going to do to her, Kashvi?”
“Yeah, Kashvi,relaaax.” Fi swayed with the words, nearly toppling out of Antal’s grasp. “He’s fine. Plus, if he tries anything, I’ll… I’ll stab him, or something. I don’t know.”
“I’d like to see you try,” came a whisper in her ear. And with the press of his arm at her hip, his chest at her back… Fi shuddered, a new heat blooming in her core.
Kashvi looked ready for protest, until Boden wobbled and nearly took them both to the ground. She squared her stance,supporting his weight. His angry mutters turned incoherent.
“I’ll stop by in the morning,” Kashvi warned. “She’d better be well and whole, daeyari.”
So angry all the time. Fi gave Kashvi her best pout.
“Of course, Kashvi,” Antal said, flat. “Void save me from your wrath.”
His arm tightened on Fi.
