Page 88 of Origins of Eternity

“You’ve been turning people more and more recently. I figured now was my time.”

“To stake your claim as…”

“As whatever you’ll let me be, yes.”

“I’d love for you to be my right hand,” Cassia said.

“Not Zara?”

“I do like her. At first, she was simply sex and someone to turn, but I’ve enjoyed her more and more. She’s discovering who she was always meant to be, and I find that alluring; a woman taking what she really wants as she learns that she’s wanted it all along. Zara serves a purpose.”

“I don’t?”

“You do, but it’s a broader purpose. I need Zara to help me with this specifically. She has a connection to Arwen, and since Iro is infatuated with Zara’s best friend, I can use that to my advantage without risking Iro’s anger at the same time. I also love Zara’s mouth. What that woman can do with her tongue… I don’t even think Zara knows how good she is in bed.”

“Yes, I know. She’s very good, isn’t she?”

“Does it bother you that I’d want her, too? That I enjoy her so thoroughly? Or that I enjoyallof you? You, Miranda, Alexia, Sarah, the new ones.”

“Not as long as it’s me most often.”

Cassia lifted her eyebrow and asked, “What about my Iro?”

“I know she’s the one you love. I can handle that. I’ve got needs that others can take care of for me. But after Iro, I want to be next. I want to come before Zara.”

“I see,” Cassia replied. “Well, I think youarenext.” She nodded to the café across the street. “You’re up, Gigi. She’s going to the bathroom. I’ll distract Zara. You get Arwen. I’ll get another car and meet you at home. We don’t have much time, so now, dear.” She held Gigi’s chin in her hand. “You take her, but you donothurt her. I want her completely unharmed. If you need to silence her, you do so without injury, Gigi. I mean it.”

When Gigi nodded in understanding, Cassia leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the lips, needing to leave her wanting more.

“Good girl,” she added, causing Gigi to growl. “Whatever you want later, if you do this right,” she promised.

Gigi opened the car door for Cassia and waited for her to walk ahead so that Zara wouldn’t be aware of her presence. Cassia walked in and sat down across from Zara in Arwen’s vacated chair.

“Cassia?”

“Hello, sweetheart.”

“What are you doing here? Arwen just went to the bathroom.”

Zara looked around frantically as if Arwen were nearby and would see Cassia in her chair.

“You told me where you’d be, and I missed you,” Cassia said with a puppy-dog smile. “How was Gigi in the shower? Delicious, right?”

“She’ll be right back. You don’t want her to see you.”

“She can see me without knowing who I am. You certainly haven’t told her about me, have you?”

“What? No,” Zara replied.

“Excellent. You’re doing very well, Zara.”

“Very well at what?”

“This part of the plan.”

“What plan?”

“Talking to Arwen. How did she take the news?”