Glasses clinked down in front of her. The glowing liquid shimmered like liquid flame. Without breaking eye contact with Kraven, Athena grabbed one and threw it back, the burn scorching her throat. She winced but she didn't let him see weakness.
"One," she hissed, slamming the glass down. Then she reached for another. "Two."
Kraven's smirk faltered just slightly, his eyes narrowing as she downed another, her lips glistening with the fiery liquid.
By the third, her chest heaved with the effort, her eyes watering, but she kept staring him down. "See? Stronger than you think. I don't need you."
For a moment, silence crackled between them, tension thick as smoke. Then Kraven chuckled, low and dark, leaning closer. "Careful, darling… keep tempting fate like that, and you'll find out just how much you really do need me."
But beneath his mocking tone, there was something else in his gaze… something like surprise.
