Part 6 (1/2)
She s.n.a.t.c.hed back her hand. He sat as well, confusion finally registering on his features. ”I'm solid.”
”Not a morning person, I take it?”
”This has never happened before. If I concentrate great bursts of energy, I can force myself to materialize. Why am I solid?”
They were both fully dressed. Sheri crawled off the bed. An undeniable twinge of disappointment a.s.sailed her. None of it had been real. The tenderness, the pleasure, the intimacies they'd shared had all been a vivid dream.
”This is bizarre.” Ryder kept poking himself as if he expected the effect to wear off.
”Last night happened for a reason. Is Chaos all right? They wanted you distracted.”
”Mission accomplished.” He rolled off his side of the bed and stood. ”Chaos is downstairs, awake and irritable.”
”That sounds about right.” She picked up the phone and punched in the number of the Carroll Foundation. ”I'm going to call in sick again. There are a few too many spirits in my house right now to leave you guys unattended.” She left a quick message for her boss, then returned the phone to the nightstand.
Ryder blinked out for a moment, then reappeared, his brow furrowed, his lips compressed. ”I still have access to the Dream Realm, yet I am solid.” He moved about the room, touching the furniture.
”Should you go talk to Morpheus or something?”
”Are you trying to get rid of me?” He pulled her into his arms with a lazy smile.
”If we didn't have a houseguest, I'd suggest we explore your newfound solidity.”
Cupping her cheek with his palm, he stroked her lips with his thumb, his gaze suddenly serious. ”I need to understand how it began. Do you remember what happened before you called out to me?”
She remained in his embrace, but lowered her gaze to his chest. ”I was lying on the bed, wondering what I'd done to deserve you.”
”It doesn't sound complimentary when you say it like that.”
”Then I sensed ... or rather, I no longer sensed ... It's really hard to explain.” She looked up into his eyes. ”I felt as if something was leeching the heat from my body. I couldn't lie still, but I could hardly move. Then right before I woke up in the tent ...” She chuckled. ”The terminology gets tricky when dreams are as real as reality.”
”You were forced into the Dream Realm, compelled there by the incubus.”
”No. That's what I was about to say. I sensed someone, or something, else. Right before I left the Waking Realm, I felt a being of incredible power. It was the second ent.i.ty that slammed me into the Dream Realm.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear, his expression thoughtful. ”That explains a lot. When we found your friend Meagan, even Morpheus couldn't explain what had happened to her. She was under the influence of the incubus, but it was as if an outside force had imprisoned her with him. We know the succubus is stronger, but she can't access any female's subconscious. She must --”
”It's impossible for a succubus to control any female?”
”Yes. A succubus only has influence over males.”
”Then why in creation didn't Morpheus send a female after the succubus?”
”All Dream Warriors are male.”
She stepped away from him, too restless to stand still. ”It sounds like she zapped me into the Dream Realm so her brother could ... create a diversion. Did Chaos sleep at all last night?”
”I would have sensed it if he'd entered the Dream Realm.”
”Can she attack him while he's awake?”
”She never has before.” He paused, his gaze focused beyond her for a moment. ”Chaos is fine. He's in a foul mood, but he is unharmed.”
”Okay, let's think this through. If she is powerless against females, then a female is going to have to kick her a.s.s.”
He chuckled. ”Are you volunteering for the job?”
”I'm not a Jujitsu master like my cousin, but Dora has taught me a trick or two. Besides, you are certainly not limited within the female subconscious.”
He said nothing for a long while. ”You have no idea what you're suggesting.”
”Can you make me fall asleep and stay asleep? We can trap her within my subconscious, then take my body to --”
”I cannot risk your safety. It's my a.s.signment to --”
”You know it makes perfect sense.” She slipped her hands into her back pockets, anxiously tapping her foot. ”But what do we do with her once she's trapped?”
”Morpheus is the Dream Master. All dream spirits are subject to his will.”
”So, you bring her to me, and I'll keep her busy while you go get Morpheus.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, his features settling into a fierce scowl. ”I could only bring her into your illusion if she were already in the Dream Realm.”
”Chaos.” She offered without hesitation. ”Put me to sleep first, then wait for her in the Dream Realm with Chaos. Or will she sense you and stay away?”
”She will only sense what I allow her to sense.”
”Can you make me fall asleep or not?”
”I can, but I'm not convinced this is the only way.”
”Well, let's go check on Grumpy while you figure out a plan you like better.”
Ryder followed her downstairs and into the kitchen. They found Chaos rummaging through the cupboards, mumbling under his breath.
”Can I help you find something?”
”I am memorizing the contents of these compartments.” He turned to face her. Distinct purple shadows surrounded his eyes. He looked haggard, exhausted.
She looked at Ryder. Had her uninvited houseguest lost his mind? ”Is there some reason you need the items committed to memory?”
”I must keep my mind occupied. I cannot fall asleep.”
Despite all Chaos had confessed, pity surged through Sheri. Meagan had possessed the same haunted expression when she explained what the incubus had done. ”Delilah was here last night?”
”Yes.”
”I never sensed you enter the Dream Realm.” Ryder moved up beside Sheri.