Macy POV
I have never been a big drinker. While other kids my age were sneaking out and getting drunk, I was at home. On the rare occasions that I did drink, I liked to think I could hold my own, but this Fae wine is something else.
Currently, I am hanging upside down on the couch in the office. My wings are splayed awkwardly at my side, and the tips twitch along with the music coming from… I am not sure where the music is coming from. It doesn't matter. It is cheerful and makes me forget my plight.
"You are my new best friend," I tell Roland.
His silver eyes gleam at me, and he laughs. "Don't let Nyx hear you say that."
"Psh," I slur. "Nyx doesn't need me any longer. Not now that she has Cass-butt."
Roland roars with laughter. "Cass-butt isn't so bad."
"Is that why you hide in here and drink yourself into a stupor?" I attempt to raise an eyebrow at him, but my face is numb.
Roland chooses not to answer me. Instead, he takes another long swig of the wine. I reach for the bottle, but he holds it away from me. "I think you have had enough."
"Nonsense," I stumble over the word. "I can still see straight."
With my arms still outstretched, I try to wiggle myself to the edge of the couch. The bottle is almost within my reach when I tumble off the couch and land on my head.
I am gingerly rubbing my head when the door to the office swings open. I look up from between my wings and see the familiar green eyes looking at me. "Destin," I groan.
I tuck myself under my wings and try to ignore his presence. I do not like him, though, I can't remember why I do not like him.
"Why are you always on the floor?" He asks.
"I am drinking," I say a little louder than I mean to. "With my new BFF."
"What the fuck is a BFF?" Destin inquires.
"Best friend forever," Roland cuts in.
"You have chosen the Evil King Roland as an ally? This should go over well," Destin groans. "Cassian would throw a fit if he knew you were in here."
"If you have said your piece, you can leave. We have more drinking to do," I try to sound confident, but the wine is making my head spin.
"We have been searching for you for hours," Destin scolds me like a child. "We thought you had left. The Immortal Realm can be dangerous at night."
"I tried," I admit. "I couldn't find my way out of this castle."
"It is a palace," Roland corrects me.
"Sorry," I nod under my wings. "I couldn't find my way out of the palace."
I am still lying on the ground in a tangle of wings and limbs. Even in my drunken state, I know I won't be able to get up on my own. But with my wings wrapped around me, I feel warm. Or maybe it is the wine making me feel that way. Either way, I think I will take a nap.
"Roland," Destin groans. "You can't get her drunk."
"Why not?" He smirks.
"Yeah, why not?" I chime in.
"Because you will be the Queen. You have an image to uphold," Destin informs me.
"Ew," I wrinkle my nose. "You sound like Nyx. Are you in love with Cass-butt, too?"
"For fuck's sake, Roland. You can't corrupt her," Destin says, kneeling down beside me.
"She came up with that all on her own," Roland laughs.
Destin carefully digs through my feathers until he finds my face. "Come on, Princess, we need to get you back to your room."
There is something about the way he looks at me that makes me obey. The twins never looked at me this way. In fact, I can't remember how they used to look at me. A pang of guilt washes over me, but it quickly fades away when Destin touches my face.
"They used to call me Crazy Macy," I whisper.
"Who?" Destin asks.
My eyebrows furrow together, and I try to remember who gave me such an awful nickname. "I don't remember, but they must not have liked me very much."
Destin sits down beside me and sighs loudly. "This place can make you forget lots of things. You have to hold onto the memories of your past that are important."
"What memories?" I cock my head to the side. There is nothing in my mind. It is empty.
Destin turns his attention back to Roland. "She will never forgive us."
"What is done is done," Roland replies. "Soon she will forget everything about the Human Realm."
I watch the exchange between them. Their words should mean something to me, but they don't. The two men continue to argue in hushed voices, but I am no longer paying attention. Spreading my arms, legs, and wings to the sides, I close my eyes and hum. I am not sure where I have heard the song before, but it plays over and over in my mind. I am not paying attention to anything until a pair of warm hands lifts me from the ground.
"Are you able to walk?" Destin whispers in my ear.
I shake my head from side to side, before resting it on Destin's chest. He is comfortable and I melt into the hard curves of his body. My eyelids are heavy and they begin to flutter shut. Lips press to the top of my head and I snuggle into him closer.
"Do not fall for her, Destin," Roland's voice breaks the silence. "Her mates will come for her, and I doubt they will not want to share."
"I am afraid it is too late," Destin groans. "Who would ever call her Crazy Macy? She is perfect."
A memory flashes through my mind- two handsome men with identical smiles and dark eyes. I do my best to hold onto the memory. It feels important, but I drift off to sleep before I can tighten my grasp around it.