Page 39 of Sweet Dreams

Even so, it took me two tries to get the words out, “Over the generations? That’s a very strange way to say that. I–I am your granddaughter, aren’t I?”

Both of their faces suddenly sagged in surprise, then Gigi was pulling me close, both of her hands on my face. “Oh, my love, of course you are. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to confuse you. You are our granddaughter, you are our blood. But we, well, your grandfather and I have been around for a long time.”

Tears that I don’t completely understand slipped down my face. Points to my overactive emotional system for suddenly kicking in after this wild morning. “What does that mean?”

“Should we sit?” Grandpa said suddenly.

But, before they could usher me away, I shook my head, “No, please. Just tell me. We can sit after I’m done freaking out.”

Grandpa nodded, his face downcast as he put a hand on Gigi’s shoulder. “Do you want to?”

Gigi patted my cheeks, “You start, Len, I want to be sure she’s looking right at me. She needs to understand nothing has changed.”

My tears had made my throat feeling thick now, “You are all scaring me.”

“I am your mother’s mate,” Grandpa said then, the words quick and sharp. “I was born human but met her and couldn’t stay away. She was among the first families to come to Salus Glen.”

I blinked back the tears, staring down at her. “And that makes you…”

“A witch, a hedge witch more specifically. Which basically means that I’m very good with nature and very bad at battle magic.”

I stared at her, “And you’ve always known?”

Gigi nodded and Grandpa spoke again, “Magic was more common in those days. Like mate bonds, it wasn’t uncommon for humans and Other to interact on a fairly regular basis. There weren’t many marriages, but it did happen. Especially among the witches and humans since their worlds were so close together.”

I raised a hand, wiping away at my cheeks. “Wait, when was this?”

Gigi shrugged, “We’re not even quite sure. But, your grandfather is not just the editor of Salus Glen. We were founding members.”

I thought back to the city sign I’d driven past thousands of times in my life. Established in 1898. I swallowed. “How?”

Gigi released me, stepping back to wind her around through Grandpa’s. “Hedge witches have an unnaturally long life, part of our magic keeps us young if we so choose. As he is my mate, the bond also ties him to me in that way. His life force to mine.”

I stared. “You are Other? Like Zaldi?”

Gigi nodded, so much love still shining from her face. “I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you. Not until you were ready.”

I pressed a hand against my chest, feeling Zaldi’s hand on my lower back as he made sure I wasn’t going to fall over. “How have you stayed here? I’ve been here my whole life?”

“We moved around when your father was young. We changed names, locations several times to be sure,” Grandpa Lennon offered, his stern face locked onto me. “We only came back a few years before you were born.”

“We couldn't stay away,” Gigi said, “It really is home, even with all the new Others here.”

“Out of all of the Others in the entire world, you had to choose a sex demon?” Grandpa asked, his voice almost a whisper. “Why not a nice minotaur or one of the guardians?”

I laughed and his face immediately morphed with mine, obviously relieved I’d seen the humor in his question. “Mate bonds don’t seem to work like that,” I said looking up at Zaldi, “Not that I’m an expert.”

Gigi snorted a laugh, “They aren’t. But, why don’t you come sit. We will talk more and, maybe, if your head doesn’t hurt after that, you can tell us a bit more about why the Lord of the Underworld is suddenly sending incubi to our little town.”

Zaldi’s body at my side stiffened.

Grandpa Lennon moved first, ushering my grandmother forward as he tossed another final statement over his shoulder towards us, “And then, we can talk about how long you’ll be allowed to stay in the living world.”

My heart sank.

***

Zaldi