“Why is it called that, ‘gliding’ I mean.”
“Because the more control a fae gains over this process, the more he or she can make a dream move or glide from place to place.”
“So your ability to be in different places while in a dreamglide is an advanced ability.”
“It is.”
“A portion of your people also have telekinetic abilities. I’ve seen some of your fae border patrol officers draw weapons out of their opponents’ hands.”
“That’s true, but it can be tricky. A gun can discharge during telekinesis. Only the most powerful even attempt it.”
Brannick dipped his chin. “What else about your people?”
She couldn’t help but smile a little. He’d asked the same question in the dreamglide, in exactly the same way.
“It’s often hard to explain to an outsider what it is to be fae. We have a connection to the dream world, which is clear to everyone because of the horrendous abuse in the illegal sex clubs, like the kind Roche runs. But we also have similarities to the dead-talkers in that we seem to have a much more mystical take on life. I have a blog in fact with a number of followers.”
He shifted his gaze away from her. “Wait. I’m remembering that from one of the dreamglides. You showed it to me on your tablet. You’d written about the journey of life being a marathon and learning to take the long view. In fact, you quoted a Chinese philosopher—”
“Right. ‘The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.’ I did.”
He pressed the heel of his palm against his forehead, then turned back to her. “It’s weird when a memory resurfaces. I get a fuzzy sensation in my mind, and suddenly a memory arrives.” He took her arm in his hand. “We were here in your bed. We’d been together. Christ, Juliet, did we talk that much?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t breathe for moment. His memories were really starting to open up and not just about the sex.
Unfortunately, with every surfacing memory, he would grow closer and closer to the truth about what she’d done to him, how she’d seduced him to be with her. There’d be a time of reckoning, and the more she was with him, the more she started dreading what now appeared to be the inevitable.
Once he knew what she’d done, she doubted he would ever forgive her. Or even if he could, he’d use the knowledge as an excuse to shut her out of his life for good. Brannick was a man who believed in the rule of law.
He gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Hey, are you okay?”
She forced herself to blink a couple
of times. “I’m fine. But I think all of this is overwhelming. For one thing, you keep remembering different dreamglides and each one gives rise to an entire host of memories. And for another, I’ve never spent this much time with you. It just feels so odd.”
“It is strange.” A rueful smile touched his lips, and he moved a little closer to her. “But it’s been great, hasn’t it?”
She took in a long stream of air and released it slowly. “More than I can say.”
~ ~ ~
Brannick glanced over his shoulder, and seeing that Fergus was making an elevated sweep up the canal in the direction of the main bridge, he took Juliet in his arms. The memories that had started to surface showed him how comfortable he’d been with her in the dreamglide. Because of it, he couldn’t help but feel a powerful attachment to her in real-time.
She seemed so familiar to him now. And yes, they’d talked a lot, and everything she’d just shared with him about the Fae Cathedral and the Village, she’d already told him in a dreamglide.
Still, part of his mind shouted a warning. He’d never planned on pursuing a relationship with any woman in Five Bridges. He would be wise to let her go.
Yet, he’d been Juliet’s lover in the dreamglide for five months. And right now he wanted to know what would it be like in real-time?
“Brann, we don’t have to do this. We don’t have to do anything.”
“I know. But I want to.” He let his concerns slide away as he settled his lips on hers. He felt her entire body melt against his, a perfect fit. God, she felt good in his arms as the recently remembered dreamglide memories now merged with the real thing.
After a moment, he drew back, kissed the freckles on her right cheek, then the left. He’d definitely done this before.
“I love your freckles.” He kissed the curls dangling near her forehead. He caught the strawberry scent of her shampoo. But did he know it from the White Flame club where he’d originally met her? Or had this been in the dreamglide as well?
He couldn’t help himself; he kissed her again.