Chapter 21
“Ye have been gifted a bit of a blessin'. Hogmanay is set to be celebrated, and yer weddin' will fall right in line for the decorations and festivities.”
Melissa smiled at Willow as they stood in the Great Hall, and Willow couldn’t tell if she wished to consider the situation a blessing or not.
It was true that this would mean less work preparing the castle for a wedding.
Still, it was also true that Hogmanay was being celebrated in significant excess because Yule celebrations had been put off due to the abduction and exchange of prisoners.
An exchange that did not come to pass and would now be abruptly switched for a marriage to the very woman the clan had looked to give back.
“Thank ye, Melissa. I appreciate yer help with arrangin' things. I havenae the experience of doin' it meself as the ceremony for me previous engagement was set to be held at the MacMillans’ castle.”
“I am happy to assist. Think of it as a way to show me gratitude to yer sister since she cannae be here to thank properly as well as a way to get to ken ye a bit better.”
Willow smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. Aside from Melissa, she was genuinely doing this alone, and it…was not how she wanted it. Keegan had been scarce throughout the castle these past few days, and Damon was gone with a host of men to secure the land Magnus sought.
Tension filled the backdrop of this supposedly happy occasion indeed.
Happy. It will be a marriage of convenience per the groom. Is that truly to be a happy thing, either? Perhaps this minimal celebration is best.
“I do thank ye, Melissa.” Willow sighed. “I apologize if it doesnae seem like I am looking forward to the day over much. I will admit…I miss Lilith—terribly. She was set to be at me handfasting before, and now…”
It was true that Willow wished for Lilith to be there, but it was also such a strange reality to her that Keegan would soon be her husband. She…felt something for the man, but there had been hardly a moment to consider what.
He was undoubtedly in the same boat, as well. Despite lacking the ability to read the laird’s mind, Willow could sense that something was off with him. Keegan still cared about what happened to her in a way that stretched beyond “convenience.”
What isnae he saying? What am I, for that matter?
Melissa paused in looking over a list of necessary items for the ceremony, turning to Willow and laying a hand on her shoulder.
“I can see how it upsets ye, Willow. So,” she perked up, smiling, “why do ye nae just invite yer sister to this ceremony? She will be part of the family after all, and Lilith is the reason for me better experience at Castle McCallum. Surely, Keegan will understand.”
Nervousness clung to Willow, but hope began to bloom behind her ribs, making her heart flutter. She had truly not thought of it, but Keegan was indeed an understanding man, it seemed. He’d never cast Magnus’s guilt upon her. He was marrying her for protection, for Christ’s sake.
“Do ye truly think yer brother will be all right with her comin' to the weddin'? I am all too aware of how the McCallums are the enemy to him.”
“Keegan is stubborn, but he isnae cruel. Speak to him of the matter. Let him ken how much it means to ye and deliver the honest request for someone who is so dear to ye. He is weddin' ye, Willow. And ye come from the McCallums.” Melissa grinned all the harder, squeezing Willow’s shoulder. “It is worth tryin'.”
Her eyes stung as she nodded at Melissa, leaning into the woman who would soon be her sister-in-law for a firm embrace.
“Thank ye. I will. I shall go right now.”
With a nod, Melissa gestured toward the door. “Go on then, and tell me the news as soon as ye’re able. I wish to see Lilith, too.”
Willow smiled. “I will.”
Hurrying her steps, Willow rushed to the study where she knew Keegan was holed up with his plans for the afternoon—again. He’d been cooped up in the space nearly every day since they’d returned from the failed exchange, and Willow knocked on the door as she reached the familiar room.
“Keegan? Are ye available for a conversation? I wish to ask ye something.”
After a moment, Willow heard footsteps on the other side of the door, and it was pulled open, letting out a rush of warmth from the hearth.
“What is it, Willow?”
Keegan looked especially tired as he stood before her, and Willow attempted to offer a soothing smile.
“Good afternoon. Umm,” she looked into the room, her eyebrows up, “may I join ye inside, or must I stay outside in the hall?”
