Melissa followed Keegan around, stepping in front of him and putting herself right before his face.
“I would leave ye to tend to yer business if ye werenae doing it all wrong. How could ye say such terrible things to Willow? She’s yer wife, and she dinnae have anythin' to do with Magnus’s attack.”
He looked down at his sister with a glare, his jaw clenched tight enough that it began to ache. Keegan shook his head, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling before leveling Melissa with a harsh stare once more.
“I ken well enough that Willow dinnae orchestrate the attack. I ken she was with me, but that is the verra issue. I shouldnae permit meself to be distracted by a lass. This is the result of it.” He threw his hand out behind him toward Damon. “Our brother was knockin' on the door to the hereafter and still lies in uncertain condition!”
“Damon was out there fightin' beside ye, Brother. That is what got him in this state. Defendin' the castle is a task that any person here could be called to fulfill at any time. Need I remind ye that it was ye that sent the man out to scout when Magnus retreated? What’s to say that the situation would have been different were Damon here durin' the weddin'?”
“There isnae a way to ken that for sure. Ye cannae!” Keegan hastily replied, his volume ticking up as the anger in his blood burned hotter.
“That is the point, Brother!” Melissa rebutted, jabbing her finger into his chest. “Ye cannae ken anythin' for certain. Ye’re lookin' for something to blame for this poor luck, but it’s just that. Luck! Daenae let yer past haunt ye and take away the joy ye’ve found now.”
Keegan wanted to throttle his sister, but he never would. As it was, he couldn’t stand there and let her chide him endlessly. Removing himself, he strode across the room toward the fire, staring into the flames and praying that they might help to scorch away his frustration.
“Och, how verra like ye. Stormin' off and ignorin' the reality right in front of yer eyes. Fine!” Melissa shouted at him. “If ye're so keen on destroyin' yer chance at happiness, who am I to stop ye?”
“Precisely!” Keegan called back. “Ye cannae stop me from doing anythin'. I am the laird of this castle, and it is high time ye treat me as such.”
They glared at each other, staring such sharp daggers that Keegan could feel the pang of them piercing his chest. The room fell into silence once more, and he turned back toward the fire, content to stand there watching it burn to dull embers until Damon awoke.
He heard Melissa scoff behind him, but Keegan wasn’t about to turn around and start this all over again.
“Ye ken,” she said, obviously not done with her pestering, “I wouldnae have survived if it werenae for Lilith. And I have been around yer Willow long enough now to see the type of person she is. I will say this in nay unclear terms so that yer thick head can take it in. Ye are wrong, Keegan.”
Despite his promise to himself, Keegan spun on his heel toward Melissa and cut her a glance from beneath his brow.
“Me duty is to me family, Melissa. To ye. I willnae allow meself to be pulled in any other direction.”
“Ugh, ye’re an idjit! How can?—”
“Christ, I had thought that ye two had finally stopped. Would ye both shut it so that the injured man might have peace and quiet to get some sleep?”
The fury grasping Keegan so tightly immediately dropped away, and he focused on Damon as Melissa did the same, her hands going to her mouth with her gasp.
“Ye’re awake!” She cried, and while Keegan stood there frozen, their sister rushed to Damon’s side, throwing her arms around him.
“Argh,” he groaned, “I am. But I am also still sufferin' the effects of a stab.”
She was quick to pull back, a laugh breaking through her tears. “Ye scared the shite of me, ye bampot!”
Damon grinned up at her, his lids still heavy with exhaustion, and Keegan went to his other side, taking his hand.
“Ye did have us verra worried, Brother. Are ye feelin'…”
“Och, daenae fash. I’m well.” He hissed. “Or as well as I can be at present.”
Meeting Melissa’s eyes, Damon put a hand on her cheek and nodded toward the door. “Go after that lassie of Keegan’s. Daenae let her leave.”
His sister’s eyes lit up with purpose as she smiled broadly, and Keegan sighed, frowning as Melissa kissed Damon on the forehead and then ran off after Willow.
“Ye were supposed to be unconscious.” Keegan narrowed his eyes at Damon.
“And ye were supposed to keep yer voice down if ye dinnae wish to be heard.”
Clenching his jaw and gnawing on the inside of his cheek, Keegan sat down on the edge of the table where Damon was lying. He still didn’t wish to be having this conversation, and frankly, he was surprised that Damon would be on Melissa’s side. He had been exceedingly open with his dislike of Willow.
“She’s right, ye ken? Melissa has a steady head on her shoulders, and it would do ye well to heed her advice.”