Chapter 28 Carwynn
CARWYNN
Aine was cozily sprawled out on the plush couch while I had my legs hooked over a red, cushy accent chair.
We’d been quietly sitting here for the last hour.
Aine was reading her bizarre, ancient history tome, while I had a fantastically smutty book I’d borrowed from Breena.
It was just getting to the good part where the clumsy girl was about to take the hunky Pooka for a different kind of ride.
The remnants of spiced apples and cloves hung in the air.
I sniffed. Was Breena making that?
I was jolted in shock when four Brownies buzzed out of the wall like wasps—magically appearing unannounced, gifting us two steaming mugs of cider.
Aine was their favorite for some reason. She’d only ever waved them off, but they doted on her like little obsessive servants. It was . . . odd.
They clearly loved her so much they were willing to include me in the offering.
“Thanks,” I grumbled, taking the mug and setting it down.
The Brownie shot me a demonic smirk.
Yep. It most definitely pissed in it.
The warmth of the fireplace was velvety, lulling me to sleep for the second time tonight. Magic-infused rainbow flames swirled about the hearth, casting a beautiful light show on the surrounding walls.
I absolutely loved our apartment, the coziness, the warmth, the round, open windows that filtered sweet floral scents in from the garden. It was storybook perfection.
And tonight was the perfect evening. Well-deserved rest after the long, dreadful week. Or so I thought . . .
The door slammed open.
“Fortune’s right tit!” Breena swore. “Both of ya—get up! Get. Up!” Her voice carried across the calm like a battle horn as she ripped the fuzzy blanket straight off Aine.
“Ay!” Aine yelped, tucking her legs up protectively. “I’d rather sit here for eternity collecting bedsores.” She buried her face back into the book.
Breena let out a frustrated sigh.
“No, this is not what we’re doing tonight!”
She stomped into the kitchen, momentarily disappearing. When she popped back out, her hands held three wine glasses. The liquid glittered in hues of lavender, swishing gently with each step.
“It’s finally the weekend!” she announced triumphantly. “We’re gonna shake out our wings and rustle up our skirts! Not sit around like old biddies letting our snatches collect dust!”
I chuckled and placed my book aside. I’d never actually seen Breena or Aine’s wings. Most Si kept them magically hidden away, said to only appear in necessary, life-threatening situations and in more heated moments.
Aine didn’t even bother looking up from her tome.
It’d been a week since I’d convinced Lochlainn to enter me into Fecunditas—the Eostre Trials. A full week of pure academic exhaustion.
Breena and Aine were fuming when I told them everything.
I expected them to freak out at mentioning Alvar, or the Floramancy attack I’d unleashed on Lochlainn, but no, they did just the opposite.
They kicked their feet like giddy schoolgirls.
Aine beamed like a proud mama that I’d showed my fangs to Lochlainn.
The only part that actually worried them was the bit about me going off to Fecunditas alone.
The Si were definitely creatures to be admired—or feared, depending on the day. By nature, they were fiercely loyal. Aine and Breena were the closest friends I’d ever had, and they worried over me like the sisters I never knew I needed.
Although I objected, Breena went to Lochlainn twice—harassing him about adding her and Aine to the team. Each time, she came back muttering hexes under her breath. They wanted to help, to protect me. And, of course, feed their wild Si nature with the little thrill of bloodsport.
“You might have to physically drag me out of the chair,” I whined, flopping my head back against the seat. “I’m so sore from training.”
Aine flashed a taunting smile, narrowing those almond-shaped eyes at me.
“And what specific muscles have ya been training at Shadow Daddy Bootcamp that have ya so sore?”
I let out a gasp. Then grabbed the pillow behind my back and launched it at her. Laughter spilled out of my chest before I could help it.
“It’s not like that! Looking at him makes me wanna peck his eyes out!
” Definitely not true, but I was determined to believe it.
“The lessons have been . . . surprisingly helpful,” I admitted.
“But he’s been a dick all week. Literally shows up, grunts some instructions, then leaves me alone to figure it out. ”
My breathing picked up speed as I vented.
“And do you know what that sadist made me do yesterday? A two-hour hike alone! To the Scurboga Gate. Told me it was a stone’s-throw away.
Jerk!” I dropped my voice, mocking his exact words: “To be in nature is to ground, and to ground, is to clear the mind.” I huffed, already feeling a slight flush speckle my neck.
“Uh-huh.” Aine chuckled, raising a judgy eyebrow. “Okay, so he’s a shite teacher. But you’re really telling me the sexy, smoldering bad-boy look does absolutely nothing to your lady bits?”