With a heavy sigh, Keegan stepped aside, holding open the door so that Willow could step into the room. She did, proceeding toward his desk to stand before it while the laird closed the door once more.
“What is yer question, lass? I must return to me preparations.”
The laird seemed exceptionally stiff today, and Willow swallowed, hoping that she hadn’t chosen the worst possible time to be asking the man for a favor.
She bowed her head, a reflex to show respect like she would to Magnus in an attempt to dissuade his anger.
“Of course, thank ye for seein' me. I came to request that me sister be present for the weddin' ceremony. She was set to attend the first, and I miss her dearly. It would mean a great deal to me if she could come.”
Keegan’s posture went all the more rigid, and Willow watched as his brow furrowed exceptionally as he eyed her hard.
“We are still at odds with Clan McCallum. It would not behoove us to bring one of theirs into our home when that person could report back their sightin's to Magnus.”
Willow’s heart sank, but she wasn’t about to give up.
She wanted this, and it was such a rare thing in her life to truly get something she desired.
Willow would, at the least, fight for it as best she could.
She stepped toward Keegan, holding her hands together in front of her chest. He retreated slightly, but Willow chose to ignore it.
“Please, Keegan. She means the world to me. Ye ken how ye feel about yer own sister. To have her here would ease an ache in me soul. She is me twin. We have never been apart this long, and I cannae stand the idea of nae seeing her on the day I am to be wed.”
He ducked his chin, breaking their eye contact for a moment. “Willow, ye daenae—”
“I assure ye that she will only be here as me sister, nae a member of Clan McCallum. I am nae looking to create a situation for clan tensions or violence. I daenae wish for anyone else to come. Only Lilith. She is me dearest friend in all the world, Keegan.”
Willow wasn’t aware of how she’d walked up to the laird and gripped his hand until he worked to pull it back from her. She looked down as Keegan cleared his throat and turned away from her to walk toward the bookshelves.
“Willow, ye act as if these things are a simple matter.” Keegan’s shoulders rose and fell as he sucked in a breath, and she could see the tension in his muscles. “That couldnae be farther from the truth. Ye may nae realize this, but trustin' another person so blindly can lead to yer downfall.”
At once, Willow was quite sure that she didn’t know what Keegan was speaking on. There was something else behind his conviction to keep Lilith away from the castle. Curiosity bit at her, and Willow was helpless to resist it, seeking out this loose thread and pulling on it.
She walked up to Keegan again, laying a hand on his shoulder and slowly turning him around to face her. His expression was tight, a stoic mask that only barely hid the pain glowing in his eyes.
“What are ye hintin' at, Keegan? I can tell that ye are keepin' something back.”
He met her eyes, peering into them with potent consideration. Keegan wanted to read her mind. Willow was sure of it. And she did her best to keep her countenance open and honest.
“I have trusted a McCallum before, Willow. It cost me parents.”
She reeled, her eyes going wide until she shook her head, leaning toward Keegan with brows down over her eyes.
“I daenae understand. I had heard that the late laird was lost in battle.”
Keegan let out a rough laugh, utterly mirthless and sarcastic. “It isnae so simple, lass.”
Willow could tell that this was a sensitive topic and that Keegan wished to keep it locked away.
But doing so would do neither of them any good.
She wanted to understand, to hear the truth so that she was not kept out in the dark with no notion as to why Keegan was so pained by the idea of a McCallum being within his walls.
Especially considering he was planning on marrying her—a McCallum.
“Please, Keegan. I wish to understand ye. What…what happened?”
His jaw muscles tensed, and Keegan squeezed his hands into fists. Willow could tell that he held back his rage only just, and she did her best to remain calm and steady.
“What happened?” Keegan rolled his eyes, a bitter sneer crossing his face.
“What happened was that me faither had given me a decision to make for the clan as the man who would someday lead it, and I let him down. I…I requested that he show patience and allow the enemy to meet us for peace talks. It was a mistake.”
“Peace talks?” Willow raised her brows, leaning closer to Keegan as he ducked his head again. “How could that be a mistake?”
