Chapter One #2
I wanted to apologize, and in another world I might have.
But, right now, I wasn’t interested in scheduling my panic attacks in between my brother’s sex endeavors.
I rolled my eyes. Newly mated males were insufferable, I told myself, even as I stamped down on the constantly lurking jealousy.
It was normal, of course. Two of my brothers had found their mates.
It was only natural for me to resent them a little for it.
Even if I was thrilled to have gained two new sisters, one succubus and one human.
And nothing could take away from the adoration I felt for my newborn niece.
But damn-it, did they have to be so happy all the time?
“Or, maybe, you two should try to keep your clothes on more often.”
There was the sound of clothing being righted and then Traum moved around the corner to join me in the crowded reception space. “Care to sit? Or should I just shout at you standing?”
“Shout at me? What are you, Grandmother?”
“No,” Traum said, his voice pitched low, “But we both know you aren’t supposed to be here. Especially with what happened the other day.”
“You mean where I ran into the woman whose dreams I’ve been walking into for months? That one?”
Traum groaned, “It’s like you want Lord Arafel to come up here and kick your ass.”
“He’s a Prince of the Underworld. He has to have better things to do than monitor one little interaction that could be a fluke.”
Traum’s hand rubbed over his jaw. My glamour, which rose only around those who were not already aware of the existence of the Other, sunk into my skin once more.
It was designed to protect us from the humans who also resided in Salus Glen.
Each individual Other, our common term for those who considered themselves demons, hybrids or any other Underworld creature, who had found themselves in the Living World had been gifted a human glamour once they began a resident of Salus Glen.
And, while there were only a few new Other members of the town, Arafel said the magic here was old and strong.
Strong enough to keep the humans from understanding what and who we were.
And now, I could attest to that. Because my human–Hades help me–the human woman I’d seen all those times in her dreams, hadn’t recognized me at all. And now, I’ve seen her twice, each time more devastating than the last.
My stomach twisted.
The magic was working as intended, but it left something bitter on my tongue. A strange sort of sadness that she hadn’t recognized me, even through the glamour.
I sighed, picking up a small box that rattled ominously and then sat down on the newly built chairs. “It could be a fluke,” I repeated, not meeting my brother’s eyes.
I heard the creak of his chair beside me. “Or it could not be. What are the odds of the only woman who calls you to her dreams being the first person you see in Salus?”
I shrugged.
“Let me answer for you then, not fucking likely. Until we can talk to Grandmother or even Albtraum, you need to keep your distance.”
That got my attention, and I found Traum’s dark eyes wary on my face. “Stay away from her?”
“Yes. I know you’re supposed to be here to help monitor the flow of magic, but you need to keep away from her. If she recognizes your voice, or something else about you, it could trigger your glamor to drop.”
“And then, she’s staring at a giant red demon walking down main street.”
“We’ve only been here a few weeks, and you know it is more than just our safety that hangs in the balance.”
I nodded. I knew that. But to stay away, now that I’d seen her twice.
It was impossible, I could feel the need to walk back by, to see if she was going into the diner.
My blood pumped hot in my veins, telling me to make sure she was safe.
To make sure she was eating, she was warm enough, that she was–
“Zaldi? Are you listening?” My brother’s voice had a sharp edge now. I took a deep breath.
“I hear you.”
“Then you agree to stay away?”
This woman had pulled me into her dreams, consumed my every thought and now she was so close. I bit into my lip, shaking my head slowly. “There’s something, Traum. Something about her that I can’t put my finger on.”
Traum’s hand came down on my shoulder and then he was standing, moving across the room to a pile of boxes that stood at the corner. “Do you see these?”
My brows lowered, “Of course.”
“Every one of them is packed with a file of an Other who is seeking solace here in Salus Glen. Hybrids who have lived their whole lives on the fringes of society, ambassadors from the Underworld, even creatures who have earned their chance to live out their days here in the Living world. It is them you risk by approaching her. I cannot make you do anything. But I can remind you of this.”
I stared at the boxes full of files, the lives that were depending upon our success here in Salus Glen. And standing, I nodded to my brother. “She won’t see me again.”
“At least until we figure this out,” Traum called after me as I reached the door. “I’m trying, Z.”
The door slowly closed behind me. “I know you are,” I said, but I didn’t stop to see if he heard me. My mind was already racing forward.
I had said I would keep out of sight.
That I wouldn’t let her see me again.
But, that didn’t preclude me seeing her. So, until Arafel, the demon prince who was championing our effort here in Salus Glen, assured us that we were going to be able to stay and make this new safe place a reality, I would follow the rules.
At least, most of them.