“Are they that real?”
Raoul led me to the table at the end of the pier. It was stil set for two. Hel , even the candles were stil burning. He said, “Not until I arrive. And then they become something more… that makes me want to avoid blades and bul ets.”
“Wel , couldn’t you time your drops a little better? What if I’d been having a real y hot dream about Vayl? That would’ve ended our relationship right then and there!”
“I would never—”
“Good!”
We sat down and I grabbed a breadstick from the woven basket. “Do you want some?” I held the basket out so he could reach it easier.
“No, thank you.”
I put it down. Started breaking little pieces off my breadstick and tossing them into the water. We sat there until Raoul decided I’d calmed down enough for us to talk like reasonable human—uh—Eldhayr. I jacked my arm back and threw the rest of the breadstick into the ocean.
“Are you al right?” he asked.
What kind of question is that for somebody whose broken neck you once repaired as easily as if it was pieced together with buttercream icing? I mean, Raoul, every time you and I meet I have to face the fact that we have our own classification. You could at least avoid reminding me that I was the only one who agreed to come back to fight. That Matt preferred paradise—or whatever—
to me.
I said, “I’l be okay.” I badly wanted to shuffle through my poker chips. When I found them in my dream pocket I nearly cheered, but since Raoul knew what that was al about I satisfied myself with grabbing one and holding it tight between my fingers while I faked a relaxed expression. “It’s so great that you showed. I wanted to ask you about—”
“I need a favor.”
“Oh?” I looked at him a little closer. He seemed as control ed as ever. But I realized his knee was bobbing up and down under the table like he was trying to run one of those treadle sewing machines you occasional y see in antique stores. And every once in a while he would tap the base of his water glass with his forefinger, until he caught himself and made himself stop.
He said, “I wonder if I could borrow Astral.” I felt my eyebrows shoot up. If I let the cat go I wouldn’t just temporarily lose access to al the information she stored. I’d be loaning out my scout and backup arsenal.
“How long do you need her?” I asked.
He looked over his shoulder. I did too. If he thought somebody else could fol ow him into my dreams I sure as hel wanted to know who.
He said, “I’l tel you. If you promise to keep it to yourself.”
I said, “Okay.” He waited. “Oh! I promise not to tel anyone,” I finished.
He lowered his voice. “Remember the woman we discussed a few days ago? The one with the shiny lips?”
“Yeah. What was her name? Tina? Thea?”
“Nia,” he said.
I nodded. “Right. Nia with the intimidating lip gloss. Did you make with the chitchat?”
“She’s coming over for lunch.” He slid toward the edge of his chair, like I was about to send him off on a vital errand.
“You smooth talker, you!”
“Yes. Wel , no. I wrote everything down first and memorized it.” He took a breath through his nose and blew it out his mouth. I could see the stress drop away as the corners of his mouth lifted. “Spending my life in the military did not prepare me to converse with women.”
“You’re talking to me.”
“You’re different.”
Okay, we’ll stop before you tell me I’m just another guy, okay? That way I won’t have to club you over the head with this flower vase. I asked, “So where does Astral come in?”
“Nia mentioned that of everything in life she had to leave, she missed her cat the most. So I thought…” Mischievous smirk. Gosh, it seemed that even higher beings needed props to get to second base.
So I guessed the question was, should I steer Raoul away from the shiny-lipped cat lady or get comfortable with a Diet Coke and a bowl of popcorn? Wel , he had interrupted one of my favorite dreams. “Astral wil make the trip okay?”
“She’s a robot.”
I’ll take that as a “yes.” “Then you can have her. But—” I raised my hand before he could shower me with thanks.
“I’m going to need some payback.”
“Anything.”
Oh, no, Raoul. Tell me you haven’t got it this bad. I said, “Kyphas is going to betray us.”
“Natural y.”
“Can you find out what she can do with the Rocenz if she gets her hands on it? I mean, beyond the obvious political gain she’d receive by returning it to hel ? We know what it’l do for humans. But she hinted that it works differently for demons, and I’m worried that someone’s gonna lose his soul if we don’t head her off quick.” Raoul nodded. “You make an excel ent point. I’l get busy with that.”
“Okay. And next time I wake up, I’l send Astral through the portal. I should warn you, she’s developed some funky habits since Jack accidental y blew her head off.” Raoul nodded. “Good. That wil be a great icebreaker.” He leaned over and took my hand. “Thanks, Jaz. I real y appreciate this.” I looked down at his fingers, long and bronzed by endless days in the sun. And watched them change into shorter, broader digits that wrapped around my own with familiar strength.
“I think it’s time for bed, Jazzy. How about you?” I raised my eyes to Matt’s. Such a clear blue I could imagine sailing around the world in them.
“Okay,” I whispered.
He pul ed me to my feet. Slid his arm around my waist, slipped his fingers under my shirt so he could brush them along the sides of my ribs. I shivered with anticipation.
“Let’s get married right away,” he said. “Can we get the whole thing planned in a month?”
I caught my breath. “Why are you in such a rush?” He pul ed me closer. “I’ve always wanted to be a dad.
What do you think? Soon?”
I smiled up into his eyes, part of me dancing as I imagined the future unfolding ahead of us. But even deep into sleep I couldn’t push away the voice that said, Hold tight to this moment, Jaz. Because two weeks from tonight the dreams die with him.
I woke feeling more exhausted than I had when I’d falen asleep. My hand went to my face, trying to brush away the drool that must’ve dried on my chin while I was out. But it was too thick for spit and too smooth for upchuck. Then I realized it was on my upper lip too. I sat up and looked down at the T-shirt I was wearing. It was one of Vayl’s. Plain white cotton that made him look like a bodybuilder but hung to my knees. I’d bled al over the front of it. I checked the pil owcase. Soaked. Geez, how do you sleep through a gushing nosebleed like that?
Maybe when you spend the whole time dreaming backward instead of looking forward.
I ignored Granny May, who was staring at me with uncharacteristic concern from behind her embroidery hoop.