She really did need to get in better shape. Cardio first.
He rolled out of bed, and she was treated to a view of the best male ass ever. She was hoping for a little full frontal, but only got a side view as he pulled on his boxers and jeans. Still, those chiseled abs and defined chest were pure pleasure to look at.
Maybe he shouldn’t go, after all. Maybe that joint shower was a better idea.
She knelt up in the bed to proposition him when she noticed his brother Joshua was back. The child stood in the loft in roughed-up jeans and T-shirt, darkness hazing around him.
Really bad timing.
This time she wasn’t afraid, not really. It was her darksight that let her see Malcolm’s personal nightmare. He was haunted by his past. He just couldn’t let go of what had happened. It was his penance to carry his brother everywhere—part of why she was falling for him, that he cared so much. One day, Malcolm needed to find a way to put this behind him and look toward the future, but it was way too early in their relationship for her to suggest anything.
“Malcolm,” she murmured, leading him with her gaze to where Joshua watched and waited.
He turned. Cursed. Looked back at her. “Jordan, I’m sorry. I don’t know why he keeps coming back like this.”
“It’s okay. I get it. You loved him.”
“But he can’t keep showing up.”
“I’m sure you’re not the only one who carries around a nightmare. I just happen to be able to see it.” Her version of It’s not you, it’s me. “Maybe Darkside he’d be more frightening, but not here. He’ll disappear in a sec.” Like he had before, at the office.
She climbed out of bed, dragging the top sheet with her. She walked barefoot over to her man, went on tiptoe, kissed him. “Go get our food.” The boy would go with him. She was purposely ignoring him, and showing Malcolm that she could. “Do you have towels in the bathroom?”
“Just did laundry.” Worry haunted his eyes.
“Well, then.” She went on tiptoe again for another kiss. “Any idea when we’re going to hear from Coll or Maze?” She wanted an update on Vince Blackman, too. “Where’s Coll going to take her tonight, do you know?”#p#分页标题#e#
See, we can talk normally with the kid around.
She turned a little to gather up more sheet—and started.
Joshua now stood right beside them, preternaturally silent, uncomfortably close.
“Shit.” Malcolm cursed again, an arm going around her, stepping her back.
Okay, so maybe they couldn’t just ignore him.
“I’m going to have to go back home, aren’t I?” Malcolm’s voice was a rasp. “See my mom again. Face it.”
His mom was still alive, then. And yes, going back would be a start.
Malcolm looked at her. Looked long. Looked lost. “I don’t want him to ruin this.”
This meaning them.
“He won’t,” she said. “Do what you need to do. I’m good. I’ll just be decorating my new place. Unless you want me with you.”
The darkness in his eyes lightened. “Your place?”
She was smiling when Joshua’s arm shot out, punching her in the stomach.
She doubled over, shocked both because it hurt and because he did in fact have the power to hurt her. His little fist was still embedded at her core.
Roughly, Malcolm pushed Joshua away from her, but the kid held on. As he stumbled back, he drew something of her with him. She crashed to her knees, the color in the room going negative, which on any other day she might think was cool.
Her mind darkened, waves crashing over her.
She knew she had the ability to push someone into sleep. She’d done it twice now.
Seemed pulling worked just as well.
One second she was falling, then the next, she was Darkside.
***
A nightmare could not hurt someone in the waking world. Rook had logged years upon years in Rêve—enough to know this was true.
Chimera agents could hurt or kill dreamers inside Rêve. Some Revelers could as well. But the fragments of dreams, even ones that looked human like his brother, could not physically harm anyone. Nightmares might drive a person insane, but they couldn’t do anything. It was Rêve 101—the reason it had been deemed safe.
Except, Joshua just had.
Jordan lay collapsed in Rook’s arms, body slack and unconscious. He tried to wake her, even shook her, but she would not stir.
The only thing to do was to go in after her. Tracking was what he was best at, anyway.
On his mobile he typed out a quick message to Coll.
I’ve been pursued by the nightmare of my brother Joshua. Hoped to make him go away by switching jobs. But the nightmare is real. REAL. He just drowned Jordan. I’m going after them.