Chapter 22
“Lilith!” Willow called out, rushing toward her sister, who had finally arrived at the castle only a day before the wedding was to take place. “Ye’re here at last!”
Her sister smiled, the grin stretched from ear to ear, and as the two of them met, they threw their arms around each other in an embrace. Willow breathed in the familiar scent of her sister’s hair, the welcome feeling of her safe in her arms again.
“Och, Lilith. I have missed ye so much.” Willow’s voice was thick with tears, and this time, she allowed them to fall openly.
Lilith pulled back a hair to look Willow in the face, her own tears slipping down her cheeks. “I have missed ye, too, Sister. So verra much. It as if it has been years since I’ve seen ye.”
Willow smiled and nodded. “I ken yer meaning. Time has dragged without yer mischief to keep me company. Still, I have heard that ye are still one to undermine our brother with yer tricks on Melissa’s behalf.”
Her eyes widening to the size of plates, Lilith gaped at Willow for a moment before a strained laugh broke free. “Ye…ye are aware of that?”
“Of course.” Willow smiled before the corners of her mouth turned down. “Melissa informed us after she returned. She is incredibly grateful for all yer help.”
Lilith relaxed slightly, but Willow could still note a certain tension, and her sister’s eyes roamed the room as if someone were about to leap out and attack at any moment.
“It…it was the right thing to do. And Melissa is a kind woman. I dinnae wish for her to be harmed by Magnus’s growing wrath after yer capture.”
Willow’s joy tempered with the understanding between both of them. Magnus would indeed have treated Melissa as poorly as he could get away with and Lilith was likely the reason for her survival. Still, Willow also knew that Melissa had taken a beating for Lilith.
“It was, Lilith. And I am so verra thankful to her for helping to keep ye from a particularly furious beating. So, so thankful.”
Pulling her sister closer again, Willow kissed Lilith’s forehead and held her tightly before finally sighing and letting her stand on her own two feet.
“As am I. I assure ye.”
Just as Lilith finished speaking, Melissa appeared dashing around the corner and rushed up to Lilith, taking the woman in her arms for a delighted embrace.
“Ye are here, and ye’re all right!” Melissa’s voice was muffled as she ducked her head down into Lilith’s shoulder.
Willow and Lilith weren’t the tallest of women, particularly being twins, and Melissa’s greater height dwarfed her sister as they held each other close for a long moment.
“I am. Thank ye, Melissa.” As they separated, Lilith smiled, though Willow could still tell that it didn’t reach her eyes the way it should. “I am so glad to see ye safe as well.”
“Och, I am verra well indeed. I’ve gained two sisters after all this nonsense, and I can already tell that they will serve me better than me two insufferable brothers.”
Melissa gestured over her shoulder with her thumb as Keegan and Damon approached from the hallway behind them. Willow chuckled at the jest, but Lilith froze as she laid eyes on the two men. It was clear her sister was nervous, and Willow could understand that to a degree.
As the brothers reached their group, Willow and Melissa offered small curtsies of respect. Lilith looked far too on edge to remember her manners, and Willow tugged on her sister’s sleeve lightly, which reminded Lilith to lower herself a touch.
“Lilith,” Willow straightened, opening up a hand toward the laird and his brother, “this is Laird Brahanne, me betrothed, and this is his brother, Damon Aragain, war chief of the Clan Brahanne.”
There was a thick silence where all Lilith did was stare.
For a moment, it was focused on Keegan with such intensity that Willow feared she might puncture a hole through her soon-to-be-husband’s forehead, and then it swiveled to Damon.
Looking upon him, Lilith’s mouth parted slightly, and she took him in from head to toe.
And what is in yer little head, Sister? I ken yer troublesome ways well, Lilith. What are ye thinkin'?
Still, there wasn’t time to ask, nor was this the place. Instead, Willow agreed with herself to keep the inquiries in the back of her mind to voice later when Lilith and she had a moment alone.
“Lady Lilith, it is a pleasure to meet ye. Yer sister has spoken of ye often and with great fondness,” Keegan said, nodding his head at her sister politely.
“Aye,” Lilith flicked her stare back to the laird, not hiding her glare, “it is somethin'.”
“Lilith,” Willow whispered at her in warning. “Ye daenae need to be on edge. Ye are welcome here.”
Without looking at Willow, Lilith only offered a curt nod, still narrowing her eyes at Keegan. She’d rarely seen her sister so worked up and, frankly, rude before, and the sight stopped Willow in her tracks for several long moments.
“Perhaps,” Keegan offered, also picking up on Lilith’s chilly demeanor, “ye should take yer sister to her chambers so that she might refresh herself after the long journey.”
