Page 29 of Taken By the Fae

My eyes snap to his, and he’s suddenly much closer. If it’s a dream, why do his blue eyes look so real? So damn captivating? I shake my head, pushing the thought away as I take a healthy step back. “You’re in my head? In my dream?”

“That’s right. You’re dreaming about me.”

I cross my arms tightly over my chest. “Why? How?”

“Because I want you to,” he explains, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Another perk of being me: dream walking. Evidently not an ability of mine you’re immune to.”

I shoot him a dark look. I’m not in the mood to learn what other fae tricks he has up his sleeve.

“Do you want me to leave?” His question throws me off, because I’m not entirely sure I do, which is all kinds of messed up.

“I want you to tell me what you’re doing in my dream. I’m already stuck with you one day a week. Isn’t that enough?”

He offers a charming smile, and it occurs to me that dream Tristan is just as dangerously attractive as the fae knight I’ve experienced while awake. “You’re fiery tonight,” he says.

I huff out a sigh. “And you’re annoying. Can I have my dream back?”

“You don’t like me, do you?” What a loaded question.

I gape at him. “Is that what you want? Because I’m pretty sure medical professionals have a name for that.”

Amusement makes his eyes appear brighter. “You left the city,” he says suddenly. “I didn’t take you for someone who’d run away.”

How the fuck does he know I left?My eyes narrow. “I came home for the weekend. That’s hardly running away.” My arms fall back to my sides. “I’ll be back in time to start my internship on Monday. I have too much to lose that not even you being there will stop me from showing up.”

He steals the distance between us once more, regarding me curiously. “Good to know.”

I stare at him for what feels like far too long, still trying to decide if this is real. “Why’d you hijack my dream, Tristan?”

“To see if Icould,” he admits. “You’re immune to my power when it comes to manipulation. I wanted to see if dream walking was the same.”

“Why does it matter?”

“Perhaps it doesn’t,” he muses. “But I’m trying to figure you out. Humans are supposed to be simple creatures. They have impulses and fears. Considering what I am and my position in both the human and fae worlds, humans are intimidated by me. And then there’s you. The elusive human with fae lineage. You’re… everything I can’t control.”

My breath hitches. “Control is overrated,” I say in an uneven voice. “So I’ve heard.”

“An interesting concept. One I’d guess was created by someone unable to grasp control.”

I shrug in response, pushing the hair away from my face and tucking it behind my ears, mostly to have something to do with my hands.

“I didn’t expect you to run, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if you had—especially when you discovered your family’s ties to my kind.”

“What would’ve happened if I had? I wouldn’t have gotten far and, honestly, I don’t have the energy or desire to fight this. So long as it doesn’t affect me any further, I can live with it. I think you can agree there are more important things we both have to deal with. You have your world and I have mine. When they overlap, we’ll just have to deal with it. Preferably without the two of us having to interact, but I suppose we must make some sacrifices.”

His expression is a mix of disbelief and intrigue that makes my pulse kick up as his gaze holds mine hostage. He says nothing as the scene slips away, but the voice in my head is clear:you’re in trouble.

ChapterEight

Iwake on the couch with a knitted blanket draped over me and a throw pillow under my head. The TV is off, and the room is dark, save for a crack of light coming from the kitchen.

I stare out into the darkness, replaying what just happened. If it wasn’t for Allison telling me about dream walking before, I’m not sure I would’ve believed this was real and not an actual dream.

Slumping back against the couch, I groan. Not only do I have to deal with Tristan during the day at my internship, but I can’t escape him at night, either. Can’t escape the way he makes my heart race and my stomach flip.I’m so screwed.

Exhausted as I am, this is the perfect opportunity to look through the house for some answers to the whole fae lineage possibility. Sure, I could have asked the fae knight who stole my dream, but the thought of asking him for anything sounds like a bad idea. I need to avoid any perception of owing him, because I have no doubt he’ll come to collect.

Forcing myself off the couch, I drop the blanket across the back and slip into the hallway. I have to be quiet; I don’t want to wake anyone and have to lie about why I’m searching the house like some kind of supernatural investigator.

---