Page 75 of Demure
Sierra looked him straight in the eyes. “I’ll get out on my own. I’ll meet you in the room in a few minutes.”
Aodhan smiled. “Alright, I’ll see you there.” He leaned down to give her a peck on the lips before exiting the room, closing the door behind him.
Sierra sat in the tub a bit longer, before rising to dry herself with the towel Aodhan had left behind. During the last fewmoments of the bath, an idea had come to her. She wasn’t sure if it would work, and it would involve getting Fia on board.
She sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth as she considered the rest of the plan. It involved a small amount of deception, specifically deceiving Aodhan, and she hoped he wouldn’t be too mad when he found out. But if she was going to have a fighting chance, no—scratch that—if they were going to have a fighting chance at having a future to enjoy together, it would have to work.
Slipping on the robe, Sierra snuck out the bathroom door, heading to the kitchen on a hunch, hoping that Aodhan wasn’t listening too intently.
She was in luck. Fia was sitting at the table poring over a scroll while sipping out of a mug. Her eyes connected with Sierra’s as soon as she entered the room.
“It just might work,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling.
Chapter Forty-Four
Sierra awoke from a deep sleep to a knock on the door. Aodhan was out of the bed in a flash, pulling on his pants as he crossed the room. Sierra tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes as quickly as possible.
Aodhan yanked open the door to reveal Fia, clad in a robe similar to the one Sierra had worn prior to crawling into bed. Remembering that she was wearing nothing other than the undergarments Fia had given her, Sierra quickly pulled the blanket up over her exposed chest.
“What is it?” Aodhan asked, clearly knowing this wasn’t some sort of social call.
“Conlan. His future has changed.”
Aodhan looked over his shoulder at Sierra.
“He’s planning to come here. We have to think of what to do, and fast.” Fia’s voice grew louder and more urgent.
Sierra gulped, trying to figure out how she could slide out of bed and put her clothes on without dropping the blanket covering her.
Fia somehow knew what she was thinking. “No, Sierra, I think you should stay here.”
Sierra scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. This wasn’t what they had discussed the night before.
Fia turned to Aodhan. “Leave Sierra here. I can hide her if he makes it here before you and Aislan are able to intercept him.”
“But we don’t have a plan.” Aodhan grimaced, likely remembering the time he had just spent escaping prison.
“I know. But there isn’t time to create one. You need to leave now if you’re to intercept the others.” She took Aodhan’s hands and placed them on her head, showing him something in his future.
Aodhan’s mouth drew down into a frown. “Let me say goodbye; I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Sierra wasn’t sure if she was supposed to hear that, but she did, and it made her heart clench.
Aodhan closed the door and turned back toward the bed, crossing the room quickly to embrace Sierra, placing a passionate kiss on her lips.
“It wasn’t my intention to separate us, but after what Fia showed me, it’s for the best. She will tell you more after I leave.”
Tears prickled at the corners of Sierra’s eyes.
“Hey, look at me.” He tilted her chin up so his emerald-green eyes could connect with her brown ones. “We will figure this out. The others will have a plan, I’m sure of it. Just stay with Fia, okay?”
Sierra couldn’t help it; a tear slid down her cheek.
“Don’t cry,” Aodhan begged as he kissed her a second time. “We will see each other again, I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Sierra whispered, thinking of the future she had seen the night before.
“I only ever make promises I intend to keep,” Aodhan replied firmly. “We will see each other again, okay?”
