Gill leaned forward in his chair, his gaze resting on her before turning to the doctor. “I wouldn’t be going down this rabbit hole with her if I could find any other logical explanation. The Bureau wants more than my word and Lathan’s word.”
“I’ll do what I can to reassure them once I have more information.” Dr. Stone turned his attention back to her. “To confirm what you are telling me, we’ll need to conduct some baseline tests, then study your sleep and dream patterns. Maybe we can even record the psychic phenomenon on—”
“Whoa. Stop the insane train.” She held up her hand, silencing his speech. “We’re having a misunderstanding. I’m not psychic. I think you’re misinterpreting what I’m saying.”
Dr. Stone gave her a tolerant grin that reminded her too much of how Matt used to look at her sometimes. “You are partly correct. During your waking hours, you are not psychic. But during the dream state, you are connecting to another plane of reality that science has difficulty studying because it only exists inside you. It is a form of psychic phenomenon.”
She shook her head slowly, taking in both Lathan’s and Gill’s faces. Both seemed to be buying what Dr. Stone was selling. “Do you guys believe this?”
“It’s worth considering,” Lathan said. He was serious. Serious. How could he think any of this was even possible?
She turned to Gill.
“You better hope there’s something to this, or you’ll be at Quantico answering tougher questions than I’ve ever given you.”
“Hundreds of people have made compelling claims of having one form of psychic dreams or another, but under the weight of scientific testing, their claims fall apart,” Dr. Stone said. “I’ve met only one individual whose psychic dreams have been documented and their accuracy demonstrated repeatedly. We have so much proof, in fact, that we have a direct line to Homeland Security. They use the information from our dreamer to save lives. In the past four months, thirty-seven lives have been spared.”
Four months. Isleen moved here four months ago. Was she the dreamer Dr. Stone referred to?
“If what you say is true, your ability is vastly different than anything ever studied. It’s oneirokinesis.”
“O—what?” she and Gill said at the same time.
“Oneirokinesis. The ability to move objects from the dream state to reality.”
“It has a name?”
“It most certainly has a name.” The way Dr. Stone spoke the words sounded like he was offended by her question.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be difficult. I just don’t believe in all this.”
“You can choose not to believe in the law of gravity, but your beliefs don’t make it any less true. What’s happening in your dreams is not a matter of belief. It’s happening. It’s real.”
“Why me? Why now? How can I get rid of it? I don’t want it.”
The doctor looked from her to Lathan. “The first time you had one of these special dreams was the night you met Lathan. Correct?”
“How do you know that?” She glanced at Lathan, who obviously wanted to hear the same answer.
“I’ve got a theory, but I don’t have enough information yet. Why don’t we start tonight? Come back at eight p.m. We’ll conduct the baseline tests. Then you can spend the night and—”
“I need to think. About all of this.” She stood and so did Lathan.
“I know this is hard to understand, but it’s your new reality. Things will go easier for you if you embrace your power, rather than fighting and fearing it.” Dr. Stone’s eyes gleamed and widened. She felt like he was trying to tell her something more than what his words conveyed. He handed her a business card. “My numbers are on it. Call me. Anytime.”
As Dr. Stone led them back through the house, she replayed the conversation. For all the time they’d spent with him, she felt like none of her questions had been answered—especially not the biggest one—how to get rid of the nightmares.
As they drew near to the front door, muffled conversation sounded from the other side. She recognized one of those voices. Matt.
She froze. Everything from her head down went numb.
Matt entered first. Evanee hadn’t seen him in months and soaked up his appearance. Didn’t take long. He looked exactly the same.
Matt took in Gill, then Lathan, and then his blue eyes froze on her. The smile on his face shattered like glass thrown against a concrete wall. “What are you doing here?” Shock threaded with embarrassment powered each of his words.
Lathan drew her in closer and tighter against him.
Xander and Isleen entered. The moment Xander saw them, his arm, already around Isleen, tightened, and his other one wrapped around the front of her as if to shield her from the bomb he thought they might throw.
Isleen smiled at them, looking sweet, innocent, and kind, while Matt and Xander looked ready to rumble.
“Lathan Montgomery.” Xander’s tone wasn’t exactly friendly, but definitely familiar. “What are you doing here?” Xander’s gaze darted to his father.
“I didn’t realize you lived here.” Lathan aimed his words at Xander.
The guys knew each other.
“Gill Garrison and Lathaniel Montgomery are here with Evanee to consult about her dreams.” Dr. Stone spoke in a weird tone, almost like they should know exactly what that meant. Maybe they did. Maybe Isleen really was the other person he’d mentioned.
“You shouldn’t be here.” Matt’s voice captured her attention. He reached out to grab at her, but instead ended up with two hands—Lathan’s hands—on his chest, shoving him away.
“Don’t you touch her.” Lathan moved in front of her, shielding her from Matt and Xander.
She peeked out from behind Lathan’s back. Xander shifted Isleen behind him and moved in next to Matt. Gill stepped up next to Lathan.
Oh crap. Oh damn. Oh shit. A four-man brawl.