“Did you see Turner?” Bridget asked Syssi.

“No, and I can’t find Kian either.”

“Maybe he went to the house to keep Annani company?”

“I’ll go check.”

As Syssi walked away, Bridget wondered if Turner had gone with Kian but then dismissed the possibility. Although the two had looked quite chummy when she’d gone to change clothes, standing at the bar and sharing drinks, Kian would not have taken Victor to his house while Annani was there.

She made another round of the square, looking out for Victor’s bald head. After all, none of the immortals were bald, so his shiny scalp should’ve stood out. Except, Turner was shorter and not as easy to spot as Anandur or Yamanu, who towered over most of the guests.

Her own diminutive height wasn’t helping either.

Perhaps she should climb on a chair?

Or better yet, she could ask Anandur or Yamanu to point Turner out to her.

Bridget pushed her way through to Yamanu, who was closer. She tapped his forearm. “Can you do me a favor and find Turner for me? Look for the bald head.”

“Sure thing.” Yamanu stretched his long neck up and scanned the grounds. “I can’t see him. Perhaps he’s in the loo?”

“Could be. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Knowing Turner, he’d found some dark corner to hide in or was indeed using the loo, but not for its intended purpose. He was probably sitting there and reading on his phone to avoid mingling with people.

The question was whether he was using the public restrooms at the village square, or had he gone home.

Home. She wished one day it would be.

They were staying at her future house in the village, one she would one day share with Turner if all her wishes came true.

Julian, who had not been assigned village lodging yet, was staying with them for the double celebrations. She spotted him standing in line for the buffet and chatting with Robert.

She was about to head his way and ask him whether he’d seen Turner when Syssi waved at her. “I found him!”

“Kian?” Bridget walked toward Syssi.

“And Turner. They are at the house.”

“Turner is with Kian while Annani is there?”

Syssi winced. “Technically, but not really. He passed out from drinking too much, and Kian took him home to lie down.”

Bridget’s gut twisted. Victor wasn’t a heavy drinker—his self-control was too strong to allow for excessive consumption of anything. The man even didn’t eat bread, for fate sakes, because he was watching his carb intake. And he wasn’t the type to succumb to peer pressure either—too smart and too individualistic.

Something else must’ve caused him to pass out. “I’m going to check up on him.”

“Yeah, that was why I came to get you. I told Kian you should make sure Turner was okay.” Falling in step with Bridget, Syssi shook her head. “I’m telling you, men are sometimes so obtuse. Kian said that I was overreacting, and that I shouldn’t get you because you’ll get mad at Turner. I told him you’d get doubly mad if no one bothered to tell you and you ran around looking for him, imagining the worst. Right?”

“Absolutely. I was starting to get worried.”

“Yeah, I would’ve been worried too. I found Kian sitting outside with Annani and enjoying his cigarette, not at all concerned about the man passed out in our guest bedroom.”

As they reached Syssi and Kian’s house, Syssi led Bridget directly to the bedroom Turner was sleeping in.

And he was indeed sleeping, not unconscious. Just to be on the safe side, Bridget checked his pulse and heart rate. Everything was normal. When she nudged Victor, he groaned and turned to his side, cradling his head in the crook of his arm.

Bridget let out a sigh of relief. “He is fine.”

“I thought he was, but I wanted you to make sure,” Syssi said. “Do you want to come outside with me and say hello to Annani?”

“Of course. It would be rude of me not to.” What she really wanted was to give Kian a piece of her mind.

“Good evening, Clan Mother.” Bridget bowed. “Kian,” she acknowledged his presence.

“Bridget.” He puffed out a ring of smoke.

“Hello, Bridget,” the goddess said. “Are you enjoying the festivities?”

“Very much so, Clan Mother. May we always meet on such joyous occasions.”

Annani smiled. “Indeed.”

Was the goddess even aware of the human sleeping in the guest room? Had Kian brought Turner in, while his mother was enjoying the crisp night air outside?

Syssi sat on the outdoor couch and beckoned Bridget to her. “Come sit with me.”

Following Syssi to the sofa, Bridget sat down and asked, “What happened?”

Kian might’ve not wished to discuss Turner in front of the goddess, but Bridget’s question was general enough for him to divert the conversation in another direction, letting Bridget know that now was not a good time.

“It’s my fault. Don’t be mad at Turner.”

Okay, he’d given her the green light to talk freely in front of Annani. She lifted a brow. “Did you force him to drink?”

Kian took another puff from his cigarette. “Pretty much. I challenged him to keep pace with me.”

“Why?”

Annani laughed. “Men, mortal and immortal, are all boys at heart no matter how old they are. They have an instinctive need to compete with each other. And it is especially true for the strong-willed leader types.”

“The alpha males,” Syssi said.

“I did not want to use the term because humans, as well as immortals, do not have real alphas. But that is the general idea; the highly competitive leader types.”

Bridget crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Kian. “Smart men should know to resist those primitive urges.”

She still couldn’t believe that Victor had let himself get carried away by Kian’s goading. But then Kian might have given him the impression that it would offend him if Victor refused. Insulting the guy who held his future in his hands was not something Victor could’ve done, and he might have chosen to get drunk to appease Kian.

“Yeah, but sometimes it’s fun to give in to them.” Kian stubbed out the cigarette in a large porcelain ashtray. “Life is about more than duties and responsibilities. There is nothing wrong with having a little friendly competition from time to time. I’m sure Turner will have a good laugh over it when he feels better. I sure as hell will.”

Syssi and Bridget exchanged knowing looks.

“Hopeless.” Syssi shook her head.

“As long as no one gets hurt in what you call friendly competitions, I agree that it’s a good way to let off some steam. But you’re a powerful immortal, Kian. You shouldn’t have goaded Turner into competing with you. You know he is not well. And you shouldn't smoke around him either.”

Kian lifted a brow. “I’m smoking outside.”

That was true, but Bridget wasn’t done being mad at him. “Cigarettes stink. If you want to smoke, you should smoke cigars. They smell much better.”

“I know, but they also take much longer to finish. I don’t have the patience.”

“I can get you small ones,” Syssi offered. “I saw cigars that are the size of cigarettes.”

Kian waved a dismissive hand. “They are not as good as the big ones.”

“I agree,” Annani snickered.