Ch 53: Celebration

Serena's POV

I should have known. The moment Grandpa Darius suggested a drinking competition, I should have gathered the kids, dragged Valerie out of there, and fled the scene. But no, I had let myself believe that a little drinking among hunters wouldn't be a big deal.

That was my first mistake.

The second was underestimating Mirthwine.

Normally, alcohol barely affects S-rank hunters. We metabolize it too fast for it to do much beyond giving us a light buzz. But Mirthwine was different. It was brewed with the venom of a Mirthfang Serpent, a creature whose venom induced euphoria, relaxation, and heightened senses. When mixed with certain fruits and grains, the venom accelerated fermentation, transforming regular alcohol into a dangerously smooth, potent liquor.

For normal hunters, it was just strong alcohol.

For A-rankers and above? It was chaos in a bottle.

Not only did it heighten our senses to ridiculous degrees, but it also interfered with mana control, temporarily removing our natural limiters. And since our limiters were the only things keeping us from doing stupid, reckless things… well.

The guests had caught on fast.

Most of them had smartly decided to leave once they saw the first signs of disaster. Unfortunately, my lovely, very competitive wife and our equally reckless companions were not so wise.

By the time Brianna and I returned from tucking the kids into bed at the reserved hotel, we arrived at a battlefield.

Cecilia was still going strong, downing shots like a warlord preparing for battle. Valerie had fully draped herself over me the moment I got close, nuzzling into my neck with the clinginess of a cat in winter. And Grandpa Darius? He was cackling, raising his glass like he had just conquered a kingdom, slurring something about how "real hunters don't tap out until the gods themselves surrender!"

Jake, on the other hand, was already down for the count, slumped over the table like a fallen hero.

Brianna and I shared a long, exhausted look. It was clear that the last remaining brain cell between us was screaming for an emergency evacuation.

Thankfully, Grandpa's secretary finally arrived to haul him out, though not before Grandpa waved dramatically at Valerie and Cecilia, laughing so hard he could barely get the words out:

"One last round next time—hic—I mean it!"

No one entertained that idea.

With Grandpa gone and Jake being escorted to his room by a staff member, that left the final two problems: Valerie and Cecilia.

Brianna and I wasted no time. We flagged down the staff, ensuring the last two drunks were also taken away, and at long last—finally—the night was over.

Or so I thought.

================================

Now, standing in the dimly lit hotel room, I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples.

Valerie was sprawled out on the bed, looking deceptively peaceful. The soft glow of the bedside lamp casts golden light on her features, highlighting the lazy smirk still lingering on her lips. Her tie was loosened, the top buttons of her shirt undone just enough to make my stupid brain short-circuit.

'No'. I steeled myself. 'Absolutely not. You are stronger than this'.

I took a deep breath and approached the bed.

The logical thing to do was simple: get her changed into something comfortable, make sure she didn't fall off the bed, and then sleep. That was it. No distractions. No thoughts. Just efficiency.

I reached for her tie, fingers brushing against the smooth fabric—

And then everything went wrong.

Valerie's hand shot up, gripping my wrist in a firm but gentle hold. Before I could even blink, she pulled—and suddenly, my world tilted.

The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back, pinned beneath her.

I sucked in a sharp breath. "What the—"

"Oh?" Her voice was thick with amusement, her gaze half-lidded as she hovered over me. Her weight pressed lightly against mine, her warmth seeping through my clothes. "You're being so bold tonight, my love."

My heart stuttered.

"Valerie," I said, aiming for stern but sounding way too breathless. "You're drunk."

She hummed, her lips curving into a smirk. "Mm. I am."

She leaned in, her nose brushing against my jaw, her breath warm against my skin.

"But I'm very aware of what I'm doing."

I swallowed. Hard.

This was not fair.

She smelled too good—like Mirthwine and something distinctly her, something intoxicating without the need for alcohol. And her eyes—bright and filled with mischief—were making my brain malfunction in real-time.

"This isn't fair," I muttered weakly.

"Life isn't fair," she murmured, lips ghosting over my cheek. "But marriage?"

Her smirk deepened. "That's a different story."

I let out a strangled sound—somewhere between a laugh, a groan, and a desperate prayer for self-control.

"You're supposed to be unconscious by now," I grumbled, trying to push her off.

She didn't budge. Instead, she let her fingers trail lazily down my arm, sending shivers down my spine. "Are you trying to get rid of me already?"

I scoffed. "I'm trying to get you changed so we can sleep."

"Mm." She pretended to consider this, then grinned. "But sleep is boring."

'Oh no'.

I had seen this look before. This was the look she got when she was planning something dangerous. The last time I had seen this exact smirk, we had ended up banned from an arcade. The time before that, we had nearly been arrested for 'accidentally' scamming a gambling den.

And now, it was directed at me.

"Valerie," I started, trying to inject some authority into my voice. "I swear—"

She cut me off with a slow, teasing kiss at the corner of my lips.

I froze.

She pulled back, watching me with a playful glint in her eyes. "Oops."

'Oh, she is playing dirty'.

I clenched my fists, resisting the very powerful urge to flip her over and wipe that smirk off her face in the exact way she wanted me to.

"This isn't fair," I whispered again, mostly to myself.

She grinned. "Oh, hon, nothing about you and me has ever been fair."

Her fingers trailed lower, her touch featherlight.

I was losing.

I let out a slow, controlled exhale, summoning the last remnants of my willpower. "You're going to regret this in the morning."

She raised an eyebrow. "Am I?"

I gave her my best unimpressed look. "Oh, absolutely. And when you wake up hungover, I will be making sure you suffer."

She chuckled, leaning down to whisper, "I look forward to it."

I cursed under my breath.

"I am going to die tonight."