"Incredible!"


    "How does someone that young drink like that?”


    "I''ve got nothing but respect!"


    Everyone was talking at once, crowding around in excitement-Calliope was clearly the star of the show.


    Calliope''s face was asposed as ever. She calmly kept sipping her drink, already leaving Blythe hopelessly behind. Blythe''s pace had slowed to a miserable crawl, her face twisted in difort as each swallow became a struggle.


    "You''re done," Calliope said tly. "Let me give you some advice. If you keep pushing yourself, you could end up with alcohol poisoning. And if luck isn''t on your side, things could get a lot worse."


    "What, are you trying to curse me?" Blythe staggered, trying to take another step forward, shooting Calliope a venomous re. The rage in her eyes was unmistakable, her teeth clenched tight as she stared Calliope down.


    Calliope just lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "If that''s what you want to believe, that''s up to you. You''re wee to keep drinking, but I''ve got plenty left in me. How much more you can take-I honestly couldn''t say."


    As Calliope spoke, Jett stepped forward in concern. Mrs. White hurried over to Blythe''s side.


    “Blythe, that''s enough. You''ve lost—even if you won''t admit it,” Jett said gently. "There''s nothing heroic about pushing past your limits. Some people just have an iron stomach for this stuff, and there''s no shame in not keeping up with Ms. Jewell."


    "He''s right, Blythe. Don''t force it," her mother added worriedly. "Keep this up and something bad''s bound to happen.”


    The crowd, sensing the contest was over, started shaking their heads and losing interest. Someone called over to Calliope, "Ms. Jewell, can you really keep going? Why not show us a little more—just to blow our minds?"


    "Seriously, you''ve had so much already. You sure you aren''t just pretending?"


    "Hey, Ms. Jewell, you''re really not even tipsy?"


    "Mind if we give you a little test?"


    Someone started testing her withplex logic puzzles, and to everyone''s amazement, Calliope solved each one without missing a beat. She wasn''t struggling not even close. She wasn''t barely barely hanging on; for her, this was just


    another night out.


    "Amazing!"


    "Incredible stamina!"


    “Honestly, I bet most of the men here wouldn''t stand a chance."


    "No kidding! Competing with Calliope is like trying to outdrink a bottomless well—not worth risking your life over."


    A nervousugh rippled through the group, and people quickly backed away. No one there had ever seen anyone hold their liquor like Calliope—she was in a different league altogether.


    Meanwhile, Blythe finally surrendered. It was clear: she was thoroughly drunk, her eyes zed as she slumped back, confusion dulling her features.


    By the time Lisette entered the room, any expectation of seeing Calliope wasted was dashed; it was Blythe who could barely stand. Lisette''s eyes narrowed sharply -Blythe had failed her mission.


    Looked like Lisette would have to handle this herself.


    She made her way over to Calliope. "Calliope," she said coolly, "Are you sure your drinks are on the up and ely stand


    up? Ms White could


    and you''re still fresh as a daisy. You didn''t-perhaps-doctor your drinks, did you?"


    “Maybe we should go head to head. I''ll drink from over here, you drink from over there—how about it?" Lisette''s eyes glinted with the challenge.


    Calliope smiled, unbothered. “Sounds fine to me."


    As she answered, Calliope''s gaze traveled to Lisette''s hand-catching, in that split second, a sly movement as Lisette slipped something into the drinks on her side of the table.


    Amateur moye, Calliope thought,


    letting out a low, knowingugh. If


    Lisette thought she was clever, she


    clearly had no idea who she was dealing with Even from the smell alone, Calliope could tell exactly what kind of cheap trick Lisette had tried to pull.