Page 254 of House Ignis

Rhea was spectacularly losing a drinking game, cursing so loudly entire tables were turning to watch.

And Darcy… Darcy was a goddess of destruction.

Her tattoos shimmered faintly beneath her skin as she threw back another shot, her purple eyes daring every male in sight to try their luck. They didn't. Smart.

Then the night truly spiraled.

Ember dared Rhea to eat firefruit straight from the pit; she did and immediately doubled over choking while the crowd howled.

Ryven kissed Maddy so hard she shrieked and toppled off the bench, dragging him down with her.

Darcy arm-wrestled two males at once and won, her glowing ink flaring like victory marks as she slammed their hands into the table.

At some point—gods knew when—I somehow ended up on a table opposite Ezra for a drinking contest.

I only remembered kicking off my heels, the feel of rough wood beneath my bare feet, the roar of the crowd, and the burn of wine sloshing down my throat until my vision blurred.

My pulse thundered. Somewhere between the alcohol and the heat, my core had flared.

An hour later, I was curled on a cushioned bench near the edge of the tent, a heat pack pressed against my stomach while I chugged water like it might fix the damage.

Gods. Fuck this disease.

“You always test it,” Aether judged from beside me, his tail flicking. Luna sat nearby, regal and patient, while Ruin and Havoc lay sprawled on the floor, their heads lifted to watch Ezra.

Ezra and Ember were dancing.

Gods, they were beautiful together.

The music pounded through the tent like a second heartbeat.

Ezra’s hands moved up Ember’s waist, his fingers splaying against her back as she laughed—really laughed.

She tipped her head back, gripping his hair, and fucking licked his neck before biting down in a kiss. Not soft. Fierce.

He groaned and pulled her closer, his forehead dropping against hers. They were falling. Both of them.

My chest tightened.

Fuck. I needed Asher.

Actually—fuck him for leaving me.

My stomach lurched violently.

“Aaaargh,” I groaned, doubling over as pain clenched violently through my core.

“Okay, Hotshot.” Ezra’s voice appeared beside me before I even registered him moving.

I looked up through heavy, hazy lashes. He stood there offering his hand, grinning like a mad cat.

Fucker.

Ember stood next to him, his blazer wrapped around her shoulders, giggling into her hand like a child.

I flipped her off and took Ezra’s hand, trying to stand. My legs turned to absolute jelly.

Before I could even curse, Ezra caught me, l his arms wrapping around me like it was the most natural thing in the world.