Page 39

“Another question? Yes. Now my turn. How hard are you willing to work in order to become a force to be reckoned with?”

I stared at him and then took a big bite of pizza. What kind of question was that? Didn’t he want me to not be a threat to be reckoned with? “Not very. I explored my childhood interest in dead things and am thoroughly resolved to never go near another cemetery again.”

He frowned. “Even to protect your family?”

“I’d end up killing them on accident. I’m worse than Sage.” I flinched. I hadn’t meant to say anything about her anger issues.

“Sage has exhibited magical abilities? Dark or light?”

“That’s two questions. Eat.” I held a piece close to his face, feeling like I was trying to feed a hippo in the wild, and you know how they prefer human flesh.

He glowered but eventually opened his mouth and took a large bite.

I was supposed to have a question, but I was still panicked. How could I have said something about Sage to this monster? What was wrong with me? I was supposed to be a guarded person, and here I was spilling secrets all over the place.

“What drink goes with pizza?” I asked him while he chewed slowly.

“Sarsaparillas,” he said, which was absolutely the right answer, but I was here to get drinks with him. Did he mean non-alcoholic?

I beamed at him. “Really? We can drink sarsaparillas?”

He gave me the barest headshake. “No. You’re getting drunk with me.”

“Why?” It came out like a whiny whyyyyyyy?

“Is that your question?” He raised a brow and squinted.

I shrugged. “I’m starting to feel like the more questions you answer the more confused and overwhelmed I am.”

He gestured towards the counter, and the bartender immediately came over with a large tray with an assortment of heavy bottles filled with various liquors.

“Then it’s time to drink,” he said as the guy put the tray on the table and left us.

twelve

. . .

Teeth filled two shot glasses with a clear liquid without a label and then pushed one over to me. “We’ll drink together. Ready?”

I picked up the tiny glass of poison. “I’m going to need to detox. You’ll keep me from kissing any teenagers?”

He bared his teeth again and I flinched. “You have a blood oath if you want it.”

“No blood. A yes is fine.”

“Yes.” He leaned over the table with that terrifying smile. So many teeth. So sharp. So white.

I threw back the drink and then choked and gasped because that stuff was more potent than anything I’d had at the other bar. I coughed and shook my head while he set his glass down, eyes glinting with amusement.

“What was that?” I choked out.

“Something like vodka.”

“It sucks.”

“It will get you drunk quickly.”

I made a face at him. “Why do you want to get me drunk?”