CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Twenty-One

[KINDLE'S PoV]

Amidst the clamor of the dining-hall-turned-ballroom, Inari trotted over to me in fox form. I stood by the far wall, watching the celebration.

Inari shifted into her human form and sidled up next to me with a teasing pout. "Lover's spat?"

"What?"

"You and your little humie." She leaned against the wall and casually examined her nails. "Did you have a fight?"

I fought a growl. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, for the past few weeks you've been practically inseparable. But now you're over here, brooding." Her golden eyes glinted. "And Blondie's waaay over there, playing a drinking game with Faye and the others."

Before I could get annoyed at the special emphasis Nar put on the nickname, the second half of her statement registered. "Wait, drinking game?"

"The usual. You'd think they'd all be sick of it by now, but I suppose it is a quick way to get drunk." Inari nodded her head toward the circle of people at the other end of the room. "They're probably just excited to have someone new to play with."

This time I couldn't hold back the growl of annoyance. "I thought she was smarter than that."

Inari shrugged. "I'm hoping she'll get drunk and trip out a window."

"Charming as ever. However did you manage to win over a sweetheart like Emrys?"

"Because I'm a sexy beast," she purred.

I scoffed. "Oh, of course."

"Hey, you used to think so too." She noted, nudging me.

"We were kids, I promise you that never crossed my mind." I smirked. "Besides, you quickly realized I'm not your type."

"This is true," Inari chucked. "Though it seems I'm not your type, either—you prefer blondes."

"And you prefer splinters." I flicked a little ball of flame in her direction, and she transformed back into a fox to dodge it. With a playful swish of her tail she disappeared back into the crowd, and I was left alone to "brood" as she'd put it.

With a sigh, I stretched my arms and moved away from the wall. In truth, I had been avoiding Blondie. After our awkward encounter on the roof last week, I thought it best to put distance between us. But if she really was stupid enough to drink the night before leaving for Réalta, it was probably best that I stopped her.

I wove my way through the crowd of fellow Order members, all dancing and laughing and enjoying Faye's birthday party.

In a group of former child soldiers, runaways, and war orphans, we didn't get many chances for celebration. But Faye was the oldest of our group and in a way had served as mother to us all. It was only right that we went all-out for her birthday every year.

The birthday girl was sitting with Serpina, Rhiannon, Isidor, a few other Order members, and just as Inari had said, Blondie. Faye was passing out tall mugs. "Okay, Magpie's new to this game so lets start out gently so she can pick up on the rules."

"The first rule is that Kindle's not allowed to play," Serpina announced, giving me a sharp look when I approached the group.

Blondie looked up, met my eyes, and swiftly looked away.

"He wins every time, and also almost died that one time at Faye's twenty-third birthday, so— banned." Serpina continued. She waved a hand in my direction. "Shoo, shoo!"

"I'm just here to watch," I answered, putting my hands up in defense. "Gotta make sure Blondie doesn't drink herself into a stupor the night before she leaves," I said.