“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. Heisweddin' 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 couldseethe 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.”