Dreaming of Darkness

Chapter Ten

Bailey

I tugged a little nervously at the edge of my dress. It was a sweater dress, completely out of place in this season, but I remember Traum saying that the Underworld could be cool at night. Now knowing his niece or nephew’s naming day festival would go long into the night I had thought I might as well dress warmly.

I hoped this was enough. My boots were warm enough, up to my knees, leaving only a few inches of pale skin between the leather tops and the soft knit of my dress. I also wore all black, which I secretly loved against my pale skin. The fabric hugged my soft curves and dipped low enough that Traum could nearly see down my top if he tried hard enough. And I had a feeling he would try.

Or maybe this ridiculously hard edge of want was only one-sided. Shit, if it was, I was going to feel like an idiot.

I stopped my runaway thoughts, forcing myself to take a breath and hold up the coin in my hand. This was the only one I had, which meant I couldn’t screw this up. Not that the instructions that a very patient Arafel had given me in my dreams weren’t sufficient. I was just afraid that if I got them wrong somehow, I might not have a chance to explain to Traum why I missed his family’s event.

“Close your eyes, focus on memories of Traum, feeling the bond between us.”

I repeated back to myself, the instructions simple. “When you see all of him in your mind, throw the coin down in front of you and step onto it. That seems simple enough.”

I tossed my notes behind me, because yes, I’d scribbled down the instructions the moment I’d woken up and faced the open space at the foot of my bed. Plenty of room to toss a coin down. Now, I just had to picture him.

Not hard at all really. I had been dreaming about Traum every night and any time I let myself disassociate at my desk. He filled my thoughts, leading to some really steamy fantasies that I couldn’t blame on the bond. That was all me.

I thought of the long arch of his horns, their rough texture against my palms as he had crawled up my body. That tongue, the laugh that rumbled out of him every time I teased him. I could even smell him, the spicy clean scent of him that I missed so much.

With a groan, I clenched my eyes tight and threw down the coin, remembering how his skin felt against mine. Then, jerking them back open, I located the coin on my carpet and with his name on my lips, I stomped my foot down, right over the coin.

My clothes flustered around me, a mist swirling around me for just a second, and when it cleared, I realized that I was no longer in my home.

I was in his.

Gasping, I turned, staring around the cozy room, the walls a mixture of smooth wood panel and stone. A large fireplace burned in one corner, alongside an assortment of sofas and plump looking cushions thrown across a shining wooden floor. I turned slowly, blinking in surprise at the bright light that filtered in through the open windowpane.

There was a soft rumbling, so low that I nearly missed it had I not been craving it since the last time he left. Tears made my throat thick and my eyes itch. “Traum?”

But I didn’t turn around. I didn’t need to. A second later, his hands slipped around my waist, the claws shining as he yanked me back against his body.

“You’re real,”

he said, the rumble in his chest making me smile in relief, “I didn’t know if you’d come.”

I turned in his arms, his grip loosening so I could finally look at my mate. Because he was mine. If my heart was capable of singing with joy, it would be doing a full aria. My hands slid up his chest–oh God–his naked chest. He was shirtless, his soft red flesh bare and flexing under my palms.

“I’m here,”

I smiled at him. “I couldn’t stay away.”

One clawed hand left my waist, moving to my throat, where his grip was gentle but firm as he turned my face up to his. His rumbling purr slipped into a growl. “Don’t even mention staying away, I’m barely in control here.”

I blinked up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “What do you mean?”

His lips curled back, revealing those bright white fangs. “You don’t smell like me anymore, and you’re talking about being gone. It’s making me…”

he shuddered, “it makes me want things I shouldn’t. Not today. Not right now.”

My thighs clenched, “What kinds of things?”

His nose brushed up and down mine, his hand still wrapped around my throat. “I want to pull you into my room, I want to lick all that sweet wetness up from between your legs. And then I will paint you with my cum.”

His arm moved, and I’m lifted. “Every bit of you will be dripping with me. And then, I will begin all over again until you are so tired you can barely manage to sit on my face.”

“Oh God,”

I whimpered, my legs tightening around Traum’s middle as his arm cradles me there.

“Don’t worry, little dream,”

Traum murmured, “I will help hold you in place.”

Rolling my hips against his belly, I hitch myself forward, desperate for his mouth. He met me there, his mouth scorching hot against my lips. Our teeth clacked, tongue danced, the taste of him both soothing the ache in my belly but setting a new one aflame in my core.

