Page 53 of Dreaming of Darkness

We drove home in silence, a wave of tension tugging at us. I fidgeted in my living room, discarding my coat, bag, everything by the door in a heap as I watched Traum move across the space. His glamor shed as he went.

Now his usual deep red tone, he began to pace slowly, his head bowed in deep thought. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice a littlestrangled, “I didn’t mean to ruin our night?”

“Ruin?” Traum cocked his head at me, “You didn’t ruin anything. You’re entitled to answers, and if we don’t have them yet, then we work on them. Together, eh?”

He resumed pacing and after a moment, I mimicked him. Traum gave a short laugh, but didn’ stop. “I always think better when I’m moving.”

I hurried to match his pace, “And what are you thinking?”

“That there has to be an answer in the middle Somewhere between us each having to give up an entire life, only to have our own.”

I nodded, blinking as a wave of something slipped over me. Wobbling I leaned against the armrest. “Whoa, what was that…”

“Bailey?” Traum’s voice was sluggish to my ears. I turned, trying to focus on him through blurred vision.

“Traum, I think I’m going to faint or–,” I sunk down onto the cushions, my arms and body heavy and uncoordinated. In my preferies, I can see Traum sinking to the floor, his knees spread as he moved to crawl towards me.

“Bailey,” he said again, but this time, it was merely a whisper.

My eyes closed and darkness swept in.

Chapter Fifteen

Bailey

“Too much, Arafel. Look at them? They’re going to be out all night at this point.”

My eyes flew open, quickly followed by my jaw hitting the floor. Traum was by my side, and in front of us, were Arafel and his mate, Lucia. But everywhere else, there were no walls, no floor.Nothing beyond a thick white flog that made it appear that my drab little couch was sitting on a cloud.

Traum stirred, then sat bolt upright. “Fuck. Bailey?” He turned quickly in his chair, staring at me first, then back at the two in front of us. To my surprise, he greeted them only with a soft snarl.

“You forced us into sleep?” Traum’s fangs were extended, his body scrambling to rise. Arafel frowned at Traum, “I’m not used to being questioned on my decisions, incubus.” Lucia swatted his shoulder, “Yes you are, just not by him. And yes, Traum, we did. I’m

sorry, but it had to be done. We stumbled upon some very important details today and when we went to tell you in the village, you had already used your last obol. We wouldn’t have interrupted, but I know what is on your mind. And I think we might have a solution.”

Arafel’s face was soft as he observed his human mate. “For everyone.”

While he appeared irritated, Traum’s hand reached for mine, tightening and pulling me gently to my feet. “And what is that?”

“You two have only gotten to have three interactions.”

“That was your rule,” I reminded her gently.

“It was, yes,” Lucia smiled at me, “But we understand that while you two are obviously meant to be together, that the logistics of moving to the Underworld is no small feat. And after today…you are no longer our only human and Other match that has come up.”

“Another incubus has bonded to a living human?”

Lucia and Arafel shared a look, “Yes,” Arafel said, “And with thenew laws in place, we don’t know how many more there may be in future years.”

“What does that change?” I licked my lips, trying to figure out why this would matter.

Arafel leaned back on his heels, then rocked forward, “My family has always maintained a small, residual presence in the living world. When we were more powerful, we often used the living world as a meeting place with the Other. A sort of middle ground with our seraphim cousins.”

Lucia nodded along to his words.

“And you are not the first Other and human pair to ever happen. There are humans in the living world, many like Lucia who have human and Other blood running in their veins. My brother, Kadmiel is especially good at utilizing them for his efforts.”

“There are hybrids?”

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