Aspen brought over a tray loaded with pastries and coffee—she remembered exactly how I liked mine, which made my heart squeeze in an embarrassing way. Oscar leaped onto the table and started preening, whiskers twitching.
Aspen sat down and immediately took my hand. “What happened?”
I swallowed, picked at a croissant flake, and told her everything. The dreams, the feeling that it wasn’t just a regular nightmare. I didn’t hold back—if anyone would believe me; it was Aspen.
Finn added, “We were both in the dream together. That’s not supposed to happen, right?”
Aspen’s eyes went wide. “No, sir. Not unless there’s actual magic involved. Did you see anything else? Any… colors, or smells?”
I blinked. “That’s the thing. Most of the dream vanished when we woke up. I only remember darkness and shadows. But Finn was smart enough to write down what he remembered right after we woke up.”
Finn pulled out the little notepad and read off his disjointed notes.
Oscar gave a small, sympathetic look. “Demonic signatures can present thusly.” Information rolled off his tongue as if he were reading from a textbook. “The important thing is not to let it fester. My lady, I believe you have the tome to remedy their situation.”
Aspen straightened, all business. “I’ve got my mom’s grimoire in the back. I could look up a dream suppressor spell. Or maybe a charm—something to block the intrusion at the source.”
Finn looked skeptical, but didn’t argue. “Would it work?”
Aspen nodded. “If I get the recipe right, it should stop the dreams. At least for a while.”
I felt a wave of relief, followed immediately by guilt. “If you can just get me through the gallery opening that would be incredibly helpful. But you don’t have to do this, Aspen. I know how busy the bakery has gotten.”
She squeezed my hand. “Honey, you’re family. This is what we do.” Then, softer: “My mom always said, there’s no harm a fresh cinnamon roll can’t mend. But if there is, you add more magic.”
Oscar beamed, which for a prairie dog looked like baring two long incisors. “Precisely. You see, Miss Lawson, you are in the safest paws in Dairyville.”
I giggled and instantly felt better. I inhaled a cinnamon roll, the sugar and spice grounding me, making the nightmare seem less real. Finn had two black coffees, and a scone gone before I even noticed.
Aspen took notes on a little pad. “Just to be clear: you both had the same dream?”
Finn nodded. “At the same time. I just remember a flash of seeing Brie chained.” He stopped, eyes going flinty. “I think she was hurt. It was like somebody else was pretending to be me. At least that’s what the notes I scribbled down right after seemed to indicate.”
Aspen wrote this down, her lips tight.
Oscar chimed in, “If you require additional security, I can stand guard while you sleep.”
Finn actually smiled. “I’d take you over half the pack, Oscar.”
I reached for another roll, then remembered my actual reason for being up early. “Aspen, can I get a box of these? I want to pay Lysander and Inez for working so hard to finish the gallery install on time.”
Aspen boxed up half a dozen, adding a few extras “for creative fuel.” She labeled the box in pink marker: For the artists, love Aspen.
I stood to leave, suddenly aware that I’d been holding Aspen’s hand the whole time. I squeezed it once more. “Thank you, A. You’re the best.”
She blushed, waved it off. “You just focus on your show. I’ll have something ready for you this afternoon.”
Oscar bowed from the table. “Be vigilant, Miss Lawson. And try to get some actual sleep, if you can.”
Finn and I stepped out into the brightness of the street, the scent of the bakery still clinging to our clothes.
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “You good?”
I nodded, the pastry and coffee working their magic. “Yeah. For now.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead pulled me in for a long, solid hug. “I’m going to head over to the clubhouse. Bronc wants a full security run-through before tomorrow. You’ll be okay at the gallery?”
“Please. Compared to last night, the gallery’s nothing.” I grinned, surprising myself with how normal it sounded.