“Nope. Not a thing.” I anchored my mouth shut, fighting the smile that tried to betray me.
Aine just stared, scanning me like she’d scented my pheromones.
“We’ll see about that.” She sat up, face serious. “But I don’t trust him.”
“I second that! Besides, I think there’s a brawny, young Ossory who’s in the running for her. He seems quite smitten,” Breena said, winking.
“Right. That puppy-eyed boy who kept harassing us about ya. With the abnormally large shoulders,” Aine said, cracking her neck. “He’d make a nice pet. But if he bites, we’re euthanizing him.” Her lip ticked up.
I combed my hand through my hair. “It’s a no to both—to any and all men, for that matter. My life’s too complicated as it is.” I blew out a breath.
“Enough about men!” Breena chimed, pushing a glass into each of our hands with impatient excitement.
“Tonight is girl’s night! Tonight, we drink to celebrate life, share in laughter, and surround ourselves in endless love!
” Her smile was radiant as the firelight illuminated the gold flecks on her cheeks like stardust.
I immediately snorted.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not! In no realm will I cheers to live, laugh, love!”
Breena reprimanded me with a quick frown, but her smile sparked back up. “Fine. Then let’s simply cheers to an unforgettable night!”
Aine groaned from behind her glass. “So we’re really doing this then?”
“Looks like it.” With a defeated sigh, I scooted forward, holding up my glass. “Cheers, witches!”
“Fates bury me.” Aine deadpanned. “Cheers.” She lifted the drink to her lips.
The taste of sweet berries and florals slid down my throat, bubbles tickling the roof of my mouth. It was delicious and fruity, but there was a strange syrupy aftertaste . . .
“Breena,” Aine warned, eyes shooting bullets.
Breena grinned like a cheshire cat after finishing her sip. It wasn’t her usual bubbly smile, no, this smile had gone completely rogue. She let out a depraved giggle.
“Buckle-up, buttercups! It’s going to be great craic tonight!”
“Fecking hell, Breena! What did ya do?” Aine fumed, hand clutching her throat.
She pulled a small purple vial from the pocket of her cardigan and rolled it between her fingers.
“A wee bit of fun! It’s just a harmless Liplock potion! Thought it’d be a thrilling drinking game!” Her words were light, but a devious smirk lingered.
“You drugged us?! Breena!” My shock came out as an incredulous laugh, eyebrows raised.
Aine growled, “Liplock! Seriously?”
I wasn’t well versed in the Craft, especially the Si’s version of it, so I had no idea what that meant.
“What’s it going to do to us?” I asked.
Breena innocently shrugged. “Oh it’s nothing serious. I took it too! It’ll just enhance any attractions we have to anyone. To break the potion’s curse, we just have to kiss someone we think is cute by sunrise. That’s all! See, fun!”
“What happened to, enough about men, it’s girl’s night?” Aine snapped, brows pinching. “Hmm, Breena?”
Breena swept a lock of hair back as she shrugged. Her lips clamped together, holding back another rising giggle.
My palm slammed against my forehead.
“What she left out: every moment we don’t kiss someone, the sensation of want, of need, will keep increasing until we’re practically humping a wall begging for it to stop.” Aine rubbed at her temples. “Not to mention what will happen at sunrise if you refuse to kiss someone—”
This sounded less like fun and more like pure humiliation.
“Wait, what will happen if we refuse?” I nervously asked.
“Details, details.” Breena waved a dismissive hand, as if it were nothing important.
“You’ll just have one full day dealing with a consequence.
Usually, it’s something silly like having blue hair, being extra gassy, losing your vision, or having your clothing randomly disappear throughout the day . . . no biggie.”
The blood rushed to my face as I pictured all the embarrassing things I’d either have to do tonight or suffer through tomorrow. Great.
“Welp, guess I’ll be getting thoroughly wasted tonight so I don’t remember a damn thing,” I said sarcastically. “So, can I just kiss whoever I encounter first at the bar to get this over with?”
“That’s the spirit! And right—just make sure it’s someone you find attractive!” Breena jumped up and down clapping her hands excitedly. “Now go! Both of you go put on something scandalous! You have ten minutes and then our Enbarr arrives!”
Breena used her hands to scoot Aine out of the living room.
Aine snarled back.
I took that as my cue and reluctantly trudged to my room, grumbling the whole way. I just hoped Breena didn’t plan for us to go to a certain club, where a certain asshole was head honcho.
Souls take me.
The hoofbeats of the Enbarr suddenly halted.