Page 42 of Fall into Place

Octavia smiled—she remembered the dress in question. She’d glamoured it for herself on the Isle, inspired by a Saint Laurent mini with a feathered bust and a scalloped hem that she’d once bought in Milan. She’d been stuck wearing it when Callum got them into a drunken brawl with a few of Felix’s henchmen—as she recalled, she’d kicked her stiletto heel directly through one of their eyes.

Octavia looked at Joni with interest. “What else did you write?”

“I thought it was interesting that the books frame you as a villain.” Joni looked a little uncomfortable. “And I wrote about how often that happens with strong feminine characters, dating back to Medusa, and even farther than that. The idea that you would take such pleasure in your femininity, and that even the way you dress is for you, and not to please men—”

“Obviously not, who cares what men think?” Octavia interjected.

“Exactly!” Joni grinned. “The whole idea of a ‘hero’ is so complicated, because heroes put other people before themselves, which is actually a very feminine quality. But heroes are usually men who wouldn’t be able to pull off their heroic feats if it weren’t for the support and sacrifices of women. And when a woman prioritizes herself in that way, she tends to be portrayed as a villain. So if you’re a woman reader who’s interested in strong female characters…”

“You tend to get stuck rooting for the villain,” Octavia completed the thought.

“Not just rooting for.” Joni leaned in. “But like, identifying with. If you don’t want to organize your whole life around ending up with some man, rooting for the villain is the only way you can aspire to have that much power, that kind of independence.”

Octavia swallowed a long drink of wine, letting the fine bubbles prickle on her tongue and down her throat. “Then you must find the real me terribly disappointing.”

“What?!” Joni almost spilled her wine. “Why?”

“Because here I am, utterly powerless without my brother.” She drained her wine and set down the empty cup. “Ironic, no?”

“You’re not powerless.” Joni’s voice was low, but her tone was firm. “You showed up in the middle of New York City with no money, no friends, no ability to be outside during daylight, and within two weeks you’re living in a posh hotel suite with a wardrobe Carrie Bradshaw would kill for? You’re a fucking force of nature.”

Octavia gazed at Joni. She was so passionate, so sweetly intense, with her wide eyes and thick dark hair. It would be stupid to kiss her. As much as Octavia hated to admit it, she needed Joni’s help, and there was nothing more self-destructive than getting romantically involved with someone you actually needed. Still, Octavia was tempted by the idea of pulling her close, kissing just the right spot between her jaw and her ear that would make her writhe in Octavia’s arms, taking her back to the hotel—

“Oh shit,” Joni muttered. She was looking at an email on her phone.

Octavia cleared her throat. “Did something happen?”

“No, our department chair just called a meeting for tomorrow morning. I would skip it, except I’m applying for this job, and everyone on the hiring committee will be there. I don’t want to look irresponsible, you know? My interview is next week.”

A job interview. Octavia smiled. How totally pedestrian. How utterly human.

“And you’re worried that if you stay out here with me all night, you’ll be exhausted and they’ll notice?”

“Oh.” Joni flushed. “Yeah, kinda?”

Octavia waved her hand. “You should absolutely go home and get some sleep. I’m sure a police officer or two will come through after the park closes, they’ll be easier to handle if you’re not here.”

“I’m so stupid, I didn’t even think of that.” Joni looked worried. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. I’ll just hide if I feel like it, or have a little snack if I don’t.” She grinned. “I’m a force of nature, remember?”

“Okay, but I’m leaving you one of the sleeping bags. And the wine. Ooh, and the iPad! You can watch Buffy!”

“I don’t want to watch Buffy—” Octavia started, but Joni was having none of it.

“You absolutely do. Oh my god, start with ‘The Wish,’ you’re going to love Vampire Willow. And Cordelia! And Anya! And obviously if you see the portal, don’t worry about the stuff, and I’ll come to the hotel tomorrow to hear what happened?? Okay, have fun, bye!!”

Octavia watched as Joni scurried off. She poured herself some more wine and opened the iPad—if she was going to sit here alone all night staring at a fountain, she supposed she might as well have some entertainment to pass the time. As the hard-rock theme song of Buffy the Vampire Slayer emanated from the device’s tinny speakers, Octavia made a promise to herself that she would go out and find a woman to fuck tomorrow night. It had been too long—she must be terribly hard up if she was fantasizing about Joni.

Chapter 10

Excerpt from Blood Feud

(book three, chapter fifty-four)

by August Lirio

Callum glared at Isobel, his eyes cold with fury.