Chapter2 INTOXICATED CONFESSIONS

“ … And boyzes and girlzes,” Ryder slurred dramatically, swaying as he raised an empty cup. “The winner is… the damn snake!” he announced, staggering slightly. “Presenting to you—Queen Aira, the Drinking Champion!” The room erupted in cheers and wild laughter. These drunk idiots. Spirits were high, brains were MIA. And just when I thought I might finally catch a breath, the devil himself had to make my grand ‘release’ from the basket a full-blown act of chaos. He shook the damn thing like a maraca and then flipped it upside down with a triumphant grin. Asshole. I shifted back into my human form mid-fall and lunged at him—only to miss miserably and land, instead, right into Chester’s arms. “Woah there, beautiful,” he murmured with a dazed grin, trying to steady the both of us. But of course, being equally drunk, we toppled over and crashed to the floor. Laughter exploded around us. But all I could focus on was Chester’s arms wrapping protectively around me, his chest cushioning my fall