ALLURING

Simpler times. Minus the fact you now have a husband and children, of course. Speaking of our children, dearest...our daughter and my siblings are conspiring against me.

That kind of goes hand in hand with the fairytale bit, if you think about it, happily ever after and all that jazz. I believe the conspiring thing with your siblings, but why would Bea be conspiring against you? There was no indication of ill will when I spoke to her. She's a daddy's girl through and through.

Race to see who gets hammered the quickest on these watered-down drinks they decided to serve?

"You're looking for an ass-kicking on a race. Careful what you ask, cousin." Estella shot the blonde a quick grin and tipped back in her drink, downing every last drop in a matter of seconds. "That's one for me now and none for Blair Baird."

"So cocky, cousin. I'll have you know, I'm a professional drunk." Not entirely true– but on the rare nights that her uncles let her and her cousin out, she was trashed more often than not. Blair knew it definitely didn't help Cael's need to protect her from the shadows when she was too wasted sometimes to help herself. "Not for long, Estella Foxwood," Blair winked, tipping her glass and gulping the last of the contents before placing the empty glass on a passing tray and grabbing two more glasses. She held one out for her cousin before snatching it away with a grin and proceeded to drink half the contents before pulling a face. "Gotta be quicker than that."

Oh, it was an agonizing nine months waiting for the right moment I could drink to a point that's unbecoming of a woman in my position. Who knew being the mistress of Death held a mannerly standing? Kind of, not really, let's just drink and dance.

"You're not the only one drinking to the point of being unbecoming, so you're in good company," the princess grinned as she grabbed another drink for her friend, pushing it into her hands before taking Helena's free hand, dragging them both to the dance floor, and giving the brunette a spin. "Drinking, dancing, forgetting everything just for the moment. Nothing is better medicine."

Assassins are known for having exceptional navigational skills so those abilities will be tested. Great, awesome, our family knows how to keep a conversation flowing for a while. What pause? There's absolutely no weird pause, I'm just trying to avoid her for a little longer. How's the party going for you, Aunt Blair? It's great, right?

You don't know that, there aren't one hundred percent guarantees in life. Well, I'm having flashbacks and it's making me mad at Ramiel again.

There isn't a hundred percent, but would you rather live in constant anxiety waiting for the one percent to happen? No, no– none of that, behave. You're here to have a good time and celebrate one of your father's favorite people.

I think the music's blaring too loud, Blair, because I swear I heard you say you met your future husband at a club where he proceeded to kidnap you. Don't tell me this is a turn-on for you and him, oh my fucking fuck, it is.

Oh, you heard absolutely right. It's the whole 'being the King's assassin' job he had, where he was supposed to kill me, but never did. Which is a bummer because I was so ready to fuck him back then. Oh my god, it totally is a turn on– I'm thinking re-do.

"I detest the thought of anyone replacing my brother, but you are my new favorite drinking buddy." Beatrice watched in amused amazement as her mother beckoned a member of the waitstaff as easily as one does snapping their fingers, receiving both shots with enthusiasm before toasting the glasses in her mother's direction, "What a valuable life lesson, Mother Dearest." Bea took one shot and then the next in succession as instructed, releasing a small fit of coughing from the delicious scorch. It didn't drown out Sterling's grating voice or his smug face, but it helped. "Okay. Yep, another round." She waved over a different waiter, stealing two shots and downing them just as quickly as before. "Amazing, cool, I'm starting to feel it now."

It was never going to get old, the way her nerve endings set alight when her eyes rested on her husband. He could just be glancing at her, and she'd feel like the sole person with every look. "Deja vu, indeed," Blair murmured, her lips tipping into a smirk as Ramiel made his way to her; a hand moving to rest around his nape as she leaned against him, swaying gently to the music. "Well, how can I turn a night of intrigue down when you phrase it like that? Husband mine, you can kidnap me anytime."

Honestly, I could use something stronger right now.

Race to see who gets hammered the quickest on these watered-down drinks they decided to serve?

I've been to a few, but nothing as wholesome as celebrating a First. Mostly, it was seedy places where the music was too loud, and degenerates congregated.

Yeah, I don't do well with parties.

Totally agreed.

You, one hundred percent without a doubt, have sprung the best idea I've heard all night. Shots, please.

"I do have some brains in all this beauty– especially for cutting loose when we need it." Blair motioned for a nearby waiter to come closer with the tray they were carrying, taking two of the shots off and placing them into Bea's hands before taking two herself. "You always take two shots– one is to take the sting out of the second one so you actually taste the alcohol."

At least, it's fortunate you won't have to drive home then, Aunt Blair. You haven't seen my...mother anywhere, have you?

It's a massive perk, but I will still need to navigate the halls, so I will most likely be relying on Ram to lead us in the right direction. Your mom? Last I saw her, she was talking to her family. What was that pause for?

Both is good.

I knew you were one smart cookie, my love.