Page 91 of Allegiant

Neo bobs his head, his eyes dancing. “All right. Now we need to say the chant, and we need a dance to go with it. It will really seal the deal, or so it says here.”

He eyes me, and I feel my cheeks flushing. “Oh, well, yes. I can do that. I can totally dance.”

“Great. Now…to big dicks everywhere.” He takes the book back from Harley and shuffles to a page, tapping on it.

“All right. Listen to the chant. Embody it. And then, Rowan, you move your body, and we’re golden.”

I don’t think we are, but I’m too amused to say otherwise.

Neo lifts his glass, and we do the same, his voice carrying. “By rod and rising tide, let my wand be glorified…”

I snort, and so does Harley as the chant goes on and on, and by the end, I find myself swaying, the sun setting in the sky really setting the mood. I never thought I’d be into this, but for some reason, on this estate with these friends, I am. It’s too ridiculous not to be. Maybe Neo’s right. Maybe when you have a rich boyfriend you find yourself with weird hobbies.

Not that Samson’s my boyfriend. This is just a…

Well, I don’t know what it is.

Just that I’m not ready for it to end.

Neo claps his hands together suddenly. “All right. Now that we’ve said the magic words, do a dance and then we’ll drink.”

I set my glass down and channel whatever witchy thing I can, my body swaying this way and that, before I finally finish with a flourish that’s not needed. Ansel and Neo clap, Harley whistling as we pick up our glasses, clinking them together. Then we stare down into them, unsure if we should actually drink this.

“Don’t fucking think about it,” Neo murmurs, and then holds it up once more. “A great and mighty wand for thee!” he shouts and pours the glass back, swallowing it in one gulp. We do the same, the bitterness mixed with the heated strawberries hitting my mouth with a force I didn’t know was possible.

I sputter and gasp, Harley making a noise in the back of his throat as he gags. Neo is the only one who is smacking his lips.

“Not bad,” he says. “I believe we have an unmitigated success.”

“Fuck that! It was terrible. What the hell?” Harley grumbles, swiping at his mouth.

Ansel shakes his head. “Friend, it was pretty bad. Like, really bad. I think it was the sage.”

Neo rolls his eyes. “Whatever. It will work. I know it.”

I just set my glass down, feeling my stomach churn. The drink was not good, not at all, but I won’t ruin his ritual. We all need something to hang on to, and if a bigger dick is Neo’s thing, then so be it.

“I think the concoction has an appeal,” Neo says. “And…” He pulls the waistband of his pants out and stares at his cock within. “And…I’m sure it will work eventually. It just needs time. I believe two inches is the max.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it will work…eventually…” Ansel says, ever the good friend.

I have no such confidence, but I sit there while the three of them chat, Harley prodding me to chime in. After a while, he doesn’t need to do even that.

I’m just…joining in. Having fun. Guilt-free, shame-free fun.

The meeting between the Buckinghams and Larry has been long forgotten. My dick doesn’t feel any bigger, but I do feel slightly tipsy. Neo presses another glass into each of our hands. The second shot goes down much easier. As does the third.

And the fourth.

By the time Samson appears, what feels like hours later, I’m in a bit of a state.

There’s barely any of the bubbling liquid remaining. We resorted to scraping the edges with a ladle to get the last of it out. The taste really does grow on you.

Those Badleboobily berries were great and well worth it.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Samson grumbles. But I see his lips twitch, the gentle amusement in his eyes.

I think Samson likes seeing me relax with his family.