Bound to Earth

15: Liquid Gold, Sh!t Burns

Two decades. It had been two decades since the last time there was an opportunity, and I was damn well going to take advantage of the situation. If I only could recall where I had placed it.

"Token, what the hell are you doing?" Valentino grabbed my hand, prying me away from the wall I'd been groping. 

"I'm looking for something." I brushed him off and tapped the floor with my heel. The bitch had to be hiding somewhere. It was a miracle I'd forgotten where I'd buried it, considering it was one of my favorite possessions.

"What are you looking for?" Valentino touched the wall I'd left, as if he'd be able to find what I couldn't.

I tapped the floor again, moving throughout my house. "Gold." 

"Gold?" Alistar questioned.

"Yes, Liquid Gold." God damn. It had to be somewhere in my living room.

Brynjar scooted a few feet back and pointed to the spot he always sat and slept at.  "It's here."

I grinned and plopped down next to him, lifting the rug. "You knew?" I should've known the greedy dragon would be the one to find it. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if him or a family member made it themselves.

He nodded and helped me pry the floorboards up, the wood groaning at the strain. "I could only tell it was something valuable, so I've been keeping it safe." He could probably sense riches as well as I could sense fear.

"Alistar, can you grab my shot glasses? They're in—"

"First cabinet, top shelf." He was already grabbing a handful.

I reached into the small alcove in my floor, shifting through the packaging paper. Dust puffed out in thick clumps. Specks of gold peaked through the bottle the way that same color speckled in Brynjar's amber eyes. I delicately lifted the half empty bottle to the air and blew off the remaining dust. "I only drink this on special occasions but right now, you look like you need a shot."

Brynjar grabbed the bottle in my hand, reading then rereading the label. His eyes were wide with surprise. "How the hell did you get this?"

Alistar set the glasses in a row along my coffee table, leaning over to read the label. "I didn't know you meant the Liquid Gold."

Grinning, I swept all the dust and debris into the alcove and closed it. "What other Liquid Gold is there?" My mouth watered as I lifted the bottle and swirled the contents. "Do you want to do the honors, or shall I?" I asked Brynjar.

He ran a hand over his beard. "I have to fly tomorrow—"

I rolled my eyes and popped the cap open, his hesitation costing him the moment of bliss of opening a good bottle. "You'll recover by then, you heathen. But if you don't want any I can always take your shot." Glistening, thick, gold alcohol rippled into each glass. The smell was so pungent and acidic, even I had to rear my head back. 

"What the fuck is that shit?" Valentino pinched his nose and stepped back.

"Liquid Gold of the Dragons." I recapped the bottle and tucked into the safety of its home. "One of the strongest alcohols across the realms. Made with pure gold only by the hands of a dragon." The only alcohol that could top fae ale, one I drank on my darkest days. But today, I was drinking a shot because I could and I'd gone so long without a single drop of alcohol. It was the perfect reward.

Brynjar reached for a glass and tipped his head back. He slammed the empty glass on the table, smoke billowing from his mouth. "Fuck." The creases of his lips shimmered, stained by the gold, and I was tempted to lick it away.