Just as my hip moved up against his once more, I heard a very soft cough. And then a second. I pulled away, ignoring Traum’s growl of protest as I looked over his shoulder to see an incubus and succubus standing by the main entrance.

Both were grinning widely at me. Or us, I guess?

I squeaked, shoving at Traum’s shoulders, asking to be put down. Because whoever these two were, they were obviously waiting to meet me. And while their first impression was probably me warped around Traum, I needed to make the best of the second.

Traum released me gently, his rumbling vanishing as he turned to glare over his shoulder. “When did you get here?”

The male, an incubus whose skin tone was similar to Traum’s, but his face was different, the lines bolder, thick, with a cleft in the middle of his chin, “Is that any way to greet your favorite brother?”

The succubus beside him slapped his shoulder, hard. “Can’t you see he’s got his hands full?”

The first male shrugged, that slow smile still curling his lips as Traum, and I turned to them. “I’ve never seen our brother so quiet. Traum, what demon has your tongue tonight?”

Traum cleared his throat, “No demon, Zaldi, just my mate.”

His hands found the small of my back and moved me close to his side. “Bailey, this is my younger brother, Zaldi, and my sister, Antheia. Siblings, behave yourself.”

Zaldi swept forward, pressing a hand to Traum’s shoulder before leaning in and pressing his cheek briefly against mine. I gasped, surprised at how fast he was, and maybe impressed with how smooth the movement was. Zaldi immediately retreated, his hands, tipped in black claws like Traum, open in submission.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t even scent mark her. She’s all yours…”

Zaldi wrinkled his nose, the flash of a ring there drawing my attention, “And she smells like it.”

Antheia giggled and I flushed bright red. Zaldi’s brows rose, and he swiveled to look between Traum and I, “I mean, it’s a good smell. She knows that right?”

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, immediately broken 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.”

“And since you are unmarked, our bond is still tremulous, new.”

I stroked my claws against her dress, the fabric irritating me as it kept her silk skin from my touch. “They are just making sure they have a chance to see what you’re like. And it’s making every part of my stupid demon brain go wild.”

“What would help?”

My laugh was rough, and I curled her in my hold, moving us back down the street once more, “Nothing you’re ready to hear about, mate. Trust me.”

Bailey looked up at me, eyes crinkling at my mischief, as we made our way further down the street. “We are starting with the Core, our central building. I believe it would be similar to your city hall building? We keep our records there; all meetings are held there in an open forum, and it houses offices for the chief.”

“And your grandmother is the chief?”

I shrugged a little, “Only in name. My brother has been acting chief for a long time now. He has her support and will be her only choice when the time comes for her to step down.”

“She can do that any time?”

I nodded, steering her around across the hub of roads directly in front of the core, then up the small arched bridge that carried us across the small creek that wrapped around the Core building.

“Any time. She keeps saying she’s waiting for a sign. Since none of us know what that means, we will continue on.”

Bailey’s soft noise of awe makes heat race to my face. “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful, like a fortress!”

“When we were a larger group, but less advanced, most of our people lived in temporary housing around the outside of the Core. But as less young were born, and our people had more time. We followed in humanity’s footsteps and began to build more permanent homes.”

Her neck was on a swivel as we moved through to the wide-open front doors of the Core and moved inside. There, just as expected, my grandmother stood sentry.

“Brace yourself,”

I whispered, my throat suddenly tight as the two most impactful women in my life laid eyes on each other for the first time.

“Grandmother,”

I offered a short bow and then ushered Bailey forward. “This is Bailey of the Sullivan’s; she is my mate.”

The words slithered off my tongue as easily as I had hoped, my entire body flushing as my grandmother’s cool eyes settled on my human match. Bailey’s spine under my fingers was ramrod straight.

“Bring her forward, Traum,”

Grandmother said, her once brilliant blue eyes soft with silver and age. “I want to see her.”

Ignoring the hushed whispers from around us, Bailey and I took a step together. My grandmother, who was petite, even for human standards, gazed up at Bailey with a blank expression. Then, quick as lightning, her pale red hand was wrapped around Bailey’s hand. It only took a moment, but that’s all she needed. I growled a low warning, she could’ve simply asked to read Bailey’s subconscious, but instead she had taken it.

“What’s happening? Traum? Chieftess?”

Grandmother’s head turned, like a bird of prey observing its next meal, but then she released Bailey with a soft chuckle. “My grandmother is the most powerful dream walking in our village, her power to guide and follow people’s needs is legendary.”

Bailey didn’t seem to understand the weight and power it took my grandmother to read people’s subconscious needs, but she would someday.

