Page 3 of Sweet Dreams

The woman who had smiled at me, not recognizing me at all in my human glamour. This was the second time that I had run into her in person, outside of her dreams, and once again, she hadn’t recognized me.

“Fuck,” I cursed, pushing myself to keep going towards my brother’s new office inside the Town Hall, just a block down from where I’d seen her. I could feel the sweat beading on my skin as I made it further and further away. I was going to look a total mess by the time I got to Traum’s office.

The spring weather wasn’t warm enough to warrant the sweat dampening my chest and arms as I pushed through the double doors, immediately turning down the hallway to where Traum’s office and the ugly gold plague reading ‘External Trade Agency’ shimmered back at me.

“Traum?” I raised my voice as I pushed through the door, stepping around the boxes that littered the ground. “Bailey?”

There was a soft ‘ooph,’ and then, quick footsteps as Traum poked his head around the small reception space and sent a narrow eyed glare my way. “Zaldi? Fuck, brother, you have horrible timing.”

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.”