Page 32 of Dreaming of Darkness

Chapter Nine

Traum

It had been two nights since I’d been able to see Bailey. I knew that she had been going back to her workplace and while I was home, I was hard at work trying to figure out the best time to bring her to the Underworld again.

I had also been avoiding my brother. Which was easy because he was basically useless to the world until after his youngling was born. But still. I didn’t want to explain why I wasn’t working. Or feeding.

My power, the power that I gathered from entering dreams and harvesting their sexual energy. But now that I was courting Bailey, there was a strangeness to that idea that I didn’t like. It meant that I was feeling rather low on energy and power, but also it would affect the tribe as well. Power was a collective well here. As my needs were filled by my work, the overflow as I called it, was recycled back into the tribe. It was consumed in our drinks and our food grown here by those who did not work in dreams.

For the first time in my mature life, I may need to consume energy harvested by others instead of providing as I had for so long. It felt…strange to me. But I had not discussed what Bailey was comfortable with. The other mated males in my tribe were all very open with their partners. Some continued on with harvesting, the succubus partners working in dreams as well. Some of our all-incubus pairings worked together to harvest power.

But the bottom line is that I didn't feel like I should do anything until I talked to Bailey about it. And that needed to be soon.

I sat back in my chair, eyeing my grandmother and sister as they chopped up vegetables to put over the stove.

“This will fix you right up, boy,” Grandmother said, pushing the plate in my direction. I picked up a root vegetable and took a bite, ignoring the heat and enjoying the flavor. Everything tasted better when it was made by her. I would swear this on the entire mountain of obols.

“Thank you, Grandmother.”

“Are you still sulking about your human?” Antheia asked, pulling a chair out to sit across from me. Grandmother chuckled and moved back towards the stove.

“Maybe,” I threw a bit of food at her, “And use her name, I know you know it.”

My sister smiled, half snarl as she hurled the vegetable right back at me, the moment before Grandmother turned to face us.

“Bailey will make an excellent addition to the family,” Grandmother said, soothingly, “When do you plan to bring her here?”

“Soon, I wanted to show her more about our lives, but I didn’t want to overshadow Albtraum’s youngling.”

Both females nodded. But there was a smile on my grandmother’s face. “I don’t believe that will be a problem soon.”

I tilted my head, “What are you up to?”

My grandmother merely hummed, eating her own meal. But by the time Antheia got her voice back, the door burst inwards. My eldest brother, Albtraum stood there, chest heaving.

“Grandmother, you must come. The youngling…”

“Calm down, boy,” she scolded, “We have plenty of time.”

Albtraum looked horrified. “What?”

“Your little one will take time to come. Go home, back to your mate. Hold her hand, kiss her brow. I will be there after I eat.”

He blinked rapidly, looking at both of us, his siblings, before slowly backing to the door.

I snorted as it closed behind him. “Ridiculous male.”

“You will be worse when yours come,” Grandmother said, calmly cutting her into her meal once more. “All males are.”

Antheia cackled into her drink, dark eyes crinkling over the lid. I opened my mouth to protest, but the thought of Bailey having our young left me a little breathless and more than a little fearful.

“See,” Grandmother said, pointing her knife at me, “Already a mess.”

Antheia nodded. “Males.”

“Fine, fine. I will go where I’m wanted,” I said, rising to my feet. “Thank you for the meal. I would endure your insults anytime to enjoy your cooking.”

“You’d starve otherwise,” Antheia under her breath. I grinned at her. “At least now you know what to invite Bailey for?”

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