Page 31 of The Book Reader
Chapter 14
GAELAN
Ikeep an office here, topside, because I have a lot of business with daemons that reside here.
As a dream daemon, I often work with others to ensure plans, missions, and assignments are executed smoothly.
Walking in someone’s dreams enables me to manipulate them, to persuade people to think in other ways. It’s a talent that I am often sought after for, and a job that I do not walk into lightly.
I’ve seen many wars and untimely deaths because of the nightmares my people can cause, if they aren’t careful.
Walking over to the large window, I look out and scan the city. Darkville is one of the busiest cities in this part of the topside. Most of the houses are of Gothic style, with their large windows, black iron gates, and pointed archways.
The supernatural residents are mostly daemons with a few witches and warlocks scattered around. The wolf shifters and fae tend to steer clear of these parts—a conflict centuries ago between daemons and the shifters. Many supernaturals took sides, and when the conflict was over, the losers were forced to leave.
Now they can be found primarily in Evenville, the more rural part of this world.
I lost count years ago of how many times I stood at this very spot and let my eyes drift over the lights of each building, wondering if any of them belonged to my Rose, wondering if I was too late, if she had found another lover. Or if Macy had gotten to her already, I would have another body to bury.
A grin pulls at my lips now, and an unfamiliar happiness bubbles in my stomach, slowly pushing the torment I’ve had with me for years back into the dark corner of my soul.
Maybe this time, I get to keep her?
Turning away from the window, I pull out my black leather desk chair and sit down. My office walls are lined with shelves filled with files I keep on the daemons that need dream help. I have a large white sofa in the middle of the room that I use for less formal meetings.
My desk has two chairs opposite mine for occasions when it's necessary. I also have a small cache of weapons in my drawer, in case I need them.
Sitting on my desk next to my computer keyboard is a stone necklace. I’ve kept every gift my Rose has made me over the years.
She made me this one for our wedding, Thousands of years ago.
I pick it up and play with the animal skin cord in my hand. The fur has all come off, but before that, it was so soft against my skin. I would wear it whenever I went out hunting, a reminder of what I had waiting for me when I got home.
Pain strikes my heart, making me suck in an unsteady breath. My eyes flutter closed as the memories of when I last saw her in that life invade my mind.
My feet dragon the ground, the stones cutting into them. Each step, as painful as it may be, leads me back to the real reason I am topside and not at my castle in Illis. As a lord of my realm, spending a prolonged amount of time away is dangerous.
A realm without its lord is much easier to overtake and control. Illis is mine, and I protect it with my life.
News had filtered through the Underworld that she was back.
I hadn’t believed it at first. I’d shimmered topside without so much as a good-bye to my people. Mark will look after them while I’m gone, he always does.
This was something I couldn’t let go of.
She is mine.
The rumors led me to a small village in an unnamed town. Standing in the center of a little trades hut was a beautiful woman. Her scent hit me first, like a light caress, reminding me of what I breathe for. Then she turned around and her bright amber eyes frowned at me in question.
In that moment, I knew she was my Rose.
My mate.
Trelor stirred under my skin, painfully pushing against me. He wanted to take her then. Watching her die the last time broke him further than I had ever felt him before.
He had been silent for so long.
That night, I went to her cave to claim her. I’d promised her father a large portion of livestock and my sword for his tribe.
