Page 120 of Origins of Eternity

“Zara, did you see anyone following you at all?”

“No. We were both really careful. We stayed in a hotel last night, too.”

Iro grabbed her reloaded pistol, stuck a knife in the back pocket of her jeans, and headed to the door.

“I have to go. I will call you later. Text her now, Zara. Make sure she’s okay.”

“Okay. I will,” Zara said. “I’ll let you know.”

Iro took a breath just before she got to the door. When she recognized the scent immediately, she set the gun down and the knife next to it and opened the door.

“You’ll have to fix that window,” Arwen told her.

“Hi,” she replied, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Hi,” Arwen said with a smile.

“And I will. Cardboard worked for the night, though.”

“Can I come in?”

“Oh, yes,” she said and moved aside.

Arwen’s phone beeped.

“That’ll be Zara. I just talked to her and asked her to check on you.”

“Ah,” Arwen said and pulled out her phone. “I’m fine. With Iro now,” she said out loud as she typed.

A second later, Iro’s phone dinged.

“I think you have a message,” Arwen said with a smirk.

“Ithink she’s trying to be very helpful, given what she did,” Iro suggested and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She texted Zara back quickly and pocketed the phone again. “Do you want something to drink?” she asked.

“Are you asking about blood or something else?”

“Do you need blood?” she asked and closed the door behind Arwen.

“No, Iatethis morning.”

“It’s noon.”

“So?”

“You’re new. How badly are you craving it right now?”

Arwen looked around and said, “I took the train. That was a bad decision. It was packed, and I barely made it out of there without biting someone. I did, though, and that matters, right?”

“Yes, it does,” Iro answered. “Let me get you something. I’ll warm it up this time, and if you want, you can mix it, believe it or not. Certain alcohols can help cover up the animal taste.”

“I have so much to learn,” Arwen replied with little emotion. “Can we talk? Really talk?”

“Of course. Want to sit?”

Arwen nodded, and they walked farther into the house, where Arwen stood in front of the fireplace while Iro went into the kitchen to mix them something to drink.

“Do you want me to start a fire?” she asked as she pulled bourbon and blood out and set them on the counter.