All his life, Kieran had been a light sleeper. The slightest sound, the smallest disturbance, and he was wide awake. All the tumultuous emotions over the past few weeks had made rest even more elusive.
Yet, as Kieran eased into consciousness, he felt an airy sense of peace so deep in his bones that he almost drifted right back into sleep. The allure to return to his dreams of Sera was strong,but not stronger than the simmer of need that awakened at the memory of last night. No fantasy compared.
It was delusional to think that one night with her would be enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. Sera had become inextricably linked to his happiness, a state of being he never thought to achieve, but one that was starting to seem attainable.
Kieran opened his eyes fully, reaching out along the mattress. It took half a second for him to register that he was alone.
Where was Sera?
He dressed without bothering with the arrangement. Threw a cotton undershirt over his head and slipped into his suit pants, fastening them only to keep them from falling.
“Sera?” He chanced the call into darkness, but somehow, he knew she was not there. Kieran listened, but heard nothing. There was no point in reflecting on the possibilities, all that mattered was finding her. He kicked open doors as he paced each hallway before starting downstairs.
As Kieran’s search reached the kitchen, movement near the cellar caught his eye.
The sight of Sera, whole and by all appearances unharmed, broke his hold on his calm. He fell back onto one of the stools in the kitchen, pulse erratic.
It took only a second to regain his composure and notice the odd way she hovered near the stairs. She hadn’t spoken since he found her, a detached cast to her eyes.
Something was off.
“Sera,” he began, but she steeled her features. He tilted his head, trying to reason what could possibly have happened to bring her down here in the middle of the night and why she refused to look at him directly.
“Is something wrong?”
Sera took a quick, darting look around the kitchen. For what, he didn’t know. Then she stepped closer.
“We need to talk,” she said, but the volume of her voice was forced, unnecessary for how close they were. Her eyes finally aligned with his and the wide, frantic fear unnerved him. “The fact is, you’re rude, boring, and probably the worst lover I’ve ever encountered.” She punctuated each insult with a firm shake of her head.
Her words struck him, stilling him in place.
Sera gently lifted his hand and set it on her cheek, closing her eyes as she nuzzled his palm. Then she moved his hand to her chest, over her heart. “Believe me when I say that touching you is repulsive.” She licked her lips, gently stroking his wrist with her fingers. “It’s not really a shock that you’ve been alone all these years.” Tears filled her eyes, her face agonized. “W-who…” she took a deep breath. “Who would ever want to be near you when all you do is disappoint them?”
She closed her eyes, biting her lip. Physical pain twisted her gorgeous features into something heartbreaking. He couldn’t seem to wrap his head around the mixed messages, the words contrasting her actions, the hurt and tenderness that—
Then it clicked. His body went rigid. This was a performance. But why? Who was the audience?
When she noticed the recognition on his face, she began to nod, drawing ever closer, falling into his arms. “I hate you.Trulyloathe you. More than I’ve ever loathed anyone. With… all my heart.”
And somehow… the intensity of her lie felt like a confession.
Kieran answered with his own nod, assuring her that he had connected at least some of the dots. She was under duress, possibly threatened. But who? How? He did a quick survey of the room, finding nothing out of order. The kitchen held no windows, which is why she didn’t fear showing her emotions plainly, but who was listening?
He felt some of the tension ease from her body at his understanding, and he held her that much closer. “If that’s the case, then I suggest you leave,” he mimicked her volume and tone. “You can send for your things.”
There was the obvious answer, of course. He stared deep into her eyes as he mouthed a single word. “Cole?”
Sera nodded, fear cascading over her face like a shadow. Her eyes cast toward the cellar and Kieran couldn’t see a sign of an intruder from here, but he could guess Cole was just out of sight.Fuck.
There was no doubt that he would be forever blind to her future, forever too involved for his Sense to reach her.
He closed his eyes, pushing away the guilt and anger with himself for being so weak. The frustration that, as he feared, his Sense was going to fail him when it mattered most.
First he had to get Sera out of here, away from danger.Then he would deal with Cole.
He opened his eyes and she mouthed, “Seth.”
They had to move, had to get somewhere else. He took her wrist, giving her a reassuring nod, he pulled and when she followed without prompting, he stopped her. Kieran held up her wrist so she could see, then mimed a crushing, brutal grip. Sera’s gestures were still jerky, her nod a quick repeated bob of her head. Now when he turned, she feigned resistance, like he was dragging her. Like he was angry.
