She laughed, shaking her head. “Of course,Laird Brahanne.”
And with that, Willow hurried off to write Lilith, a renewed spring in her step.
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 haveheard 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.”