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The next morning, Ravenna finds herself in the art gallery, retouching her bold red lipstick meticulously in the full-length mirror of the elevator. 

The elevator hums with an eerie silence, the air is thick with tension, nearly palpable, as Morpheus stands beside her, his disapproval clear in the rigid set of his jaw and the way his eyes follow her every move. He is not pleased of how she treated her employees on the way to the elevator. 

The elevator dings, its tone jarring against the strained quiet. Ravenna slips the lipstick back into her handbag and pushes her sunglasses onto her head, narrowing her green eyes at Dream.

“You’ve changed,” Morpheus says finally, breaking the silence. His voice is a low murmur, tinged with a hint of accusation. “Do you enjoy wielding power over people now?”

Ravenna steps toward him, her heels clicking assertively on the polished floor. Her presence forces Dream back, a subtle, unconscious retreat until his back hits the wall. She stands close enough to feel his breath against her skin, her hands braced on either side of him. Her height, accentuated by the heels, brings her face inches from his. “I do,” she says, her voice dripping with a mix of challenge and confidence. “Why, my love? Do you not fancy a dominating woman?”

Dream’s Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. His chest rises and falls unevenly, as if struggling to draw in air. The unexpected happens—his cheeks flush a deep, unexpected red. Ravenna watches, fascinated, as the color spreads from his neck to his cheeks, and she feels a surge of reckless desire to trace the flush with her tongue. She forces herself to shake off the thought, letting a devilish smirk tug at her lips. Karma, it seems, has a wicked sense of humor. “Cat got your tongue, my dream?”

The elevator dings again, and the doors slide open to reveal Paloma, Cedric’s assistant, holding a stack of files. She freezes, her eyes wide with surprise at the scene before her. The doors start to close, but Paloma’s hesitation keeps them ajar.

Ravenna’s eyebrow arches in irritation. “In or out?”

Paloma stammers, her voice trembling. “I-I’ll take the other elevator.” She stumbles backward, and the elevator doors close with a soft whoosh.

Ravenna turns back to Dream, leaning in to whisper teasingly. “Where were we?”

Morpheus leans closer, his lips brushing her ear as he whispers back, “What are you plotting in that head of yours, my little devil?”

The words trail over her skin, sending a shiver through her. Ravenna lets the sensation wash over her for a moment before shaking her head with a mockingly sinister smile. “You think you know everything?”

“I know everything about you,” he replies, his voice deep and sure.

“And I am yet to know everything about you.” Ravenna threads her fingers with his, gripping his hand firmly as she leads him out of the elevator.

The office floor is eerily quiet, employees engrossed in their work while a few brave souls glance up at the curator and her new enigmatic boyfriend.

When they reach Ravenna’s office, Cedric is waiting with a smirk that knows too much. His eyes gleam with mischief as he seizes the moment for one of his notorious jabs.

“You did shag him, didn’t you?” Cedric teases, his grin widening.

Ravenna’s head whips toward him, her eyes flashing with irritation. She swats the back of his head sharply, making him yelp and recoil. “I did not.”

“Oi, woman! That hurts!” Cedric rubs the spot, grimacing. He leans in closer, lowering his voice. “Was he good in bed? He looks like he’d be an angel by day and a demon by night.”

“I don’t know,” Ravenna says, her gaze drifting to where Morpheus is studying her trophy case.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Cedric asks, genuinely perplexed.

“So here’s the thing,” Ravenna says, pointing between herself and Dream. “We’re soulmates. Sort of.”

Cedric blinks, processing the information. “That makes sense in a Chinese folktale.”

“He’s Endless. The King of Dreams, to be precise,” Ravenna clarifies.

Cedric’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Explain.”

Ravenna recounts the tale of Morpheus and their connection, and Cedric listens, fascinated. By the end of her story, Cedric performs a dramatic bow toward Dream. “It’s an honor to have you here, milord.”

“Don’t let him mess with you,” Ravenna tells Dream, rolling her eyes at Cedric’s theatrical behavior. She uncovers a new painting on her desk, a lavishly colorful piece meant to liven up her otherwise stark office. “Morpheus, what do you think?”

Morpheus approaches, leaning over her shoulder to inspect the painting. His proximity sends a thrill through Ravenna, making her heart race as Cedric’s eyes meet hers with a mischievous glint. She feels a rush of goosebumps and tries to focus on Dream’s comments.

