Page 149 of House of Pain
“I’m heading to the bar to start getting wasted,” Blaze announced, turning to Andro and Gael. “You down?”
“Always, Blazy.”
How Andro still dealt with Blaze when he was in the worst of his moods was beyond him.
On days like these, Blaze didn’t even like being with himself.
They made their way through the crowd to the other side of the ruins, where a long banquet table stood, together with a floating bar where three fire sprites tended the witches.
As every year, the table was lavish and crowded with all sorts of fall harvestables—apples, dark berries, all sorts of nuts, and root vegetables.
Tall white, black, and orange pillar candles were scattered amongst the feast of fruits and vegetables, the only source of light.
Going around the table and the crowd gathered there, the guys finally reached the bar. Blaze ordered a round of drinks, and before they even downed them, he ordered another round.
“Look at that bitch.” Andro whistled. Blaze followed his gaze to where Alecto stood on the opposite side of the table, hanging off Rogue’s arm.
Fucking Rogue’s arm.
Blaze turned his whole body towards her, greedily taking in the tight red dress hugging every line of her body.
It was a rather conservative dress, considering it was Alecto wearing it, without a naked back, or provocative décolletage, ending way below her knees, so even her long legs were covered.
Her shoulders were hidden beneath a long, red cloak, the hood dropped over her hair, only the thin red mask covering her eyes peeking through.
When their eyes locked, there was a flicker of some sort, and then she turned her attention back to Rogue, smiling wide at something he said.
“I thought Val’s dating Rogue,” Gael commented.
Blaze threw him a dark glance, and Andro chuckled, shaking his head.
“Val’s not dating anyone,” Andro explained. “Val’s kinda datingeveryone.”
That was the most accurate way to put it.
“Miss Black is a busy gal,” Andro teased. When Blaze glanced at him, he found Andro’s eyes already watching him with an expression Blaze couldn’t quite read. “Who would blame all the boys for falling at the feet of such beauty?”
Gael grinned, nodding.
Blaze scoffed into his glass. “There are plenty of hot girls around the campus. Beauty is not something that’s rare amongst witches.”
“Oh, Blazy, are you just mad that Alecto seems to be the only girl on campus not falling for yourirresistiblecharms?” Andro mused, grinning.
Blaze emptied the glass, already waiting for the fire sprite to bring him a refill.
Andro was a loyal friend. A brother.
But he could also be a true pain in the ass. Most of the time, right at the time when Blaze needed itleast.
“I couldn’t care less about Alecto Black,” Blaze said, willing his voice to sound bored.
But,oh, that was a lie.
And from the way Andro swallowed a laugh, it was obvious that his best friend knew it was, indeed, a lie.
Blaze sighed, grabbing his new drink and pushing himself off from the bar. “I’ll catch you later. Time for a hunt.”
Andro’s laughter followed Blaze until he slipped in the crowd, blending in but keeping his eyes focused on Alecto.
