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“You knew?” Why did it seem like I’d been oblivious to so many things? “Of course I didn’t know. She was like a sister to me.”

“I thought she’d grown out of it once she started dating, but I was wrong. The way she looks at you and talks about you should have been obvious signs that something was off. I should’ve talked to her.” She sighed and placed a hand on my arm. “You saw her as a sister, which made her want your attention even more. Your love for Kiera probably pushed her over the edge.”

Was it my fault for not noticing this issue? Could I have helped Yolanda?

It didn’t matter because I was meeting her in a few hours. I could ask her all the questions.

I dropped off my grandma at the clinic. Sheand Kiera’s mom embraced, cried, and connected like old friends. Kiera would’ve been happy to see that.

“Do you want us to bring you back anything?” Grandma asked, getting ready to head down to the cafeteria with Liz to pick up lunch.

“No, I have a follow-up meeting at the police precinct soon.”

“Okay.” Liz tapped my shoulder. “We’ll be back to take over.”

After they left, I checked Kiera’s vitals, which appeared normal. “You need to wake up, baby. I miss you. I love you.”

I checked the computer in the room and saw the toxicology report had come through. A burst of energy zipped through me as I clicked it open, reading the report.

Her blood test matched the results of the drug on the syringe, which showed traces of barbiturates and other toxic agents. But the concentration had been diluted with other solutions. Though Yolanda knew herbs from helping at the apothecary, she didn’t know that mixing certain drugs together reduced the effect. I thanked the heavens for her oversight.

I had feared the report would show traces of Oxy-X, which were the dangerous pills hidden in Kiera’s luggage. The destructive pills were a potent version of OxyContin and new to the black market.

Kiera’s body needed time to flush out all the toxins. Not knowing how her body would react, I had to be extra careful. The human body was a mystery that still needed extensive studies. Doctors and scientists didn’t know everything. I knew enough to take things slowly, but my patience was running thin with every minute Kiera remained unconscious.

It had been twenty-four hours, and I needed a sign that she was conscious before I could give her the alternative medicine I’d just developed. It didn’t even have a name. Intuition told me it could help her, but I was afraid because Kiera mattered too much. What if things went wrong?

Sitting on the chair, I held her hand. “Come back to me, Kiera. Ineedyou. There’s so much we have to do. Remember that medicine I was working on? It’s done now, and I’m proud of it. I want to share it with you.” My voice choked, and I took a deep breath to gather myself. “Your mom is here with my grandmother. They want to see you.”

A slight movement of her hand caught my attention, but I dismissed it as part of my hand shifting hers. But then her finger moved on my palm, drawing a heart.

Hope burst in me.

CHAPTERSIXTY-SEVEN

KIERA

I walk along a cold, dark path, looking for my way home. The trees and shrubberies have a tint of bruised red, making me think of dried blood. Where am I? Why is my body hurting so much? Is this another lucid dream?

I continue along the desolate path with only a flashlight in my hand. I don’t know where that comes from. Then I hear Forrest’s voice.

Come back to me, Kiera. I need you.

The sadness and desperation in his voice make me turn to my right. As I walk toward his voice, soft light illuminates my path. The redness in the trees and flowers brighten, having more life. I sense his hand on my skin, and I remember that sensation so well. The feeling of love and protection blossoms in me. With that come memories that surprise and scare me.

I feel like I’ve been asleep for too long.

Remember that medicine I was working on?Forrest’s words echo louder.I want to share it with you . . . Your mom is here with my grandmother. They want to see you . . .

I flex my fingers and draw on his palm, letting him know I hear him. When he draws a heart in my hand, it feels like magic has penetrated my skin, sending his love straight into my heart, into my soul.

I want to say something, but my voice is stuck somewhere. Though I want to draw more shapes onto his palm, fatigue drags me to sleep. Despite that, I know that when I wake, I’ll be okay.

CHAPTERSIXTY-EIGHT

FORREST

Knowing that Kiera was on the road to recovery was like a drug all on its own. But I needed the public to believe there hadn’t been any improvement in her health. I couldn’t risk anything happening to her.