Chapter 33 Carwynn
CARWYNN
I was going to hurl.
Finley was right. After he shattered me into oblivion, the aching, lust-thirsty craze had ebbed away. But in its place was now every single drop of alcohol brewing in the pit of my stomach, immediately sending my brain and body into a drunken, sloppy mess.
Finley joined me back on the seat and pulled me into his arms. His final kiss was adoring, our lips meeting, allowing me a taste of both of us.
But my mouth watered at the sudden anxious nausea.
Was it the drinks finally catching up, or the fact that Pogue just eye-fucked me from across the bar as I climaxed.
Finley must’ve read my sickly face.
“Let’s get you some water.”
He guided me to the bar with a strong, steadying arm confidently locked around my waist.
I froze as the cheers and whistles crescendoed, nearly driving me to cover my ears.
There, on top the bar, was the Si Dancing Queen. Breena clicked her heels, swaying to the beat as she walked, kicking glasses aside. When the heavy bass of the song dropped, so did Breena, low. Then, ever so slowly, she snaked her way back up, curving her backside.
The audience went absolutely feral.
“Oh. My. God!” I covered my mouth, holding back the laughter.
Looking around, I noticed Pogue and Lochlainn had vanished. Thank the fucking luck gods for that. I spotted Aine standing right in front, arms crossed, shaking her head like a mother hen disapproving.
She pushed through the crowd toward me.
“Mmm-hmm.” She eyed my flushed cheeks, a small smile curling her lips. “Seems one of us was able to escape Breena’s love hex.”
I bit my bottom lip, hiding my grin.
“Aine, just kiss someone and get it over with!” Dragging my hand around, I highlighted a couple decent-looking people nearby.
She took a deep breath. It was a small gesture, but I knew right then, she was internally fighting like a hellcat against the urges.
“Come on!” I urged. “Just one quick peck and it’ll be over!”
Something shifted in her eyes, knowing I was probably right.
Hopefully she’d luck out and one peck would do the trick. But it was worth her trying at least, rather than drowning in the abyss of raw need only to suffer unknown consequences tomorrow.
She let out a deep growl of annoyance. Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a victim to kill—or kiss. Same difference.
My vision started to spin a bit, but I tried to scan the sea of people as well. Instead, nearby gossip had my ears perking up.
“People been complaining Lord Faelad hasn’t been out much. Off having meetings and such with that Loveland Lord. Only seen him once but seems like a stuck-up prat to me.” The raspy woman thought she was whispering, but over the music, all secrets were isolated yells.
“Aye. I heard half his people were brutally killed in the collapse—while the other half now live in struggle. And he just gallivanted off, abandoning them! Went off to adopt some orphan babe, playing daddy. Feckin’ twat of a Lord, if ya ask me!” The man’s voice was haughty, dripping disdain.
How dare they! They didn’t know David. He wasn’t some selfish asshole who’d abandon his people!
Right? No, not the man who raised me. That wasn’t him. Never.
Anger rose within me. The throb of my pulse pounded against my skull, echoing the pressure building in my stomach—and chest.
Breathe, just breathe through it . . .
“Keeffe!” Aine shouted, shaking my thoughts.
Like a dog to a whistle, he hustled excitedly through the crowd to the call of his name.
“You all right?” His face contorted, confused by Aine’s angry expression. Or maybe surprised she remembered his name. “What’s going on?”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure if she was going to murder him. The look that flashed across her beautiful complexion was lethal.
It was like she’d been holding on to an overstretched rubber band, now finally letting it snap.
She rushed forward, grabbing hold of his suspenders, then dragged him to her.
He stood loose, like a marionette, letting her do whatever she wanted.
Her mouth barreled into his—a kiss that looked punishing. Hostile.
Finley was at my side. His eyebrows took flight.
“Is she going to suck his soul out?” he asked with a tinge of concern for his brother.
I scrunched my face. “I dunno. But I think he likes it . . .”
Keeffe most definitely did. Even if I hadn’t noticed the stupid grin raising his cheeks, he was practically glowing with glee. If he had a tail right now, it’d be wagging.
A hand cupped over my lips as I held back a giggle. Looked like there was someone Aine was attracted to after all.
Then, Aine broke the kiss and reared backwards. In the same moment, she raised her hand.
Slap!
Keeffe’s face whipped to the side.
“For luck’s sake, woman!” Fingers rubbed at the newly reddening cheek. “What the bloody hell was that for!?” His words were angry, yet a shadow of a giddy smile remained.
“For—” Aine stopped, fixing her dress. “For—I don’t know! I just felt like it!”
I burst into a fit of laughter. Which surprisingly distracted my whirlpooling nausea.
“Feel better?” I teased, giving Aine a proud nod. “Also, side note—how long has Breena been up there?” We both glanced at the diva on stage. She was on her back, kicking her legs up in choreographed motions.
Aine let out a breath, completely ignoring Keeffe’s existence again as he eyed her.
“Actually? I feel incredible,” she said, shaking her hand out with a small smile, then nodded toward Breena’s stage.
