In Her Dreams

touch with the dream fae realm. It helps us travel as needed.” He leans back in his chair. “I came this morning when I heard my name. But I heard you tell me not to come when I was already through the portal, so I waited until you left for work to come out.”
I blush deeply, remembering that I was in the shower when I called his name. “Dammit.” I was already looking forward to seeing him in my dreams tonight, but it’s a whole different thing to see him in my house.
“What did you see?”
His expression darkens, and his ash-blond hair, which looks almost steely, falls over his forehead as he looks to the side. I can tell he’s weighing whether he should lie to me. Then his teal eyes meet mine, the vividness of their color the only thing that still makes him appear slightly supernatural. “Enough.” He looks to the side. “Who was that man?”
“Which one?” But my heart is pounding because I know.
“I didn’t hear what he said. I didn’t try to. I stayed in the portal and tried to let the airflow drown out anything happening. Because I have no right to spy. Shortly after that, my dream link broke.”
“And that means you can’t go back with Jerrek?”
He hesitates. “I could go back to our temporary dream realm, but not my world. However, I no longer want to at the moment.” He looks to the side. “I sense malice from that man. I don’t want to leave.” His eyes meet mine again. “Don’t make me.”
“But your dream link—”
“It just means I might not have as much time as I was hoping to win you over,” he says, rubbing his neck. “I don’t want to just be with you at night anymore, Jen. I want to be with you always. Do you not want me in your world?” His eyes narrow. “Is it because of that man?”
I hear a knock on the door behind me, and my heart stutters. “What?”
“The man outside, the one you slapped,” he says. “I stayed back. You had it handled, and he seemed pathetic. So I simply got rid of the snow and waited so we could talk. But after what I saw, I do think we need to talk about it.”
“You aren’t supposed to be here if I don’t want you to be,” I say because it’s my last defense.
“You called me,” he said. “And my exemption criteria for being here whether you like it or not is if you’re in danger. So are you?”
I blink at him. “It’s none of your business if I am.” The door shakes with another knock. “And that man isn’t the reason—”
“Mom, let me in!”
My eyes go wide because Joey usually stays at a friend’s house after school, then comes back over once I’m home.
I should have walked over to get him, but I was just too shocked to see Reve in my living room.
How do I explain this to Joey? Or Reve?
My hands fall to my sides because I know I should have told him sooner. It isn’t fair to him. “Can’t we just leave it for dreams?” I ask one more time.
Reve shakes his head slowly. “No, I don’t think we can, Jen. Not anymore. Come on, you’re my dream mate. Whatever is putting that fear in your eyes, I promise it’s going to be okay.”
“You’ll be angry with me,” I say. “Upset with me for what I haven’t told you.”
Reve shakes his head slowly. “Jen, I’ve waited a thousand years for you. I love you more than life. I’ve tried to show you that in dreams. Let me show you that in the real world.”
“I’m just not ready,” I say, folding my arms around myself. “And I’m not in danger. So please just leave. Please?”
There’s another knock, and I feel terrible, but I’m caught in two directions.
Reve takes a deep breath, then shakes his head. “I don’t think so, Jen. I don’t think you’re safe. I think that man from before, he means you harm. I think I should stay here and protect you. And your child.”
My eyes widen.
“I saw a picture over there. I’m sorry for snooping, but after what I saw—”
“You have a lot of nerve,” I say, folding my arms tightly. “One second, Joey,” I call to the door.
But then I hear a key in the lock, and the door is swinging open, Joey behind it with his short, gangly body, red hair, and brown eyes, which are rapidly narrowing on Reve’s figure at the table.
“Who the eff is that?” Joey asks, pointing. “You want me to throw him out, Mom?”
My hands tighten into fists. “Joey! Language!” I run over to him and pull him into a hug, but he pulls away from me to glare back at Reve who’s still sitting at the table. “No, we don’t need to throw him out.” I smile. “Here, let me get you some hot chocolate, and you can tell me about school.”
Joey’s eyes are still locked on Reve. “Who are you?”
Reve stands, walking over to extend a hand. “Reve.”
“Reve?” Joey cocks his head, shaking Reve’s hand. He does like being treated like an adult, an equal, even if he’s young.
“Yes,” Reve says. Then he crouches, getting on Joey’s level. “Joey, I’m going to be straight with you. I want to date your mom. I promise to always treat her well and you if you can find it in your heart to give me a chance to prove myself to both of you.”
Joey pulls back his hand, then looks at Reve for a long moment. Then he looks up at me, squinting. “This guy is weird, Mom.”
I laugh, pulling Joey in against me. “Yes, he is. But he shoveled the walk. See?”
Joey follows me into the kitchen, and I can feel Reve watching us from where he sits. “That’s nice of him, but when were you going to tell me you were dating someone, Mom? You said you wouldn’t.”
I lower my