Blue-orange flames bloomed across the surface of every glass in a quiet ripple of ignition.
Hiro made a sound that was not entirely human. “Fuck yeah!”
With their trays now held at waist height, the women moved forward and grabbed shot glasses. The flappers' fringe rippled at their hips.
The violin melody continued its bold journey.
I glanced down at the slave resting by the bar.
He was still staring at her feet.
I gritted my teeth.
The women spread out among us and began handing us the fire-flamed shots.
Nyomi had one lit shot in her hand. “We will now be drinking the Dragon’s Flame.”
I winked at her.
Damn right we will.
I took a shot and was surprised that the glass was not warm to the touch.
The flame danced, burning blue at its heart and orange at the edges.
Several seconds later, everyone had flaming shots in their hands, even the women.
"So, you have two options.” Nyomi held up two fingers. “Blow it out fast, then take the shot. Or. . .drink through the fire. Very, very quickly."
Chuckling, Hiro raised his flaming shot in the air. “You happen to be talking to the Dragon’s Claws. We drink through the fire!”
Every Claw echoed him.
I caught Nyomi's gaze across the small gathering. She lifted her glass slightly in my direction. “To the Dragon.”
Everyone else replied, “To the Dragon!”
I lifted mine back.
Perfect, Tora.
Fast, I drank through the fire.
Incredible heat blasted me first. Then, high-proof whisky struck my tongue and burned down my throat in a clean, fast line.
Fuck!
The fire kissed my upper lip and vanished the moment my mouth closed over the glass.
Ginger came next, a slower heat, climbing down from my jaw, to my ribs, and then the base of my chest.
Finally, a quiet sweetness arrived.
I licked my lips.
Lychee. Mmmm.
My eyes watered. Perhaps it was only from the heat.
