‘No, I’m not.’
‘Yes, you...’ He pauses and shakes his head. ‘This is ridiculous. Who are you?’
‘I told you.’ I sniff. ‘I’m Zoe. And I’m not drunk. I just took a few pills.’
He frowns. ‘What kind of pills?’
I yank my arms away from him and stumble. ‘Not telling. Now go away. I command you to leave.’
There’s a flicker of amusement in his face. He rocks back on his heels and folds his arms. I try not to notice how his T-shirt strains against his biceps. ‘You command me?’
‘Oneironautics,’ I say confidently. ‘That’s lucid dreaming.’
‘I know what oneironautics is.’
‘Well, I’m dreaming lucidly so I’m in control. And I’m telling you to leave.’
He licks his lips. ‘You still think this is just a dream?’
‘No,’ I say sarcastically. ‘I think I’m in a real forest with a real man. That I just closed my eyes and...’ I snap my fingers, ‘...poof! I’m here. I’m crazy,’ I say confidentially, ‘but I’m not that crazy. My doctor said so.’
‘Your doctor, whoever he is, doesn’t have a bloody clue.’ He leans towards me. ‘How many times have you been here, Zoe?’
I hold up my fingers. They blur and I waggle them. Unfortunately, the movement just makes them blur even more so I drop my hand. ‘Three times, Dante.’
‘How do you know my name?’
‘Bron told me. He’s very good-looking,’ I slur. ‘But he’s not real either.’
Dante scowls. ‘I can assure you,’ he says tightly, ‘he’s as real as you are.’
I squeeze my eyes shut and count to ten. When I open them again, he’s still there. The amusement in his face deepens.
‘You’re still here.’ My disappointment is clear.
‘Yes.’ He raises an eyebrow. ‘That’s because this is real.’
‘This is a dream. Dreams aren’t real.’
He snorts. ‘Of course they are. Especially if you’re a Traveller.’
‘I’m not a traveller. I don’t go anywhere.’ At his sceptical glance, I protest, ‘It’s true. I really don’t.’
‘It’s not like getting on a plane,’ he says derisively. ‘It’s your mind.’
‘I really am crazy,’ I say mournfully.
He watches me steadily and I get the oddest sensation that he’s looking right into my soul. ‘No,’ he says finally, ‘you’re not. You’re just one of the few who can tap into their subconscious. What doesn’t make sense is why it’s not happened before.’
‘I think,’ I declare, ‘that what doesn’t make sense is why you used to work for the Mayor.’
Dante stiffens. ‘Who told you that?’
I shrug. ‘Does it matter?’ From far in the distance there’s a whinny. I brighten. ‘Pegasus!’ I turn to go in search of my unicorn friend. Anything’s better than Dante’s knowing sneer.
He pulls me back against his chest. ‘Don’t be an idiot.’
‘That unicorn is friendlier than you are,’ I mutter.
‘It’s not a damned unicorn. It’s a mare.’
I try to pull away. ‘Mares don’t have horns.’
‘Not a mare as in a horse. A mare as in a night mare.’
‘Now who’s the crazy one?’
He sighs. ‘I’ll prove it. Come on.’ He releases me and takes a few steps before looking back. ‘Follow,’ he snaps.
I want to tell him to sod off but curiosity gets the better of me so I trail after him. Unfortunately, he’s far more used to the forest than I am and soon he’s pulled away. I quicken my step, struggling to keep up. Dante’s muscular form is swallowed up by the darkness so I have to listen for his footfalls but he pads as quietly as a cat and soon I can’t hear him.
I focus on the ground. There’s a trail in the dry bracken, not much more than a few snapped twigs but enough for me to follow. I’m so focused on my feet, however, that I don’t notice when he’s stopped and I collide with his hard body. He frowns angrily and I only just manage not to stick my tongue out at him.
‘There’s nothing here,’ I tell him defiantly as I sway from side to side and look around.
‘Wait.’
I hiccup in response.
‘Whatever those damn pills were,’ he growls, ‘you shouldn’t take them.’
I agree. My stomach is roiling nauseously and I’m tired of my blurry vision. But I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of being right so I merely harrumph.
‘I’m serious,’ he says. ‘It’s dangerous to be out here in the forest and not in full possession of all your faculties.’
‘It’s only a bloody dream.’
‘Shhh.’
I open my mouth to make a sarky response but a sudden moan stops me. I grab hold of Dante’s arm. ‘What the hell is that?’
‘I told you to be quiet.’
‘Stop treating me like a child,’ I hiss.
‘Stop acting like one. It’s an outlier. They’re heading this way and there’s a mare tracking them. You need to stay silent and out of sight.’