“Reminds me of early Chagall,” Dream says, his voice warm and contemplative. “Elegant, yet whimsical. Very much in the tradition of the old Dutch Masters.”

Ravenna’s eyes widen in genuine surprise. “I’m impressed.”

“See? The man knows his art,” Cedric says, flashing a grin at Dream. “Do you draw, Dream Lord?”

“I do,” Dream responds calmly. He gestures to the notepad on the desk. “May I?”

“Please. Go ahead,” Ravenna says, nodding. “Take a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

As Dream begins to sketch, Cedric and Ravenna slip out of the room, only to find themselves peeking through the glass pane. Cedric’s gaze is fixed on Dream, a look of admiration on his face.

“Stop ogling him,” Ravenna says, nudging Cedric with annoyance.

Cedric winces. “What? He’s obviously single, and I’m ready to mingle.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Ravenna warns, her eyes narrowing.

“Seriously, Rav? You’ve got this piece of art following you around all day, and you haven’t slept with him?” Cedric’s tone is incredulous. “I don’t get you.”

Ravenna’s eyes darken with a storm of emotions—anger and a strange, uncomfortable jealousy. “If you don’t stop eyeing him, I’ll pluck your eyeballs out and feed them to the Corinthian!”

Cedric’s confusion is immediate. “What on earth is a Corinthian?”

“One of Dream’s nightmares. It has teeth for eyes and feeds on human eyes,” Ravenna explains, recalling her late-night conversations with Dream.

“That sounds kinky. Is this Corinthian hot?” Cedric asks, clearly intrigued.

Ravenna glares at him. “All right, stop. Give me the updates on your new relationship with the hot guy.”

“Our relationship status is complicated,” Ravenna admits. “We start with casual conversations and end up in big arguments. But I do enjoy his presence.”

Cedric raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “You do?”

“He’s one of a kind,” Ravenna says with a casual shrug.

“More like your type?” Cedric presses, his curiosity piqued.

Ravenna stares at him blankly, not wanting to divulge more. “I don’t have a type.”

“Everyone has a type, Rav. So do you,” Cedric insists with a sly grin. “So you fired two loyal employees. Are you losing it?”

“I don’t pay them to giggle like teenagers and flirt with every man who walks into the building,” Ravenna says, crossing her arms. She recalls the scene earlier: her fury over the two girls who giggled and flirted with Dream, only to have her anger escalate when Dream flashed his charming smile at them. She isn’t sure why she’s so possessive, but it’s clear she feels territorial. “It’s about him.”

“So it was about him?” Cedric asks, pulling her from her thoughts. “I heard you turned into a female alpha in the elevator. And traumatized poor Paloma.”

“I need to check on his sketching. Go back to work, arsehole,” Ravenna says, pointing down the hallway toward Cedric’s office.

“All right. I’m out.” Cedric raises his hands mockingly and disappears, leaving Ravenna alone.

Ravenna slips back into her office, finding Dream still seated at the desk, absorbed in his sketching. His concentration is palpable; his brows are furrowed, and his lips are pursed as he carefully shapes the curves on the paper. Without thinking, Ravenna reaches up and brushes a stray lock of dark hair from his forehead. The gesture makes Dream look up, his expression a mix of surprise and something else she can’t quite place.

She takes a moment to admire the sketch, her breath catching in her throat. “You’re good.”

A lazy, satisfied smile tugs at Dream’s lips. “Am I?”

“Shut up,” she replies with a grin, turning to leave.

“It is my right to impress you, my love,” Dream says softly, his voice trailing after her.

His words make Ravenna pause. She turns back, walks over to him, and presses a quick kiss to his cheek. “You can bet on it. I want to give you a chance.”

With that, she rushes out of the room, leaning against the door with a flushed face and pounding heart. A wide smile spreads across her lips, and she takes a deep breath to calm herself. Employees pass by, casting curious glances, but no one dares to speak.

Ravenna straightens herself, shaking off the lingering blush, and adopts her authoritative demeanor. Theoffice buzzes with activity as she slips back into her boss mode, barking orders and managing the chaos of the workday.

Inside the office, Morpheus remains in a daze, his Endless heart pounding erratically. He touches the spot where Ravenna’s lips graced his cheek, a small, contented chuckle escaping his lips. The moment lingers in his mind, offering a glimmer of hope he hasn’t felt in eons. Perhaps, just perhaps, there is still hope remaining for him to cling into.