With that, Magnus left the two of them to stand in Willow’s room alone. They would only have a moment before Willow must get to the carriage, but she would take every last one, stretching each for as long as possible.
“Ye mustnae upset him so, Willow.” Lilith frowned, her brows pinched together as she shook her head. “He is ill at ease because of the upcomin' arrangements, and there is a prisoner held within the dungeons.”
“There is little that I can do that doesnae upset our brother, Lilith. Ye ken that well yerself.” Willow shook herself, smiling true as she pulled her sister close for an embrace. “I care for ye more than anythin' else in this world, Lilith. Please be safe.”
Lilith squeezed her back, a soft sob breaking through as she buried her face in Willow’s shoulder. “I will. Please send word. I will wait on edge for it.”
“Of course.” Willow backed up, holding Lilith’s cheek for a moment before stepping back and gathering her shawl around her shoulders. “Ye will hear from me soon.”
“I must.” Lilith grinned, mirroring Willow’s movement and stepping farther back into the room.
With another quick nod and smile, Willow finally tore herself from her old chambers, hurrying toward the front entry and out to the stables. The carriage to take her to her new life sat in front of them, a handsome pair of horses secured to the front and her truck strapped to the back.
She may have only been a few moments older than her sister, but worry clung to Willow over Lilith, which was strong enough to swallow her whole. She had protected her sister since they were children, and she was now leaving her at the castle alone—with Magnus.
Willow had to pray that Lilith’s efforts to please the man at every turn would work in her favor and that he would indeed be distracted by the prisoner who he held captive in their dungeons.The machinations of his plot against the Brahanne clan were at the front of her brother’s mind. So, Willow sent up her wish to the heavens that he might be too busy tending to the clan’s mysterious captive and his usual plotting to pay Lilith any mind.
Please, Lord, keep me Lilith safe. I am nae there to keep watch over her, and she shall need ye all the more.
“Are we certain that the trip will take but today? Me arse feels as if we have been seated in this carriage for a century.” Willow giggled. “Though, the company is wonderful.”
Finley, Willow’s trusted guard, sat across from her in the carriage as it plodded along. They had been traveling for quite a stretch of time, and Willow, as always, filled the uncomfortable silence with babbling. It had become an unfortunate habit of hers, perfected over years of attempting to remain sunny as ever at all times.
“Aye, me lady. Ye will find yerself at yer new home in due time.”
Still, tension clung to her, and Willow couldn’t keep herself from finding the edge of her arisaid with her fingers and worrying the fabric with jittery obsession.
“What have ye heard of the MacMillans? Do ye ken much of Mason Galloway?”
Finley regarded her, adjusting in his seat as he offered an amused smile. “I imagine it is the same as ye have heard, me lady. He is a fine man of worth. The brother of the laird and set to be yer wedded husband after a year and a day of handfastin' time.”
Willow nodded idly, gazing out the window of the carriage. It bumped along, and soon, a silence crept back into the interior, forcing Willow’s thoughts to ring that much louder.
He must certainly be a better man than Magnus. There cannae be two men of his kind…and ye have left Lilith with him…
In any case, Willow was glad for the short distance to travel. The time in the blasted, bumpy box would be limited to half a day, and so her agony would soon end. And yet, Lilith will remain at their home—Willow’s old home—and she will be forced beneath Magnus’s thumb at all times.
She was certain that something bothered Lilith, and Willow had been about to receive an answer before the laird entered. Willow wished for more time to converse with her sister, recalling those last few moments with vivid clarity that made her skin itch.
What was it that Lilith was so upset about?Bloody, useless handfasting. I should be there with her. I?—
But her thoughts were driven to the side with the abrupt lurch of the carriage. It was as if they’d coasted over a boulder, and the entire thing careened to the side. Several moments passedbefore the carriage was able to stop, and Willow gripped the edge of her seat to keep herself in place as it rumbled to a halt.
“What on God’s green earth was that?!”
Finley regarded her only briefly, slipping from his seat and looking out the other side of the carriage where the window panel was curtained shut. His expression dropped, and her stomach clenched down.
“What’s hap?—”
“Daenae move from yer seat, me lady.”
It was a rare moment indeed that Finley spoke to Willow as such. He was a loyal clansman, serving her parents before Magnus, and was a kind soul among a castle full of dour beasts.
“Finley?” Willow tried to keep the tremble from her voice, but she failed, and her escort turned to her with his brows pinched together.
“Do as I ask, me lady. I shall return.”
All she could do was nod, and as soon as she had, Finley exited the carriage, his hand on his sword. Shouting started beyond the confines that protected her, and Willow could pinpoint the location as that in front of her. Finley’s voice was quick to join the others, yelling with the other about defending her.