Page 59 of Ruthless Prince

“Welcome to the Bacchanalia,” one of them said, handing me a small shotglass.

“First time?” the other one asked as she pulled my hood down and placed a wreath on myhead.

“Yes.” I tentatively eyed the shot. “What’sthis?”

“Honey liqueur. It’s the official festival drink,” shereplied.

“Try it,” the other one chimed in. “It’sdelicious.”

I tipped my head back and downed the shot. She was right. It tasted incredible. Sweet andstimulating.

“Enjoy the festivities,” the women said in unison, stepping aside to let methrough.

“Thankyou.”

I took a deep breath and stepped into the festival with wide eyes. My mind was whirling, my body charged and ready to go. I didn’t even need that honey shot to get a buzz, because the atmosphere was like a drug. Intoxicating andelectrifying.

I wandered around in an awestruck daze, noticing thrilling new things at every turn. One of the open marquees was a cocktail lounge with handsome shirtless bartenders slinging flaming drinks to mesmerized patrons, and next to that was a smaller marquee with a buffet of deliciously-scented foods. A few yards down from there was a large tent draped in red velvet. A gold rope tied off the entrance, and a sign hung from the front, warning people that they should only enter if they dared. Moans and whimpers echoed from deepwithin.

I nabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter as I walked by the main stage. There was a sea of swaying bodies around it, everyone dancing and grinding all over each other. A couple in the middle quickly caught my attention. The man’s shirt was open, and his topless partner had her legs wrapped around his waist as he gripped her ass. They kissed deeply and bounced to the music in a steady rhythm, looking so intimate that anyone could be forgiven for thinking they were fucking in front ofeveryone.

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment at thesight.

“Willow!”

I turned to see my father hurrying toward me, one hand raised in awave.

“Hey, Dad,” I shouted over the music. “This party iscrazy!”

“Do you likeit?”

I nodded. “It’s like a carnival. I’m half-expecting to see a rollercoaster and a Ferris wheel with neon lights when I turn the nextcorner.”

“Just wait for the fireworks show they put on when the last initiate finishes the ritual. It’s amazing,” he replied with a grin. He tilted his head to the right. “Come and talk to me for aminute?”

“Sure.”

He took my arm and led me over to a quieter spot. “How was the ritual?” heasked.

I smiled. “You were right. It looked a lot scarier than it actuallywas.”

“I knew you’d befine.”

Without warning, he pulled me into a bear-hug, nearly squeezing the life out of me. My champagne glass slipped out of my hand and shattered on theground.

“Dad. Stop. I can’t breathe,” I chokedout.

He pulled back. “Sorry. I’m just…” He stopped and cleared his throat. “I wanted to tell you how proud Iam.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

He put a hand on my shoulder. “I love you, sweetheart. No matter what happens, you’ll always be my daughter, and I’ll always be your father. You know that,right?”

My eyebrows rose quizzically. “Of course Ido.”

My father and I had always shared a close relationship, but he’d never spoken to me like this before. For a second, I thought he might be drunk, but then I thought of a more plausible explanation. He knew it was my twenty-first birthday tomorrow, and it probably made him feel like he was losing his littlegirl.

“I’m not going anywhere, Dad,” I added. “Ipromise.”