Several men sitting to Kael’s right and left began to grow restless, quickly chiming in, “Let’s just get started.”

“Yeah, don’t take too long. The girls might get drunk before the game even begins,” another added.

Cassian squinted. “She’s the one who wanted to join, not me. Don’t look at me like I asked her for money.”

Cassian shot me a sharp glance. I pretended not to hear. I clutched the wine bottle he had given me, while the server stood by with a stopwatch. The game ...