Page 9 of Dreaming of Darkness

She was real. And she was mine.

My life was about to get really fucking complicated.

I swung my leg over the edge of the bed, straightening with a small grunt. I needed to find my brother, before he somehowfound out about this before I had a chance to explain Because there was one thing I knew about my family. They always knew what was going on. And this, this was news that would shake the foundation of the tribes.

There was a small voice in the back of my head that wanted to be frustrated about being the first in such a long time to have a human mate. But then, each time I considered it, a pride and joy so thick and heavy smothered all other emotions. I wanted to crow to the Underworld sky that I was claimed in every way that mattered to my species.

I nearly raced through the house, desperate to go to the center building in our tribe, nicknamed the Core, where I knew I would find my brother. Hades willing, he would be easy to convince that this was good news. Because come tonight, I was going to be back in the living world. I had a mate to court.

When I burst into the chief’s office a few minutes later, Albtraum’s eyes were wide as I hurried over to the table he was perched at. His immense form made even the incubus crafted furniture look petite in comparison. “Traum, brother, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I need to talk to you.”

Albtraum sighed, “Clearly. So sit. Talk.” He patted the chair to the side of him, scooting the chair out for me. I sat, my chest rising and falling as I realized that in all my rush to come in here, I wasn’t actually sure how to begin this announcement.

“I-uh. Something happened last night.”

Albtraum had looked back to the parchment in front him as I gaped into silence. But now, he looked up, worried lining his eyes. “Here at home, or in your dream?”

As the mated chief of our tribe, Albtraum no longer had to enter others' dreams unless he opted to. He and his mate, a succubus named Rifa, fed off of each other, and while he was besotted with his mate, it was clear Albtraum was more disconnected from thedream world as of recent times. Especially since Rifa was heavy with child.

I cleared my throat, “I was pulled into a human’s dream last ni–.”

“That is pretty typical, Traum.”

I growled at the interruption, surprising both of us. “Let me explain,” I lowered my voice, my temper feeling raw, “Last night I was pulled into a dream, but when I got there, I was able to interact. I was able to move through multiple rooms.” I was nearly whispering now the words falling from my lips in a rush, “Albtraum I was able to touch her.”

Albtraum’s claws wrapped around my chair leg, yanking me closer. His nostrils flared, his eyes beginning to glow. “What did you say?”

“I could touch her,” I swallowed, slowing my words, “She’s, my mate. She has to be, nothing else makes sense.”

Albtraum slowly released my chair, sinking back into his own and his and pining me with a deeply serious look. “Who else have you talked about this?”

“No one. I came straight here.”

Albtraum was nodding now, his eyes moving around the room. “I knew that this would happen when Arafel undid the magic, but I didn’t realize it would happen this fast,” he looked at me, “Or to someone like you.”

“Like me?” my brow lowered, deep in my chest my temper stirred to life, “What does that mean?”

“You are a legend in the Underworld, the most powerful of us, and your feedings have served this whole tribe. But you haven’t exactly been interested in finding a mate. Ever. I didn’t think you were the type.”

I bristled, confused by the blunt comment, “Well she found me. And as my brother, I was hoping you might find it in your schedule to be happy for me.”

I stood up, moving towards the door before he could stop me. “Wait, Traum, I didn’t mean it like that. I just–.”

I kept walking, letting the door shut behind me. My grandmother, who was entering Core, her cane at her side, gave me a surprised look which quickly transformed into a smile as she turned towards me. My instincts and temper were too raw and close to the surface. I held up a hand in what I hoped was both a greeting and an apology, moving past her.

“I’m sorry, grandmother…” I couldn’t trust myself to stay here.

“Traum!” Albtraum was shouting from behind me as I stepped out into the main area of our town. To one side, there were several open market stalls, with the vendors still setting out their wares for the day. I recognized several incubus and succubus who looked up in surprise as I stormed back across the central square to where my sister stood in my family’s front entry door staring at me with a cocked hip.

Antheia gave me a long look as I approached. She was wearing a short black dress, and her shoulder length black curls were wild around her horns. “What is going on? And why is he chasing you?”

I pushed past her, entering the darkness of the house once again, “I found my mate, she’s a human, he forgot I was his brother for a minute, and not just a tribesman.”

“What? You found your mate?”

I kept walking towards my room, looking for a moment to silence the raging emotion that burned in my blood. I could hear Antheia’s footsteps following me and a moment later, her hand, cool and small pressed against my shoulder.

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