Page 42 of Dreaming of Darkness

Vaguely I heard Traum’s growling and soft purrs as he gently repositioned me on the bedding. And then, a soft kiss against my collarbone. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

My eyes were already falling shut by the time I heard a door close.

Chapter Twelve

Traum

I had only been gone a moment, but when I returned with an extra blanket for my bed, Bailey was curled up, sleeping where I had just left her. My heart, still racing from the taste of her, almost hurt to see how perfect she looked there.

Because having her here was the best thing I’d ever experienced. Not because I didn’t love spending the time we’d had in the living world together, but because this made it seem more real. More permanent.

She had come to meet my family. And so far, had been completely unphased by nearly all of it. I couldn’t have loved her more. I moved to the bed, throwing the extra blanket over her and then carefully trying to climb back in to join her.

The mattress only moved a bit, but it was enough to wake her. She blinked up at me for a moment, then her cheeks turned that beautiful pink color. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I don’t think any male would be unhappy to find that he pleasured his mate so much that she fell straight to sleep,” Iwrapped my body around the back of her, fitting us together like spoons. “We should rest. The celebration will go late tonight.”

Her hand reached back, smoothing down my thigh. Noting the new trousers that I’d thrown on, her fingers stilled. “Did you change?”

I huffed, feeling embarrassed as I pressed my face to the back of her hair. “I did.”

She remained silent, but her hand on my thigh reminded me that she was listening, waiting. “I came, little dream, when you told me that you loved me.” I sighed. “The taste of you, the feel of your hands in my hair, and then fuck, those three little words. I couldn’t stop myself.”

“You came because I told you I loved you?”

“Does that bother you?”

Her hand left my thigh, finding my hand and curling it close against the softness of her chest. “No, not at all. I love it actually.”

I laughed, “Well I’m glad then, because being around you, sharing pleasure, it not only feeds me, but fulfills something else I’d never known was missing.”

Her grip on my hand tightened. “Can I say it again?”

“As many times as possible,” I answered, settling my head on the pillow beside hers. Her hair would no doubt be in my face soon, but I didn’t care.

“I love you.”

My body shivered, and then settled into the bed against her. “I love you too, little dream. Get some rest, I’ll be right here.”

Without fear, without reservation, my little human dozed right off. But as relaxed and content as I was, I couldn’t make my eyes shut.

I kept them open, watching her sleep in the quiet of my home, my mind a whirl of plans and possibilities. Because I had to finda way to make her happy, happier than she’d ever been before. I could not lose her.

I would not.

***

There were clusters of guests filling the center courtyard, the Core rising up behind us with a dramatic pushing into the Underworld sky. And every single incubus and quite a few succubi, was nearly as obsessed with talking to my mate than they were wanting to see my niece.

At first, I’d been worried that my brother or Rifa would be angry about the distraction from their daughter, but it had only begun a short time ago and they seemed relieved to have something else to talk about other than the same three questions that each and every relative asked about the youngling.

Even so, Rifa held her daughter close to her chest as the last of the tribe came by to lay a hand on the youngling’s back. This was the first blessing, given to the youngling, a tiny spark of power shared from the mature incubi to the youngling. A blessing, but also a strengthening gift. With parents like Albtraum and Rifa, there was no chance my niece would ever want for anything, but it was custom.

“When do they announce the name?” Bailey was tucked into my side, her fingers gently interwoven with mine as we stood in a line between Antheia and my grandmother. Zaldi, my younger brother, was the end cap on one side, Albtraum on the other. Rifa and the infant were snug up against my side.

There was no real danger here, but I knew my brother had placed me by Rifa as a subtle show of strength. Other thanAlbtraum, my own abilities were one of the most powerful in the Underworld.

“At the end, my brother will begin the feast, the sharing of power and end with her new name. Then the music will begin, the power will swirl around us. It’s quite beautiful.”

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