Sylvia reached out and touched my head. “Be gone,” she whispered as witches around us were cackling in laughter. Suddenly, the feeling was gone as I frowned and shook my head, clearing it.

“Whoa, I felt drunk. What was that? I might need to take some home.”

Sylvia smiled. “That was happy dust. They’re showing off, but I like to remain clear-headed in front of so many magic users.”

I nodded. Good idea. Gretchen and Maureen were high-fiving each other and laughing hysterically.

‘What was that?’ Kai asked.

‘Jesus! Kai. I’m having a good time, okay? Stop pouncing on me every time you feel something,’ I shouted, harsher than I meant to.

I felt his anger and hurt. ‘Fine. Radio silent,’ he shot back, and I felt the mate bond retreat a little.

Whoops. I was beginning to lose count of how often I pissed him off.

The food arrived and I gorged on exotic juice cocktails, sage and butternut squash raviolis, chocolate lava cake and shoestring french fries roasted in truffle oil.

“Oh. My. God. I will come here every year just for the food,” I declared to the coven and they all laughed.

Maureen raised her glass. “It is quite spectacular.” She smiled and her gold-capped tooth glinted in the candle light.

I felt so stuffed but I wanted to explore the market stalls and I had to pee wicked bad.

“I’m going to explore and find a bathroom,” I stated.

Sylvia, who was in deep conversation with another coven leader, stopped talking.

“Oh, I’ll go with you.” She went to stand.

“No, no, keep talking. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

She looked unsure. Kai had probably threatened her not to leave me alone. I could feel my eyes going yellow; my wolf wasn’t happy being treated like a baby. “I’m fine,” I declared through gritted teeth.

“Okay, dear.” Sylvia lowered her gaze.

Shit. Why was I pissing everyone off?

“Sorry,” I muttered before walking off. Seriously though, I was an independent control freak being treated like I was made of glass. It was a shock I hadn’t killed everyone by now. I understand some of the concern but the day I couldn’t take myself to the bathroom was the day I went postal on everyone. Pushing past some people, I went over to a table that had tons of beautiful crystals on it.

A short, curvy witch with wild, black, curly hair and kind eyes stood as I approached. “Hello, dear. A crystal for wealth? Love? Fertility?”

I smiled. “What about for protection?” I ran my hands over some of them, feeling the power vibrating along my slender fingers. The entire table was coated with white magical mist.

“Ahh, yes. Good choice. Here we are.” Her fingers were adorned with jewelry and crystals.

She handed me a ring with a large, rectangle, shimmery black stone on it. I held it and it felt good as I slipped it onto my index finger.

“I’ll take it.”

She smiled and I paid her before making my way to the next table.

“Witches’ wine?” A server offered me a deep purple bubbly drink. I shrugged my shoulders. Why not? I did have to pee, though. I grabbed the drink and took a sip. Bubbles and flavor exploded on my tongue.

“This is amazing!” I exclaimed as the server chuckled and walked away. I chugged the entire glass and set it on a table and then went to go in search of the bathroom. Scanning the hall, I saw a bathroom sign in the far corner by the buffet tables, which were crowded with people. I began to walk over there when a dizziness hit me. Shit. I felt really drunk. Werewolves didn’t get drunk, not that easily. We metabolized alcohol too fast. I shook my head to clear the feeling. I was trying to move past a group of witches. “Escuuuse meh.” My words slurred.

Holy shit balls, I was hammered. My own thoughts were slurring, maybe I should find Sylvia. No, I had to pee so badly! I rubbed my face, which felt numb. Maybe one glass of witches’ wine was equivalent to two bottles of regular wine. The bathroom! I stumbled through the door, my shoulder hitting the wall hard causing me to bust out laughing. I found a stall and somehow managed to lift up my dress and actually pee in the toilet and not on myself. Holy shit, I was wasted and Kai was going to be so pissed. Maybe Sylvia could ‘be gone’ it away. The thought made me laugh harder. After finally finding the handle to flush, I decided to skip trying to wash my hands, and just find Sylvia. Leaving the bathroom stall, I found four witches from Prudence’s clan waiting for me.

Well, shit. I busted up laughing.

They were grinning ear to ear.

“You look a little intoxicated, dear,” one told me.

“Oh my gawd, yer so obserbant,” I told her, feigning shock.

Her jaw set. “Bitch,” she roared and came after me.

Okay, shit. I was drunk off my ass, about to get jumped by four witches. Did one of them have a knife in her hand? I blinked but the world was getting blurry.

‘Kai, I’m druuuunk n bout to get jumped in the bathrum. Help, peeze.’

Before I got my arm up to block it, the witch slapped me hard in the face. Another laugh ripped from my chest. “Who slaps people? Hit me!” I roared at her.

The one with the knife advanced on me. “Pin her down. Let’s get the blood.”

Shit. My immediate future was looking bleak and I was beginning to think they had gotten me drunk on purpose. I decided to shift to my wolf and make it harder on them. Looking down at my body, I tried to force the change. I wasn’t changing! I had forgotten how. Dammit! Stupid drunk. I slapped my forehead as one of them grabbed me hard and the protection ring on my finger heated up.