CHAPTER 246: BONFIRE III

"Adam is approaching us." Naomi giggled as she spoke, a testament to her drunken state.

Levina was worse off, pointing at Adam and laughing like one whose brain nuts had been unscrewed. "I think he will prefer you to be the princess, rather than Rachel..." She placed her index finger on her lips. "Sheesh. Don’t tell Rachel..."

I shook my head, and took a sip from the drink in my cup, one out of seven. I was counting, since it wasn’t in my plans to be drunk like the fellows around me. The bonfire had been lit as I expected, with everyone and no one talking.

There had been horror stories told at one point, with Sinclair clutching the prize of storytelling. Even the triplets had enjoyed the gathering, if the smiles on their faces had been any indicator. Sadly, they weren’t drunk. Not for want of the booze being weak. No, Sinclair had kept his word to the ’magic angel’.

It’s just that, like me, they had minimized their intake of the drink after the first few sips informed them of the strength of the booze. The triplets and Raul. Although, Raul was closer to the edge. He wasn’t a werewolf after all.

His sister and Claire, however, weren’t as lucky or perceptive. They were just drunk as Naomi, probably why they didn’t make a sound after Levina’s statement, which was quite loud over the music.

"Do you think he will propose marriage to you?" Levina was still speaking, pretending to be coy, not knowing that the approaching Adam could hear her words clearly. I blushed in embarrassment for her sake.

"I don’t think so." Naomi slurred, taking another sip from the plastic cup. I would have taken it away from her, only that I needed them asleep, so they wouldn’t call out to me when I made my escape.

"He would obey his father over everything else. Damn duty and shit!" She took another sip. The disgust in her voice made me wonder what else Adam had done for the sake of duty.

Before I could interrogate her further, seeing that a drunken Naomi was an honest-to-heavens lady, Adam stopped in front of me.

"You are not drunk." He started, eyes perching on the space next to me, only that the two positions were filled, with Naomi and Levina drunken asses.

"Are you so sad about that? You wanted to take advantage of me?"

Adam exhaled harshly. "Dora, I thought we are friends now."

I paused my lips, then chuckled. "I should apologize to you then for you not being able to take a joke?"

Adam opened his mouth then shut it, a smile slithering across his lips the next second. "I think you should learn one or two from your friend over there on how to be humorous."

Sinclair was who he was talking about. Sinclair, who was dancing around the bonfire with some girls, in his underpants alone. Oh yes, I’ve taken some discreet pictures to tease him with. And not of him alone.

"I will make sure to register for a session under him."

Adam laughed then, before stretching his hand toward me. "Interested in a walk, friend?"

A walk to where? I couldn’t help but wonder, looking around the area.

"Don’t worry, I won’t bite," He continued with a smile.

I wasn’t amused but I got to my feet, without accepting his hand.

"Dora! Where are you going to? Abandoning us for a man? Where’s your allegiance to the girl code?" Naomi screamed, her head going back and forth, finger pointed flimsily at me.

"I’m sure they are going for a hump behind the trees."

"Levina!" I called out, laughing now. These two were really going to have it from me when this drunken session was over.

Shaking my head, I gestured to the forest. "Lead the way then, smooth talker."

Adam chuckled but chose to walk side by side with me.

"This way is better," He answered, somehow reading my thoughts.

I said nothing this time around, curious about what he had to say when we entered the forest.

Right before we were swallowed by the thicker vegetation surrounding the grassland, I felt the intense stares at my back. And since the number of sober people was limited, I knew the onlookers were no other persons than Adam’s brothers.

They must be thinking trash, since that’s all they ever did with my gender. Sex. Nothing much.

Naomi was the only nice female in the clique, untouched because of her brother; Bro’s code or whatever nonsense that was keeping Noah from seeing Naomi’s love for him, mate bond or not.

"Where is your mind?" Adam interrupted my thoughts as we began the descent into the thicker areas of the forest.

"Nothing much. Why are we taking this walk? Do you want to say something?" I stopped by a large tree, resting my back against its bark.

"Must there be something to be said? I just want to spend time with you. We are friends after all." Adam replied, stepping right in front of me.

Friends? That look in his eyes was anything but friendly. Maybe the wine had made him horny? I hated the way my nerves tingled at the closeness, the way my brain seemed to have lost touch of some reality.

"Adam, if you’re looking for a quick lay, I assure you I’m not the best option. That I’m not drunk doesn’t mean..." No way is this happening here. Better to kill the mood.

"Who says I’m here for sex?" He interrupted. Yet, his smooth, raspy voice was saying the opposite.

"That look in your eyes says so." I called him out, sliding down to the grassy floor. The earth was calming, centering me.

"You are not afraid of insects or something..." He wondered aloud, changing the topic, sitting beside me.

"I’m okay. You should be worried about yourself." I faced ahead, hands on my raised knees, wondering why I had sat down instead of continuing the walk.

’Because your subconscious is still aware of your earlier plan...’ El tsked, reminding me of my deal with the forbidden library. ’The library is the other way.’

Oh, well, Adam still had the crazy effect on me. Friend or not.