The laird remained silent, and Willow reached out, taking his chin and getting him to lift up. As his eyes met hers, they burned with an intensity that forced Willow to swallow hard. He pulled his head away, stepping back as he closed his eyes and sucked in clearly needed fresh air.
“It was a mistake because yer damned brother showed his true motives in a ceilidh.
The castle was attacked, and even though the battle resolved with Clan Brahanne as the victors, me parents were dead.
I was young and foolish, listenin' to the useless call of me heart to show mercy, and all it did was leave us vulnerable to Magnus’s connivin' plots.”
Willow froze in place, imagining the dreadful scene of this beautiful castle splattered in red and littered with fallen warriors, including those of Keegan’s mother and father.
Her brother had always been a cruel man, and it didn’t surprise her that he would use the situation to betray the Brahannes’ trust.
What affected her was the evident grief plastered on Keegan’s expression.
He was truly heartbroken, and those old wounds were being ripped open by Magnus’s actions now.
He’d stolen Melissa, and were he to get a body into the castle during the wedding, he would certainly look to attack during a moment of vulnerability.
Keegan only wished to protect his family.
If nothing else, Willow could understand that—intimately.
Approaching him cautiously, Willow took Keegan’s face one more and met his eyes. “I apologize greatly for everythin' me brother has done to yer family. He is…he is a villain, and he has taken so much from ye.”
Keegan held her stare, searching her eyes for something she couldn’t guess. After a moment, his expression softened ever so slightly. “Thank ye, lass. But ye can see now why I am nae fond of the notion of lettin' in more of the McCallums into me home.”
She nodded. “Aye. Lilith isnae a friend of Magnus’s, however. Neither of us has been treated anythin' but poorly by the man. I ken with me entire soul that she wouldnae aid him with an attack on the castle.”
Keegan’s hand went to her face, and Willow couldn’t stop herself from leaning into it. His palm was warm and rough against her cheek, and she looked up into his eyes as the heat spread through her, lodging itself in her core.
“I shouldnae believe ye, Willow. I should keep ye well away and keep meself as far from ye as possible.” The thought needled through Willow’s ribs. “But I simply cannae do it.”
After a moment, Keegan stepped closer, his body now only a breath away from hers. “I will honor ye request, lass, but ye must ensure me that it is to be only Lilith who travels to the castle. Magnus isnae welcome here.”
She nodded again, this time with more vigor. “I assure ye. I will write in nay unclear terms that Lilith is to come alone and with nay intense guard or inklin' to sneak more into the castle.”
Keegan held Willow’s stare, his hand still on her face. The two of them just stood there, the laird’s hand slowly wrapping around her waist as well. The tension and fire slipped through Willow’s veins; she could track every curve and twist it took within her.
“Verra well, lass. Ye may send yer invitation.” Keegan’s voice was a deep rasp as he spoke softly to her, seeming to map her face with eyes.
Excitement swelled regardless. Lilith would be here, and she was filled to bursting with gratitude toward her husband-to-be. Lifting up onto her tiptoes, Willow kissed Keegan’s cheek with a massive grin spread across her lips.
“Thank ye, Keegan,” she said, returning to the floor. “Thank ye truly. I shall write to her immediately.”
Keegan smiled, but it was pinched as if the laird had bitten into a lemon when she hadn’t looked. Still, Willow was too eager to wait a moment longer, so she thought nothing of it and bounded away to draft up her letter to her sister.
As she looked back over her shoulder one final time to smile at Keegan, he gripped the front of his plaid, rolling his lips between his teeth as he narrowed his stare at her.
“Go on, lass. I’ve…me own preparation to return to.”
A slow grin touched his mouth, and Keegan gestured toward the door with his head. Willow could see a nearly hidden darkness in Keegan’s gaze, and she wondered where his mind was indeed placed.
Another time, perhaps. She had a letter to write.
“Thank ye again, Keegan. I shall nae forget it.”
“Keep that to the front of yer mind when next I ask ye to do something, lass.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Of course, Laird Brahanne.”
And with that, Willow hurried off to write Lilith, a renewed spring in her step.