His mouth falls open. “You’re shitting me.”
“Nope. I drank some when you were in the cells.”
Xavier shoots to his feet faster than I can blink. “Do you think they have any seraphis?”
I burst out laughing. “Seriously?”
“What? I’m not gonna use it withyou.”
“I’m sorry to inform you,sweetling,but I doubt there’s a single person on this entire mountain who’s going to have sex with you, with or without an aphrodisiac.”
“Nah, I’ll win ’em over. All it takes is one, right?”
The cave is not outdoors like I expect. Rather, we go down to the Operations floor and then into an elevator at the farthest corner of the Dagger. Like the one that offers access to the Temple, this elevator also features a button for a lower level. Karra, who showed up with Gray to collect us, shoots dark looks at Xavier the entire journey to the cave.
“You should cut this one loose,” she advises me. “He’s bad for your image.”
“You realize I’m standing right here?” Xavier says politely.
Karra flicks up an eyebrow. “So?”
Despite the fact that she just insulted my friend, I can’t contain a laugh, which gets me a grin from Karra. I wouldn’t consider us close friends, but there’s been no animosity whatsoever since she warned me off Gray. I like her, in fact. Especially her confidence. Karra knows exactly who she is and doesn’t care if anyone has a problem with it.
The elevator doors open onto another cavern. This one lacks the daggerstone, religious imagery, and marble floor of the Temple, but not the otherworldly atmosphere. Metal sconces provide weaklighting that cuts in and out of the shadows, and the walls create an acoustic chamber as waves of electronic music bounce and reverberate through the cave, fusing with the loud voices and eruptions of laughter. It’s so loud, I can barely hear my own thoughts.
All around us, people are pressed together in the low-ceilinged space, some chatting, some dancing, some doing a lot more than dancing. The air is thick with sweat and body heat, and although I’m wearing a tank top, I’m sweating by the time we reach the bar.
The sight amazes me. They’ve managed to build a bar into the jagged stone walls, using one thick ledge as a natural counter and carving shelves directly into the rock behind it. The shelves hold a remarkable selection of glass bottles. Glenshade as far as the eye can see.
Gray swipes a couple of bottles and hands one to Xavier, who takes a sip and moans like he’s in the throes of orgasm.
“Damn, that’s good,” he says to Gray. Then, as if remembering who he’s talking to, he glares at him. “But I still think you’re a prick.”
“Yeah, I don’t care,” Gray says, chuckling.
He grabs another bottle for his girlfriend, who I can’t deny looks gorgeous tonight. Karra’s body is on full display in a pair of tight dark jeans and a leather bustier with her cleavage spilling out. Black hair cascades down her back in loose waves.
“Is this party in honor of Reed?” I raise my voice so Gray can hear me over the music.
“Not in honor of, but definitely because of. Every time he’s here, it somehow leads to some crazy drunk debauchery. He brings the Faithful mentality wherever he goes.”
“Well, shit,” Xavier remarks. “I’ve been trying to befriend the wrong people.”
“You haven’t been trying to befriend anyone,” I point out.
“Speaking of debauchery,” Karra says, then drags Gray into the throng of dancers.
Xavier and I move away from the bar and settle against the wall, the bass line thumping beneath our feet. I watch the crowd, spotting Mako, Saint, and Neema chuckling over something Mako is saying. Nearby, Henley is dancing with a brunette, her body melting into his.Gray and Karra are wrapped up together, too, lips locked as they move together to the music.
Xavier pokes me in the arm. “I feel like I should ask you to dance, but I don’t want to.”
I burst out in laughter. “Then don’t.”
“But I should.” He gives me a sour look before taking a swig of glenshade. “I’m not the loser at the party, Darlington. I refuse to be banished to the sidelines like a ’fe—” He cuts himself off.
“ ’Fect?” I supply, smiling innocently at him.
“I wasn’t going to say that,” he grumbles, but his face is sheepish. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I’ll just add it to my bad-habit list, under sex addiction and bloodlust.”
