She took another step toward the bed, but faltered, her knees buckling. Warm hands grabbed her arms before she blacked out.
“Kiarra, lovey, focus.”
The darkness around her gradually faded as light came over the horizon, highlighting the trees of the surrounding forest. Birds chirped in the distance, their song joined by the bubbling creek somewhere behind her.
Kiarra looked around and realized that she was standing in the middle of a forest, with no memory of how she’d gotten there. She heard a whistle and looked up to see Neena perched in a tree, her blue cape swirling in the nonexistent wind.
“Neena?”
Neena smiled. “Do you like my cape? It makes me feel a bit like a superhero.”
The woman swung down from the branch and flourished her cape before taking Kiarra’s hand in hers. “Yes, my dear, it’s me, Neena. You fainted, but a little unconsciousness is nothing to me.”
Kiarra frowned. She didn’t remember fainting. Was she dreaming?
Neena said, “Of course you are, my dear. Few people can converse with the unconscious. Believe me, I’ve tried.” Neena tilted her head. “But let’s get serious for a moment. If you ever need to talk to me, you can contact me through your dreams. It will take a little training to learn how to do it properly, but if you think of me whilst dreaming, I will try to get in touch.”
“How can you—”
“That explanation is for another time. Just remember, think of me in your dreams and I will try to answer.”
Neena snapped her fingers and the forest disappeared.
Kiarra opened her eyes. She was back in the blue bedroom where she’d first woken up, except now the room was low-lit, with shadows on the walls. “It was only a dream,” she said with a sigh of relief.
“Was it one of the good kind of dreams where you wake up all hot and bothered? Those are my favorite.”
A light turned on, Kiarra shot up in the bed, and her head exploded with pain. Her hands flew to her pounding head, but after a few deep breaths, she was able to focus again. She opened her eyes to see a man with light brown skin and short, spiky hair sitting across from her. He seemed vaguely familiar. “Who are you?”
The man picked up a blue covered cup with a straw and walked toward her. He was shorter than Jaxton, but broader through the shoulders. “It figures that the boss forgot to mention me. He doesn’t like the competition, especially since women prefer me ten to one.” He grinned and winked. “I guarantee a good time.”
She frowned. His wink and full-on grin made her suspicious. “Are you teasing me?”
He whistled and shook his head. “We’re going to have to work on your sense of humor.” He held out the covered cup. “I’m Marco, the boss’s right-hand man.”
She gingerly took the cup, but didn’t drink as she eyed the easygoing man. Marco’s manner was definitely different from the guards and researchers inside the AMT.
Marco held out his hand and wiggled his fingers. “If you’re worried that the smoothie is poisoned, give it here. I’ll drink first to prove that it’s safe, and then when you take a sip, I’ll revel in our indirect kiss.”
Blood rushed to Kiarra’s cheeks, and unsure of how to respond to that, she held out the cup to Marco. He winked at her as he placed his lips around the straw and took a deep pull. He sat back, smacked his lips and said, “Tasty. Try it for yourself.”
Kiarra took a few sips; the tart, fruity taste was almost too much for her taste buds.
Now that her stomach was no longer rumbling, she eyed Marco and decided that a man with laugh lines around his mouth and crinkles at the corners of his eyes probably wouldn’t strike her for asking questions.
She cleared her throat. “Where are Jaxton and Neena?”
He waved his hand. “Neena’s gone home and Jaxton is busy. I’m here to take care of you and make sure you eat something.” He stared pointedly at her cup.
Kiarra took another sip to avoid replying right away.
She needed to continue her earlier conversation with Jaxton, but had a feeling he would call her bluff. While she was trying her hardest to be the woman she was inside her head, things weren’t going to plan. No doubt Jaxton would use her fainting and display of weakness to his advantage.
Aware of Marco’s gaze, Kiarra pulled the straw from her lips and decided to work on at least one of her weaknesses with this man by trying to talk to him. “Will Jaxton be stopping by later?”
Marco placed a hand over his heart, an exaggerated look of pain coming across his face. “You wound me, madam. Are you that keen to get rid of me?”
Kiarra nearly spat out her drink at his absurdity. Marco winked and said, “No worries, boss man should be around later today.”