Page 5 of Somnium

Cadi smirked, a small flicker of happiness beginning to stir at the glimpse of Zoe’s more playful side. As the train hummed beneath them, more questions rose in the back of her mind, though there was one in particular that had always kept her from dismissing the Order entirely. Zoe watched her, patiently waiting for Cadi to say the words that hovered on the tip of her tongue. The whole thing felt absolutely absurd, like something out of a bedtime story.

She had heard rumors that Oneirios offered his followers their heart’s desires in exchange for their devotion. For most, that was irresistible, but in Cadi’s experience, falling into the trap of letting herself dream had proven to be a dangerous game. Dreams were beautiful and enticing, but they had the tendency to leave her broken. Still … she had to know.

“Is it true that Oneirios … grants wishes?” She cringed when she heard the words leave her mouth, fully aware of how foolish and fantastical they sounded.

Zoe’s answering giggle sent a rush of heat up Cadi’s neck. “It’s a little more involved than that,” she explained with a gentle grin. “That’s only after the Rite of Dedication. For people who are fully bound Order members. After that, he totally delivers.”

Cadi huffed a laugh. There was always a catch. In this case: permanently binding your soul to a deity.

“I mean it!” Zoe exclaimed. “My neighbor did it, and it completely changed her life. I’m talking new job, new car, new man. All in just a couple of months. It was wild. Apparently, anything that’s been manifested into a dream, even a daydream, he can make real. I want to go through the dedication so badly, I just haven’t had time for the prep classes.”

Cadi’s body pitched forward as gravity shifted with the train’s changing momentum. Her hands shot out to brace against the back of the seat in front of her as Temple Station flashed into view, signaling the end of their Q&A.

All sorts of emotions twisted through her as the doors hissed open. She wasn’t sure if she was nervous or excited, cautious or curious, or some combination of them all as she stepped off the train and onto the platform, with Zoe gently shooing her forward toward the open mouth of the tunnel. Cadi eyed the welcome sign as they slipped into the passage, a shiver racing over her skin as if they had just stepped through a portal to another world. Maybe they had.

Cadi squinted as they emerged from the dark, holding up her hand against the glare of the evening sun. A soft gasp slipped free, her head craning back to take in the sheer scale of the building looming over them. She had seen the temple from a distance, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality of its colossal presence.

The entire structure was carved from a towering monolith of red stone, rising to a massive dome at its center, with thick wooden doors dotting the curved front wall. Its vibrant color stood stark against the lush green and bright blue of its surroundings, with rows of lights casting a perpetual glow upon the façade. Rows of windows extended behind the main structure, hinting at the less attractive, bureaucratic side of the religion.

Zoe tugged Cadi’s arm, leading her into the growing crowd near the temple steps. She moved smoothly, occasionally bouncing up on the balls of her feet to scan the masses, clearly looking for someone. Her face lit up as she yanked on Cadi’s arm hard enough to make her flinch. Cadi quickly matched her speed, which was really her only option to avoid her arm being pulled from its socket. She would never get used to how deceptively strong Zoe was.

They cut a path up the stone steps toward a blonde woman leaning against the wall with her tan arms folded across her chest, a mask of bored disinterest clouding her otherwise beautiful features. Full lashes framed her deep brown eyes, and her golden hair fell gently across her shoulders in an effortless way that sparked a pang of envy in Cadi’s chest. Her wild curls could never hope to achieve that level of control.

A cool smile spread across the woman’s lips when she spotted their approach, pushing off the wall to descend the steps toward them. Zoe’s arm shot into the air, waving excitedly as she let out a piercing squeal. The woman glided forward to pull Zoe into a hug before her gaze shifted to Cadi.

“Celine, this is Cadi. We work together.”

Celine’s eyes traveled the length of Cadi’s body as her plush lips shifted into a practiced smile before she extended her hand. “Nice to meet you,” she said in a voice that was soft and feminine, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapping around Cadi’s hand.

Cadi returned her smile. “You too. Thanks for letting me crash, though I’m not fully convinced Zoe was actually giving me a choice when she invited me.”

Celine let out a delicate laugh. “You’re probably right.”

Cadi felt herself relax as the tension that had crept into her shoulders on the train ride began to dissolve.

Celine’s eyes shifted over Cadi’s shoulder, a new brightness overtaking her features at whatever she saw there. Cadi turned, squinting against the sun to find a man striding toward them, a confident grin plastered across his boyishly handsome face. A single brown wave tumbled over his forehead as he sauntered up to the group and eased his broad form between Cadi and Celine.

“Ladies,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Lovely night for Somnium, wouldn’t you agree?” His gaze locked on Cadi, and somehow his dazzling smile grew impossibly wider. “And who do we have here?” he asked, extending his hand. “Damon.”

Cadi took his hand, his strong fingers nearly engulfing hers in a single, smooth movement. “Cadi,” she replied, smiling up at him.

“This is Cadi’s first Somnium,” Zoe added, clapping her hands together with barely contained excitement.

Damon’s sparkling blue eyes lit up, self-assuredness radiating from him. “Fresh blood, eh? Don’t worry, Newbie, we’ll take good care of you in there. First time tends to leave a bit of a mark.” He punctuated his promise with a wink and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Her brows shot up at the obvious flirtation. So far, the Somnium crowd was nothing like what she had envisioned.

“So, Cadi,” Celine chimed in, angling her body so her shoulder brushed against Damon’s arm, “are you thinking about joining the Order?”

Celine smiled, but something flashed beneath the surface of her expression, something laced with what Cadi thought almost looked like a challenge. Celine glanced between them, her smile growing when her eyes lingered on Damon’s profile, and Cadi began to understand the subtle posturing. It was safe to say that her question was rooted in more than just friendly curiosity.

“Oh, probably not,” she replied, noting the way Celine’s shoulders instantly softened at the confirmation. “I just promised Zoe I would come tonight, see what all the fuss was about.”

Damon smirked, leaning in to nudge her shoulder with his own. “It’s more than fuss, Newbie. We’re about to change your life.”

Celine rolled her eyes, shoving him in a move that Cadi suspected was intended to both tease and draw his attention. “Damon, don’t be dramatic. She just said she probably won’t be back after tonight.”

A low tone sounded from somewhere overhead, and the crowd around them shifted as attendees began moving toward the doors that Cadi saw were now standing wide open in welcome.