Page 25 of Dreaming of Darkness

I would rather live the rest of my life with the memories of my mate and the pain of her leaving than never have known them at all.

My fangs bit into my bottom lip.

Three chances to show her that she could be happy with me.

Three.

Chapter Seven

Bailey

I looked around my closet, staring at my clothes, the pile of shoes that was there before I left the other day. Even the sports bra I’d discarded after a workout was hanging where I’d left it.

But it felt like years since I’d been in my little house. Traum and Arafel explained that I might feel ill after traveling through the boundary between the Underworld and the living world by myself. I could tell that Traum was frustrated that he couldn't escort me home, but Arafel had been clear.

And the coin in my hand, gold and heavy, reminded me just how clear he had been. How real this actually was.

I was the fated mate to a creature that lived in the Underworld. One of the Other, who served a dream lord demon who was also a son of Lucifer. As in the devil.

I giggled, covering my mouth with the hand not holding my coin. This was insane. And yet, I stepped closer to my mirror, lifting up the simple shirt that Lucia had offered me when she’d noticed I was in the same clothes as I arrived in. And there, scattered across my torso, up my neck. Tiny pinpricks and scuffs against my skin.

From him.

Or rather from his horn and those sharp claws. He’d been gentle with me, always, but my skin was so pale it was hard to miss the little marks. And now, standing in my nearly silent home, I was glad to know he’d marked me, even in this small way.

I let the shirt go, and then marched back to my small vanity,where I pressed the coin into my jewelry box. I needed to save it, to keep it until it was my turn to use it. Traum had said, between feverish kisses goodbye, that he’d come to me first. The smile on his lips had been wide, even if his eyes were sad, anxious.

He needed to check on his family, to make sure his siblings were safe. And then, when the bond pulled, he would come to me with one of the two coins he held.

I bit my bottom lip. I hoped it was soon.

I already missed him, and it had only been minutes. After wandering through my house, I had checked my email, my cell phone messages and even my mailbox.

The only person who looked for me was a new hire who wanted to know if they could borrow my printer for something.

Oh and of course, the ten emails reminding everyone that our annual company event was this weekend.

Apparently, no one had noticed, Traum and I getting yanked right out of reality the other day. Especially if I was still allowed to come to their fancy party in two days. I knew I should go, because if I really was going crazy, then I needed this job.

Or if it was real, and I screwed up this thing with Traum, then I needed a place to fall back on. Because I’d never had a relationship this strong or powerful before. It was daunting. Especially when I knew just how easily I could mess things up.

My family had reminded me of that every day of my life.

Traum had only known me a few days. And now we only had three more chances. I wanted to say that I could pretend to be more than I was for those three. But then, what, a lifetime of him resenting me for not being that person?

My stomach turned.

With slow steps, I made my way to my bedroom and curled up. Maybe if I tried hard enough, I could just sleep until he got here. I couldn’t do anything wrong when I was asleep, right?

Biology didn’t work like that though and eventually I had to getup. I showered, cleaned, and went on a few walks. Anything to pass the time while my mind systematically looked for any reason that I might scare Traum away. I wanted to know about them in advance, so that I could make sure to hide them all away.

Because my mind didn’t care anymore. My body was in a fit over leaving him. This morning after my workout, I nearly cried washing my breasts. They were aching and sensitive and I’d nearly come just from the hot water raining down on me.

My body still couldn’t stop though, and the afternoon before the holiday party, I’d laid out on the bed, my fingers deep in my body, panting and whimpering when I couldn’t get off. I wanted it so bad, and yet my body seemed intent on torturing me, not relieving me.

I should’ve known that this was the moment, my stunning, ruby-skinned demon would step into the room from seemingly nowhere. I yelped, drawing my legs up so that I could stand on my bed and launch myself at him.

Traum caught me with a laugh, and then, pressing his hand against my back, he pressed me down and low against the thick bulge at his waist. “Are you trying to kill me Bailey? I know you’re hurting, but I was saying goodbye to my brother when I felt you this time.”

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