“Oh, they were a lovely pair. And so inventive.

“Iam a sexual being," she said, rising from her seat. "It is who and what I am. I make no apologies and no excuses. You could no more stop me from trying to go to bed with you than you could make water run uphill.”

Sarah interrupted.

“But why...why do you want to go to bed with us?" she stammered. "I mean, look at your body. It's incredible. Ridiculous.

I feel silly just being in the same room as you. Don't you want someone...more attractive?"

Althea's return look was loving.

“Oh, Sarah. My gorgeous child. It is not the beauty of the body alone that draws me. Although that never hurts. It is the purity of the soul. And you all have that in abundance. Why would I not want to spend time in the arms of those who risked so much to rescue me?

"I make you this promise. ALL of you. If you do not desire me, I will not try to force you. That is anathema to the very tale of how I came to be.

“And I ask this of you in return. If I should take your lover, or husband, or wife to my bed," her glorious eyes caught them all in turn,

“you do not resent me. Or him. Or her. I do not think any of you are the sort who are stupidly possessive or jealous. The last few weeks must have taught you that love shared is love doubled, and having more than one partner can be a joy to all involved, not a source of pain.

“Are we agreed?"

Joshua cleared his throat. "I can't speak for everyone," he said. He shook his head.

“Three days ago I pulled into this house hoping to reconcile with my former wife. In that time I have gained a fiancee,"

Rachel smiled back at him fondly, “a lover," a look at Sarah, "and new friends," a glance taking in Maria, Jeremy, Yasna, and Althea herself.

“I can't tell you we will be able to put aside decades of habit in the blink of an eye. But speaking for myself, I can tell you that we'll try."

“Thank you, Josh," she said softly. She looked at Sarah, who was watching her with an expression of guarded terror.

“Don't worry, sweetheart," she said. "I'm not going to take your lovers away from you. Away from any of you," she continued, casting her eyes around the table. "I know what you fear," she said softly. "A gorgeous woman shows up, beautiful and powerful. Will your Loved ones abandon you? Will she crook her finger and lure them away?" She shook her head. "You have risked so much for me already. And I will ask for more. But you are not mine. Say, instead, that I am yours. I owe my Life to you. My very existence." She reached out to grip Rachel's hand as her eyes pooled with tears. "I love you all," she choked out.

“So much. Thank you."

The mood was broken by the ringing of Rachel's cell phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and went cold when the name appeared on her screen. She raised horrified eyes to Althea.

~How the fuck does that worm have your number?~ she demanded.

Rachel grimaced disgustedly. It's only natural for opposing attorneys to know how to reach each other, in case something unexpected comes up that might affect the trial, she said. It's not Like I knew he was the son of a demon when I gave him my contact information. How do you want to handle this?

Althea gave her the mental equivalent of a saw-toothed grin. ~How about like this?~ she suggested, letting a suggestion flow into her mind

Rachel nodded slowly, then pulled her thoughts away. "ALL of you, keep quiet," she said, then pressed a button.

“Hello?” she said, making her voice quaver fearfully.

“You bitch," Kincaid said conversationally, sounding as if he were talking through a mouthful of broken glass.