Page 118 of House of Ruin
When Andro noticed his choice of drink, he arched an eyebrow in question. Blaze just shrugged.
“I’m still trying to sober up from before.”
“Bell, make sure everyone has a shot,” Val called for the air sprite that was stacking the tray with shot glasses full of transparent sparkly liquid swirling inside. “Or two.”
When Jolene inhaled a sharp breath, Val barked a laugh and waved her hand. “I’m joking, Jols. Relax, will you?”
“So that’s how easy it is to poison someone without them knowing,” Blaze murmured, sniffing the liquid in the shot glasses.
It smelled like regular vodka.
“Remind me to never have shots when we’re at the other Houses’ parties,” Andro said.
Blaze lifted his lemonade in salute. “Promise.”
Val exchanged a few words with the sprites serving the drinks and then returned to the Inner Circle.
“So, how long is it going to take till we can start asking questions?”
“An hour. Maybe less. It depends.”
“Let’s go dancing,” Andro complained. He took Jolene’s hand and dragged her after him out the kitchen door.
“Where is Alecto?” Blaze asked Val.
When she smiled at him, Blaze’s stomach dropped.
It was a smile that meant trouble.
“Hopefully busy.”
Before Blaze could ask Val to explain, she was out of the kitchen.
With uneasiness knotting Blaze’s stomach, he followed her back to the living room, where music was blaring so loudly, it hurt his still sensitive ears.
Finally, Alecto was at the party.
Blaze’s mouth dropped at the sight of her bloodred dress that fit every inch of her body perfectly, at the naked back and those perfect lips that were curled into a smile as she talked with none other than Norse.
It took Blaze a moment to register Norse’s hand resting on her hip.
When he realized Alecto had arrived at the party with Norse, anger surfaced so hard and fast, Blaze almost choked on it.
This girl.
It was hard to tell what Blaze was feeling in that moment. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, whether he wanted to punch Norse or drink himself stupid.
But he found himself making his way through the crowd towards Alecto and Norse.
“Evening, Leveau.” Norse noticed Blaze first.
“Fox,” Blaze’s voice was filled with barely controlled fury.
Alecto turned towards Blaze, pushing her platinum hair over her shoulder. “Blaze.”
A picture of calm, naive innocence. As if they were strangers, as if they’d never shared all those nights together.
As if Blaze had never confessed his feelings.
