Page 43 of Sweet Dreams

“Traum and Zaldi are meeting with some new ETA members. They aren’t here,” Bailey answered casually, walking into the office and flipping the lights on. Unlike the last time I was here, boxes had been replaced by nicely organized furniture, a cheerful wall of photos from around Salus Glen and even a variety of houseplants.

“This looks great,” I commented, ignoring the soft laugh that Bailey gave as she dropped the bag on the reception desk, then turning, dropped her bag behind the chair.

“Thank you, we worked hard to get it ready. But, let’s be real here, Lulu, you’re not here to talk to me about furnishings.”

I didn’t speak, but after a moment, managed a nod. Bailey gestured to the closest reception chair. “Pull that closer,”

I did as she asked, smiling as she set a variety of the pastries on a plate she produced from under her desk. “You know everything then?”

“Oh, I mean….” I nodded again, “I guess so, yes.”

“Which means you know that Traum isn’t like us either.”

I blinked, suddenly realizing that I should’ve thought of that before I got here. Of course Traum would be an incubus like his brother. But then, Zaldi was more of an analyst, which means that Traum probably had a job too. “Are you two…like us then?”

“Fated?” Bailey took a bite of a muffin, chewing thoughtfully, “We are.”

I couldn't stop the strangled laugh that slipped out, “You make it seem so easy.”

Bailey snorted, a crumb falling on the table between us, which the woman quickly plucked up with her fingertip, “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. But, being with a demon isn’t ever easy. And I had my own hang-ups when I first met Traum, but God, Lulu, you have to understand that I’ve gotten to enjoy the rewards far longer than you have.”

I stared down at the smooth wood of her desk, my vision blurring at the edges.

“They wait their entire lifetimes for this person, some pass without ever finding them. And, while being fated doesn’t mean that they’ll be a perfect partner, God knows that some mornings I want to throw Traum back in the Underworld, it does mean that he will breathe for your happiness. And with work and care, they will be the partner you could’ve only dreamed of.”

“What does that even mean? I wasn’t looking for someone–anyone, and now there’s him and, God, it’s so much.”

Bailey’s expression was thoughtful, “I wanted a home, a family, a center of my world that wasn’t constantly shifting. Unknowingly, at least from what I can tell, Traum has become that. And for him, it’s as easy as breathing. What do you believe you want the most?”

“I have no idea,” I said immediately, my words coming out in a rush, “And, if I don’t know, then how would he…”

“You do know, you just don't want to say it out loud. But hey, I’m just random, I don’t really care about what your thing is. Which honestly makes me the best person to tell it to.”

I stared at her, memorizing the way she offered me this bit of solace amongst the chaos of my mind. “I want to feel like I’m doing something bigger than myself. I want that so badly.”

“And Zaldi, how does he make you feel?”

I stared at her, remembering the way that he’d been there during college, quizzing me, helping me prepare. And now, the way he’d protected me, but let me lead, let me show him my word.

Bailey hummed, “Yeah, I thought so. Zaldi is a good male, Lulu. If you want to pursue something with him, take my word for it, it is worth it.”

My chuckle was watery, “Okay. Thank you.”

She grinned in response, and I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “How much of that, outside in the hall, did you hear?”

“Enough to make me wonder what kind of wall situation y’all have gotten into.”

We laughed together then, with me wiping under my eyes quickly as she handed me over a scone. A moment later, there were footsteps outside the hall, low, soft voices, one of which struck me straight down to my belly.

Zaldi.

He was here.

I knew he would be. I knew he should've been. But nothing could’ve compared with looking over my shoulder at the door and seeing first the curved horns, then the dearest face that I’d ever known turning to look at me.

“Lulu?” Zaldi’s expression turned worried in an instant, just long enough for me to stand and throw myself across the room and into his arms. My forearms wrapped around his neck, I pressed my face against his throat, letting my worried mind go slack.

“Z, I–.” And then all those words, all the thoughts I’d shared, all the emotions that Bailey had brought up flew to the surface. And I cried.