Chapter One Hundred and Four - Sneaking out - Damian's POV

Our conversation promptly dies. It's as if we neither know what to say to each other for a few seconds before she looks away at the food on the bed. 'Maybe we should eat. Sometimes that makes it better." 'Food always makes it better," I say with a laugh before turning toward our plates. As we each took a side of the bed, we pulled the plates into our laps and sat there to eat in silence. Every so often, I'd catch her looking at me, but as soon as I looked up, she'd look away. It makes me smile, and for a moment, everything feels normal. We continue to eat in silence, munching on strips of bacon and sometimes getting a few bites of eggs. She finishes first, then places her plate down onto the bed. 'Should I go?" 'Yes, but you won't be going alone," I tell her as I take the next bite of sausage. 'I will hide downwind." 'You can't hide. He's going to know if you come," she argues. 'He'll never know," I laugh. 'It's going to be fine. You don't know how sneaky I can be." For a moment, she just stares at me, then her eyes widen. 'Is this what Wiry was talking about when she said you were trouble?" My cheeks turn red from embarrassment. Of course, she'd remember that. 'Maybe, but I'm not ready to discuss the troublemaker I was until I have you by my side forever. Who knows? You may run from me and my shenanigans." That makes her laugh as she nearly folds over in laughter. 'You always surprise me," she says, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. 'For a world so dark, sometimes there is a ray of sunshine, even if it's in humor." My own smile grows from ear to ear. 'Humor is the best medicine for dark times." With that said, she stops laughing and gets quiet again. 'So, I'll go and we'll find out what he says, right?" 'Yes, that is the plan." We stare at each other a moment before I go back to eating. This plan is probably stupid, but it's all we have. For the rest of the day, we go about our normal activities and try not to look like she has told me anything. The last thing I need is for him to suspect that she has told me anything about their meeting tonight, though I'd say he'd send someone to keep me busy so she could sneak out. There is no other way for me to not notice she is gone because we go to bed together every single night. But in the end, night comes at a snail's pace and is entirely too slow. I go through the motions of dinner with the pack, just waiting for Simon to move. Inside, my nerves are a mess. I smile when I have to, nod when they expect me to, and try my best to act natural, but in my mind, I'm already out there. After dinner is over, we return to our room like normal, and I make sure not to touch her too much or linger in the way I want to. If Simon is watching, I want everything to look like any other ordinary night. We slip inside and when the hour passes; she changes into dark clothes. 'Do you think he'll buy that you're asleep and that I slipped out?" 'He has to. Clearly, he isn't thinking things through. I thought he'd send someone to distract me so you could leave." I notice her hands tremble as she slips on her boots. I want nothing more than to stop this and not allow her to go, but I know we need to find out what he is plotting. And he seems more than willing to tell Maya about it. 'Remember. Just get him to talk. I'll be close by and if anything feels wrong, just run. I'll be there." 'How are you even getting out of the estate without being seen?" I laugh as my gaze lands on the window. 'The same way as you. I'll leave a few minutes after you." She gives me a solemn nod before she walks toward the window and slides it open. I stay back to ensure I won't be seen as she slips out and uses the vines crawling up beside the window to lower herself to the ground. When she's out of sight, I start to count. When I reach sixty, I head to the window and check for any signs of anyone. If there was anyone watching, they aren't now. One foot after the other, I slip out the window and fall a few feet to the ground. I land in a crouch and stay low, still searching for any sign of anyone. Thankfully, no one surfaces, so I head in the same direction as the cliffs. I slip into the shadows, already downwind from the trail she took. With only a t-shirt and ball shorts on, I'm quick. My bare feet barely make a sound against the dirt and fallen leaves. I stop when I feel a slight breeze and move again when I realize it's blowing in my favor. The forest feels alive, but hushed. Not even a creature is stirring. The only noise is the leaves overhead as they rattle in the wind. Just up ahead, she's alone and walking to meet a man I used to trust with my life. A man who is now plotting against me. Her scent comes to me on the next gust of wind. Then Simon's, though his is heavier. I stop in the thickest part of the brush and look up at the canopy overhead. The trees are thick and lush with leaves. Everything is so full and in bloom that it covers me well. 'You came…" Simon says, his voice low and surprised. 'I said I would," Maya answers calmly. 'Good. I wasn't sure if you'd tell him or he'd come with you." 'Would it matter?" She asks, keeping her tone neutral. 'You really should talk to him about these things, anyway. I'm sure he could put your mind at ease." Simon scoffs. 'You don't see it yet, but Damian's just too slow. He's too cautious, and he's going to get us all killed. They're coming for us. We all know it and we're not going to survive much longer."