Page 36 of Dreaming of Darkness

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Yes, I do know that. I like smelling like him.”

A strained silence pulled at me for just a moment, immediatelybroken by Antheia who shoved at Zaldi again and approached me more slowly. “It is so nice to meet you, Bailey. Traum has talked about you endlessly.” As if measuring her every move, the succubus, who was a few inches shorter than me, gently clasped my arms in a brief hug before stepping back. Eyes so dark of a blue that they appeared nearly purple smiled up at me.

“You’re beautiful,” I blurted out, surprising myself.

Antheia gave a short laugh, her long dark braid swinging over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I said that. I mean, you both truly are. But I shouldn’t say that.”

Traum’s grip on my arms tightened and a small laugh escaped him. I looked up, cheeks still on fire. “Help me out here.”

“Little dream, I couldn’t stop it if I could. While being my mate affords you certain luxuries around my kind, being touched by us can still be a little bit daunting on a human’s constitution.”

I covered my face with one hand. “I promise, it meant nothing,” I whispered to him, as his siblings chortled softly in the background.

Traum leaned in, “I know, I’m just having a little bit of fun.”

“A bit of fun?” I elbowed him.

“There are other things that I found to be more enjoyable, but since that moment’s been ruined, we might as well see what else the day will bring.” Traum’s expression sends a jolt of pleasure straight to my toes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“How come you don't say that to me?” Zaldi crowed from his place.

Traum rolled his eyes, “Let me show you my world, little dream.”

Without hesitation, I took his hand.

***

Traum

I had not thought this through. In my mind, Bailey comes through the boundary, she meets my family, I show her my favorite parts of my home and then we wrap ourselves up in blankets and hide out until her time here wears out.

But as it turns out, our little village had absolutely latched onto the idea that I was bringing not only a human to my niece’s naming day festival, but also that I was bonded to her.

Safe to say, we were being effectively stalked as we moved out of my house and down the center road in our little village. All around us, dozens of family homes rose from the hilly terrain, the bright green and soft yellows of the fields around us a blur as my eyes blurred. My claws were cutting into my palms as I attempted to nonchalantly shift Bailey from one side of my body to the other. Effectively keeping my body between her and the prying eyes that lurked from every side road and shaded space.

I glanced to the side, moving her to the other side once again after seeing a childhood friend watching her with hungry silver eyes from the porch of his family’s home. This time though, Bailey laughed, wrapping her soft hands around my wrist as we drew to a halt,

“Traum,” I ignored her, watching over her head as more of my people milled around the central building, “Traum, baby, why do you keep moving me around?”

I sighed, the sound coming out more growl than anything else. Bailey turned to face me, blocking my view of anything else as gentle hands guided me face down to look into hers. “Traum, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here. And we’re safe. You’re safe.”

I snorted, “Safe, but not…. there are so many here, looking at you. Wishing you were theirs.”

Her lips pursed and I could tell in an instant that she didn’t believe me. “I think you’re projecting a little. No one wants me that bad.”

I tucked a hand into the small of her back as another succubus crossed the street behind her, eyes wide and shocked and focused on us. “You have no idea, little dream. I have lived here my whole life. I know what they see when they see us.”

Her body actually shivered for a moment, but it wasn’t with pleasure. It was something else. I searched her eyes, finding –oh shit – finding hurt there. “And what is that, Traum?”

I swallowed, trying to shove my instinctual needs aside so I could focus. “It’s not what it sounds like. I–fuck–you are everything they want. Not because you’re human, or beautiful, but those things help. It’s because you are mine, because you are bonded to me. Because we have a chance to become what they will always crave.”

“And that is?”

“Soul mates, little dream.”

Her breath left in a soft whoosh. “Oh.”

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