“She rolled royal blue—Dealer’s Choice. Bartender was lenient and dared her to dance for sixty-seconds.
But, it’s been twenty minutes now.” Aine rolled her eyes.
“Guaranteed she’ll catch some ailment by the end of the week—she’s stuck her tongue down four throats already.
If she keeps this up, the club might actually give her a neon-glowy coffin to dance in.
She’ll be thrilled.” Aine’s words were like a mother’s scorn.
My next chuckle had me grabbing my stomach as it stirred.
Ugh.
“I’m gonna head out. Let Breena know payback’s a bitch!” I grunted.
“That it will be . . .” Aine’s returning grin was devilish, calculating. “Though, I’m not letting ya go off alone. Why don’t you wait. We’ll get going now too. If we’re able to pull her off that luck-forsaken bar,” she grumbled.
Finley stepped away from an amused chat with Keeffe.
“I’ll walk her home!” he said, winking in my direction. “Promise she’ll be safe with me.”
I looked up at him, feeling a long-forgotten tension in my chest.
Aine blinked, considering. “Good. Because if ya don’t—you’ll be Sunday’s roast.” Her teeth flashed maliciously.
It took a solid twenty minutes to go three blocks. My steps were staggering, and at times, nearly tumbling.
Leaving the club was like stepping across a magical boundary—portaling me into Inebriation Land. Reality hit me like a cinderblock to the face, that reeked of liquor and promised vomit.
Finley seemed oddly charmed by me being a hot mess. Poor guy had to steady me every ten seconds when vertigo hit.
“Is it weird that—that I feel like I’m gonna puke, but also could reallyyyyyy go for a chocolate cwaaa—cwaa—crrroissant right now?” My slurring was so bad it was a miracle the words even got out.
His laugh was velvet.
“I totally get it. I feckin’ love chocolate croissants! Having them completely hammered only enhances the flavor.”
“Right? Sooooo true!” I cackled like an insane person, slapping his shoulder enthusiastically. “Why does my tongue feel so heavy? And my—my eyeballs—they feel numb.” My mouth made slapping sounds as I tested it.
Then, a piercing flash of white light radiated the pathway in front of us.
An animalistic growl tore through Finley’s throat as his hand pushed me behind him. There on the sidewalk, stood a small, doughy-eyed, gold-haired cherub. Honey. The adorable, blue-eyed Commander of the Cherub Army lingered a few feet away with hands disapprovingly placed on his hips.
“What the—” Finley swore.
“Uh-ohhhhh . . . ” I giggled. “Call me a biscuit, because I’m about to get Honey’d!!!”
Finley shot me a look, then gazed back to the Cherub, pieces clicking together.
“Right. One of David’s—security guards?” He studied Honey curiously. “It’s all right, lad. I can walk her home.” His words were slow and enunciated, like he wasn’t sure the Cherub spoke the common language.
Honey’s white tunic shifted in the breeze, accessorized with a belted rose-gold dagger. In his hand, a small spear sizzled with electric power in hues of pink and red.
“It’s—it’s okay, Finley.” My words slurred. “When the loveee mafia arrives, they don’t—” I swayed, remembering to continue. “They don’t take no for an answer.” I chuckled. “Plus, you definitely don’t want him to use that.” I pointed to Honey’s electric toothpick.
Honey gave Finley a flat look. Then stuck out his tongue blowing wet raspberries into the air.
Finley huffed, his lip twitching, annoyed yet charmed by the adorable little squishy-faced Honey.
Honey fluttered up to me with a warm hand and grabbed mine.
“Carwynn, wait—” Finley stepped forward.
Flash! We rifted away.
My last thought before the world winked out was of chocolate croissants, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love again wouldn’t hurt so much.
“I’m confusedddd.” I elongated my words, staring up at the beautiful night sky.
We were outside the rounded maroon front door of David and Wyatt’s house, quietly waiting.
“Couldn’t you have just—” My wave was lazy. “Ya know, poofed us in there?”
Honey chuckled, hovering up to the doorbell. He pressed the little white button that made a gonging sound inside.
Then, he slowly turned to me—staring in challenge. His little finger hit the doorbell a second time. Then again . . .
And . . .
Again.
Again.
Again.
Inside, it kept echoing like a haunted cathedral bell, possessed by the hands of a little menace.
Again.
Again.
Again.
He was in a full-blown mad frenzy, cackling at the relentless sound.
“Um.” I just stared, slightly wavering while chaos ensued. “I feel like—like this was a poor choice on your part.”
Then, a loud crash came from inside. Followed by a string of swears.
I looked down at Honey, shaking my head. “Ooooooh. You’re gonna be in so much tr—”
Flash! He was gone.
“You little shi—” My curse was abruptly cut off.
“Souls above!” The door whooshed open. David stood groggily in sweatpants and a t-shirt.
“Are you kidding me?” he reprimanded. It looked like flaming arrows could spear out of his eyes at any moment.
Behind him, Wyatt appeared, biting back a smile as he took in my mini dress. “So, on a scale of tipsy to shift-faced—where are we at?”
I groaned.
Kill me nowww.