added. I had no heritage, only the name, but it didn’t matter.

“We haven’t been introduced, either,” I said and Kress stepped in.

“Tonio Di Centi, heir to Di Centi apothecary, junior Doctor of Roness and Claire Di Centi, heir to castle Di Centi and Viscountess of Pilini Isles.”

There was more to them than just money. I expected them to be spoiled children, in a way they were, but they all seemed aware of their noble titles and future occupations. I couldn’t imagine Kress as a Count, but it didn’t shock me either. Ever since he apologised to me, I was drawn to every word of his. The voice of a Siren had been proven to be a powerful tool.

Claire had been tapping her foot for a while and stared at the night sky. The formal conversation we had about their titles and duties bored her while Tonio was livened up by it.

My intention was to learn as much as possible, but the alcohol made me focus on nothing but their handsome faces—the words bypassed me.

She ordered another round of spirit shots and called us to the dancefloor afterwards. I hoped to stand on the side and observe, but she dragged me into the crowd.

The Waves of Romance made our bodies pulsate with drum and bass, and I watched Claire’s curves flow. She hugged me and rocked her hips in a hypnotising motion. More of a mating call than a dance. When she put her arms behind her head, my ears flushed with heat.

The band and liquor broke me out of my boundaries, and I craved her touch.

I got a glimpse of Kress and Bryon dancing with other girls. As the junior Doctor of the village, Tonio tried to keep his professional act up at all times and refused to let himself go.

“I need you to do something for me,” Claire whispered, grinding up against me. “Dance with him like I do.” She focused her eyes on Tonio, and when I looked around, I noticed Elvora fighting her way through the crowd in his direction. Claire loved to pick on her, and I followed her request without thinking twice.

On my way to him, I got two more spirits for us. If this liquor made me loose, it would be only a matter of time until he would give in to it, too.

“Let me teach you how we drink in the South,” I said and he followed my example. I wrapped my arm around his and pulled him closer. He smirked and locked his eyes on mine until we finished the shot. The space between our faces minimised and his confidence made my knees shake—again it was me who pulled away first.

Instead, I lured him to the dancefloor and enjoyed his hot palms against my waist while we danced. When I turned my back to him and circled my hips in his lap, he leaned in to me, breathing against my earlobes. He made me sweat, and I was thankful for the loud musicians since they covered up the slight moans I couldn’t contain.

Claire danced between Bryon and Kress. They competed against each other to win her touch while she savoured every moment and watched me seduce her brother.

On the side of the dancefloor, Elvora collected her girlfriends and raged.

After the song ended, Tonio suggested stepping inside for a drink, and I followed his guiding hand.

By that time I’d already been tipsy and in need of a meal. When we passed through the Wintergarden, I grabbed some soft cake and shared it with him, hoping that would sober us up a little, but the shots we drank had hit our limit.

We continued dancing through the main hall and when he brushed his lips against my neck, I lost control and ran my hands through his curls. He hugged me against the wall and pressed his leg between my thighs.

Claire had chosen the cutout dress wisely. Her moon-face appeared in front of my eyes while Tonio kissed his way from the neck to my face and lost himself in my lips.

I took it too far, as she had asked me to dance with him, not to become his lover. Those weren’t my own feelings. I just went with the motion of our bodies.

“Something wrong?” he asked after I backed away from him.

“I don’t feel well,” I mumbled as vomit climbed up my throat, and I ran to the nearest plant pot to release it.

He called Loyra to bring a bucket and proposed to carry me upstairs to his room but I declined. I just needed some fresh air and would join the party again as soon as I felt better.

Loyra helped me outside where I threw up and asked to be left alone.

Sobbing, I cursed the liquor for my foolishness. It was all backwards. How could my body dare to reject one of the most fabulous humans I’d ever seen? Whenever I thought of his touch, I wished he was someone else.

After sobering up enough to move again, I crawled upstairs and laid down on Claire’s carpet instead of entering Tonio’s room.

The thought of continuing our kiss disgusted me. I drank all the water from the carafe to wash away the taste of his lips and vomit.

When I placed my head on the fluffy fibres, Claire’s face appeared to me again and made me remember the way she giggled, how she spread lavender scent wherever she went and how I never got sick of it. To have her by my side, feel her comb through my hair until I fell asleep was the only wish left in my mind. I planned on sneaking to my tower before she found me in this miserable state.

I realised that I must have fallen asleep when she tripped over me.

“Oh, shit,” she mumbled and started fondling the dress. “Verra, is that you?”

I turned around and recognised her shape in the moonlight. Her locks tingled my arm while she tapped me wildly.

“Sorry, I should be home by now,” I

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