Page 52 of Sweet Dreams

“I would never want to rush you, but I want to be prepared.”

“That’s where I come in,” Grandmother said, her sharp eyes taking us both in. “You have witch blood, don’t you?”

Lulu nodded, just once. “My Gigi.”

Grandmother looked at me, “That helps.” She directed her attention back to Lulu. “And you are happily residing in Salus Glen?”

Lulu’s face changed, growing serious and thoughtful. “I’m happy where my family is–and where Zaldi is.” My entire being hummed with that simple confession.

“Down boy,” Grandmother said, humor in her voice as my obvious pleasure over that statement filled the small room, “You’re powering the whole Core at this point.”

My mate blinked, surprised, “You–wait what?” She pointed around us, “Your pleasure, it feeds this place?” She looked at Grandmother. “Zaldi has tried to explain this, about how the magic that surrounds the Incubi is based on absorbing and receiving pleasure. But, why would my words give him that same pleasure?”

Grandmother sat back, eyeing Lulu with interest. “Because you are his mate, regardless of status. Everything you do brings him pleasure. But, to be completely frank, this one has always been an oddball. I’m fairly certain he powered everyone in the village for a week after you graduated from your schooling.”

She settled in, avoiding my eyes as I glared daggers at my grandmother. “Most Incubi feed on the power that we receive walking through dreams, combing the world for fantasy and lust and love. But, between one another, it is more detailed than that. Sure, a pair of mates sneaking away for a heated moment gives power back to the people, but so does the feeling of joy that Antheia felt when meeting her first niece. Bonds are power, just not as obvious as the ones fueled by lust and love. Which is probably good, because this one,” she pointed at me, “Is a horrible dream-walker.”

I groaned as Lulu giggled. “I thought he did just fine.”

Grandmother leaned in to pat her hand, “How nice of you.”

“Grandmother!” I scolded with mock horror. “Try to be civil.”

“I’m always civil, Zaldi, but I’m also always honest,” Grandmother’s smile slowly faded from her face, “What I’m trying to say is that while your previous occupation was that of someone reporting to Lord Arafel on all those things you love so much, numbers and such, that your future may look very different. Your brother and I will fight for whatever role you’d like. But, I need to know if you always feel the way this human feels.”

My chest hummed with warmth as I threaded my fingers into Lulu’s, “I’m hers.”

“And you want to stay in the living world?”

“I want to stay with her,” I said easily, looking at Lulu as the words filled the space between us. “I feel like I could belong there, with their coffees and their crazy drivers. Maybe I already do.”

Lulu’s eyes were tear-filled as she tightened her hold on me. After a moment that I felt in every inch of my soul, Lulu shook her head.

“How can we make sure that we are able to stay together?”

I could've answered this one for her, but I hadn’t. She knew me, but I wanted her to feel like the information was coming from a source we could both know was honest. Grandmother, apparently, found no need to sugar coat any of her thoughts.

“Well, human, it sounds like you need to bond with my grandson,” she looked at Lulu shrewdly, “And soon.”

I felt that word straight down my spine.

“Grandmother….”

She shrugged, “There’s always other ways, Zaldi, but the surest way is the most obvious. And, while you won’t say it, I will….an unrequited mate bond will not only hurt the other member, but it will inevitably leave them unable to function without their mate. Even if the relationship is merely the crumbs of a bond. At the end of the day, you are in charge of your future, Lulu. But, you are also in charge of his. Do what feels right.”

Lulu gulped, the sound like the sounding of a gong in the silence between us.

“Lulu,” I whispered, reaching for her. But, before I could stop her, she was up and running, the door of the office swinging wide as she bolted through.

Fuck. I glared at my grandmother.

“What?” she said innocently.

Chapter Seventeen

Lulu

The blur of incubi and succubi were soft shades of red and black, my chin ducked down low to make sure that they didn’t see the tears that threatened to spill out every step of the way as I pushed out of the core and out into the village’s main area.