“It is a common ability in our people, even if Grandmother’s is stronger than average,”

I stepped slightly between the two females, “And even if I’m sure you would’ve offered her your skin to touch if she’d asked, like a polite leader.”

“Polite?”

Grandmother scoffed, “There is no better test of someone’s true intentions than to startle it out of them.”

“Grandmother, that is insane. You know that right?”

She grinned at us, worn fangs still white. “Perhaps, but it serves me right. All this one had in her mind was visions of you. And I did not need to experience those.”

Bailey made a gagging noise, her hand flying to her mouth as she wordlessly stared at my matriarch. “I’m so sorry, I meant nothing by it.”

“No, no, darling girl, you meant everything by it,”

Grandmother said, stepping forward and this time holding her hands up and wide. “And I’m pleased you find so much joy with my Traum. He’s a good boy.”

My eyes were rolling so hard they hurt, when Grandmother actually fluttered her clawed fingers in the air, beckoning Bailey in for a hug. Slowly, Bailey’s shoulders lowered, her hands slipping from their pose hiding her mouth. And with only a small flicker of assurance sent for me, she bent and let Grandmother wrap her in a tight hug.

Bailey’s posture was stiff for only a moment, as Grandmother’s hands clasped her tightly. “Welcome to the family, dear girl.”

I stepped back, the frustration I had for the whole situation dying on my tongue as I saw the look on Bailey’s face. I remembered her words from some of our first visits. That her family wasn’t involved in her life at all. But as my grandmother’s dark claws ran soothingly up and down Bailey’s back, I saw the realization settle on my mate’s face.

My family would be hers.

Pleasure and relief warred in my chest as I finally raised my head and looked around us. Albtraum was also here, looking comically large with the sling that carried his daughter stretched across his chest.

As Grandmother released Bailey, Albtraum moved forward, “Sister,”

he murmured, looking first to me for permission and then bending over to brush his lips over her knuckles. Bailey watched him with curious eyes.

“You’re Albtraum,”

she said, her voice a little softer, the words a little drawn out. “You have to be. You two look quite a bit alike.”

Both of us raised our brows while Grandmother cackled.

Bailey blinked rapidly, “I mean, I meant that as a complement. Oh God, not a complaint to you Albtraum, I just meant.”

Her words stumbled to a halt, and she finally just sighed, her hands falling wide. She stared at me. “Help.”

I chuckled, tucking her in closer to my body, the feel of her an instant balm to my earlier concerns. “Not quite identical and as you can see, I’m obviously better looking.”

“And I got all the brains, trust me,”

Albtraum said, a smirking smile on his lips. “It is good to meet you, Sister. My brother has been entirely obsessed with you for some time now.”

I narrowed my eyes on my brother. “Careful with those secrets, Brother. Lest I be forced to release some of yours.”

“You think it’s a secret that you’ve been pining for your human?”

Albtraum laughed, “Try again, everyone in the Plains is aware.”

“It appears we have somewhere else to be,”

I said loudly, turning us away from Albtraum. But Bailey didn’t move, her gaze locked on the infant strapped to my brother’s chest.

“Is this her?”

Albtraum’s teasing smile was instantly replaced with a soft expression as he glanced down at the carefully swaddled baby. “My daughter.”

Bailey shifted, rising to her toes so she could look down at the sliver of exposed skin. Albtraum leaned down, frowning a little. “I would let you hold her, but she’s finally asleep.”

My mate grinned up at my brother, shaking her head, “I’m sure there will be plenty of time for me to hold her later.”

“How is Rifa?”

“Sleeping too, I wanted her to get used to coming with me, so I thought we’d just stop by to visit with Grandmother about final details. I had not realized you both would be here.”

Altraum’s face was honest, “I apologize if we overwhelm you.”

“Only a little,”

Bailey admitted, “But I don’t mind.”

Suddenly I need her alone. I had so much to show her, and time was slipping through my claws. Albtraum straightened, perhaps sensing my urgency, “Rifa is also looking forward to meeting you this evening, Bailey. Enjoy your day.”

Bailey turned, walking a few steps away before Albtraum grabbed my arm, halting me. “Have you told her about what happens at the end of the festival?”

I snorted, pulling free, “Not yet. I will.”

Albtraum nodded, releasing me to stroke over the baby. “Good, we will see you then. Don’t forget your part tonight.”

“I won’t,”

I said over my shoulder, already following my mate as she moved towards the wall of paintings. We had so much to see.