14
I materialized in the street, slamming into the sidewalk.
I bounced, rolled, and then hit a fire hydrant.
Darius and Terrance ran to me.
The cloaked figure was still standing over the sleeping woman. A barn owl was perched on his arm. The bird woke up, preened itself, and looked at me evilly.
Now I knew where the voice in the dream had come from.
A cloaked wizard casting a sleeping spell.
A shifter transformed into an owl.
They were mocking me.
My business model.
I staggered to my feet.
Getting pushed from the dream disoriented me, but I tried not to let it show.
“Does this encounter make you afraid, dream mage?” the man asked.
“Go to hell,” I said.
“What is the answer to the question?” he asked. “Do you choose Darius or Destiny first?”
“Huh?” Darius asked.
“I choose nei