He turned from regarding Willow toward Lilith with a practiced smile, calm and simple. “It has been all prepared for ye, Lady Lilith. I am sure ye would appreciate an opportunity to gather yerself before dinner in the Great Hall.”
Despite Willow’s warning, Lilith folded her arms across her chest, openly glaring at Keegan, her expression screwing up like she’d smelled something rotten.
“How lucky am I that the great Laird Brahanne has decided to allow me to join for dinner. I shall ensure I am most presentable.”
The sharpness in Lilith’s tone was unmistakable, and while Willow stood there as shocked as the day was long, Melissa fought to hold back a bark of laughter.
Keegan didn’t seem affected by it much, and Damon glared down at Lilith.
Still, his eyes, too, roamed over Lilith from head to toe—a look Willow recognized from his brother and looked as if he was memorizing every feature and curve of her sister’s body.
Willow didn’t know how to feel about that, except for the fact that it did not amuse her in the slightest.
“Thank ye, Laird Brahanne. I shall take me sister to her room at once.” She smiled tightly toward Keegan but then turned toward her sister with a stern expression keen on getting the girl moving. “I have quite a great many things I’d like to discuss with her as well.”
Lilith was shaken out of her staring contest with Damon, if only slightly, and she glanced toward Willow with a forced grin. “Of course, Sister. Whatever ye need.”
Without another word for fear that her sister might start up an actual brawl right there in the entryway, Willow dragged Lilith toward the stairs and took her up to the room that she would be using during her stay.
Once the two of them were inside, Willow turned toward Lilith with a glare as her sister meandered to the bed at a casual pace.
“What has gotten into ye?” Willow folded her arms across her chest, cocking her head as Lilith refused to turn around. “Are ye mad? Why would ye say such things to Laird Brahanne?”
Quiet permeated the space for several moments before Lilith turned at last and walked directly up to Willow with purpose. “Why are ye doing this, Willow? That is the truth that deserves to be shared. What could be the reason behind marryin' such a man?”
Willow shook her head, balking at her sister’s question. “I daenae ken what ye could mean. I am here because I’m nay longer able to return to Castle McCallum. I am to be Keegan’s wife, and I am well, Sister. Ye daenae need to worry over me.”
Lilith seemed far from convinced, looking over Willow’s shoulder to the door and glaring. “Ye cannae expect me to just accept that ye are ‘well’. The man holdin' ye has been an enemy of our family for years. How is he treatin' ye truly? Has he coerced ye into this arrangement?”
Scoffing, Willow threw her arms down, taking a step closer to Lilith as they did when they were having an argument.
“Nay! I am nae being coerced, Lilith.” She furrowed her brow when Lilith’s expression didn’t change. “Ye must come to yer senses. I’m to be wed tomorrow, and I willnae have it spoiled by yer foul mood.”
The two of them were locked in a silent battle until Willow sighed and slumped her shoulders. “Lilith, I invited ye here because I wanted to share this special day with ye. Please, please, can ye at least try to be pleasant? Having ye at me side on such a momentous occasion means the world to me.”
After a moment, Lilith nodded as her stare fell to the floor. “I will do me best, Sister, but only for ye.”
Willow wasn’t sure what had gotten into Lilith since she’d seen her last, especially after the failed exchange. From what Melissa had said, she was a consummate ally, and Lilith had apparently gone out of her way to help Melissa. Why was she now acting like the laird was once again the enemy?
Particularly since Lilith has never cared much for Magnus’s dealings or who he might consider a villain.
It was, at best, distressing, and at worst, her attitude was suspicious. Willow couldn’t stand the idea of thinking about Lilith that way. Still, her nerves were on edge. Regardless, she walked up to her sister and wrapped Lilith in an embrace.
So much had happened with the captures and foiled wedding to the MacMillans. Magnus was undoubtedly a terrible person to be around at present—injured and returning to the castle after failure.
Lilith was likely tense and scared of what the future might hold. So, as in every other situation, Willow would care for her. She would tend to her sister and ensure that she understood the safety and, if not love, comfort that Willow could find within Castle Brahanne.
“I assure ye, Lilith, I am well, and everythin' will work out for the best with the weddin'. I wouldnae lie to ye. Ye must understand that.”
Her sister tensed in her arms, but it was only a flinch that lasted hardly a few seconds. As soon as it hit, it was gone, and Lilith squeezed Willow back, putting her face in the crook of Willow’s neck.
“Ye mean the world to me, Willow. I just…worry.”
A smile spread across Willow’s face, and she closed her eyes as she stood there with Lilith—her only friend since birth.
“That is to be me job, Lilith. I am the one who worries. Ye are meant to be glad and at ease. Please, Sister, trust in me. I have everythin' in hand. I promise ye.”
“We shall see, Willow.” Lilith stood back from her, meeting her gaze with a smile that lacked conviction. “We’ll see.”