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“I haven’t had such a good night's sleep,” I admit.

She exhales. “Good.” Her hands slide to my shoulders. “There’s much more we can do within our dreams. If you believe it.”

“I want to. This is new.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “I’m trying to adjust, and it’s hard. I’ve lived a certain way for over a hundred years, so to abruptly change my mindset will take time.”

“I can give you time,” she says softly.

“You’re so sure,” I whisper, dragging my finger over her lip. “You’ll have to teach me.”

“I bet I can find a teacher outfit.” She wiggles her eyebrows.

I smirk. “You don’t have to, but I wouldn’t complain.” I step back. “We need to eat before it gets cold.” Or I throw her over my shoulder and take her to bed.

“Fine,” she sighs.

My soul bond is determined to test my control.

I push her plate closer to her and hand her a fork. We eat in silence, and I enjoy the easy atmosphere. I’ve been hiding, associating with as few people as possible, and living in fear. I’ve been lucky with money and have invested in different companies, allowing me to stay in the shadows of the world. Humans annoy me, so I don't like interacting with them. Building my control and learning about my magic has been my focus, instead of enjoying other pursuits.

“Do you enjoy working at the store?” I ask.

“It’s interesting,” she hums, and sets down her fork. “I like watching people, books, and working with Lace and Mara. Another woman worked there, filling in sometimes, but she found another job. She was human, so it was hard to watch what I said.” She smirks. “Perhaps you noticed, sometimes I don’t have a filter.”

“I like it.” I grin.

“Good.” She picks up a piece of bacon. “I live simply. Granny helped me buy the house, and I work to pay her back, even though she hasn’t taken any of the money I saved. She had family money and set up an account for me. I try not to use it.”

“She’s a character,” I say.

“That she is,” she laughs. “Just wait until you get to know her more.”

“Will she keep your parents confined forever?”

“Probably not.” She wrinkles her nose. “I want them to go away and leave me alone.”

“So, they don’t have many powers?” I take a drink of coffee.

“Not really. The basic stuff.”

“What about Evander and Clara?”

“I know Clara is good with herbs and making remedies. Evander can manipulate your body. He's pretty powerful, and that’s why Granny trusted him with Aria. If she lost control, he could counteract her spell by shutting her mind down.” She licks her fingers as if her statement wasn’t a big deal.

“Dangerous,” I murmur.

“I don’t believe any magic is bad. We are given gifts, and can be powerful. It depends on what you do with that power that makes you dangerous. If Evander is evil, yes, he could cause massive damage to someone. Clara could make healing potions with her gifts, but if she was bad, she could make poison. It’s all subjective.” She lifts her shoulder. “I could dream-walk and cause chaos in the dreams I enter, making people never want to sleep again.”

“Which you would never do.” I drag my finger across the corner of her mouth, removing the bit of food.

“I would if it were to protect someone I love or if the person is bad.” She licks where my finger was.

“I thought my gift was evil,” I admit, wiping my hands on a towel.

“If it were, you wouldn’t be so controlled. Our magic knows if we're bad or good. You aren't evil. Could your spells be used for evil? Yes, but they reside in you. Ultimately, it’s your choice how to deploy them.” She smiles gently.

“You make me think of magic differently.” I shake my head. “Do you think Evander and Clara went to the bad side?”

“It’s hard to believe they would. Aria has surpassed them in power and control. It wouldn’t be a smart path for them. The only way to know is to invite them here.” She brushes her hands together and looks over her shoulder. “Granny’s coming. I need to shower and dress. Will you let her in? It'll give her a thrill.” She motions toward my chest. “You can keep your shirt off,” she says as Gwen knocks.