“I left and was going to leave the house when I heard him talking to you. I imagined you would be upset, so I came back here.”
“What is wrong with him?” she asked his sister, hoping she had an answer.
Shauna did. “We are alike, you and I. It frightens him.”
Willow went to the window and looked out into the moonlit night. “And what is so horrible about that?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“He thinks I left Jonas to live in the lap of luxury.”
“Why shouldn’t he think that, Shauna. It’s what you told him.”
“I spoke in anger,” Shauna admitted, hearing the bite in Willow’s voice. “I told you the true reason I left Jonas. He wanted to change who I was.”
“But you changed anyway,” Willow told her. “You couldn’t even tell your betrothed that you used to be a Warrior. How is that any different than changing for Jonas? At least you love Jonas.”
Hearing the truth she fought to deny, Shauna’s large green eyes filled with tears, but she squeezed them shut, stopping the flow. “It’s not any different, you’re right,” she said quietly, defeated. “But it doesn’t matter anymore, Willow. I lost myself already. Now I must think with my mind and not my heart. If I must be miserable, then I will be miserable in luxury.”
Willow inhaled deeply. “But will it be worth it?”
“You tell me.” Shauna joined her at the window. “Do you want to live here for the remainder of your days? Do you want to cook and clean and do everything yourself? Or do you want to live in a palace in Beldar with servants who will do it all for you?” Her glistening eyes seared into Willow. “Do you want to wear rags or beautiful gowns?”
Willow’s hands twisted the expensive fabric of her clothes. “I…I…”
Shauna stood back sorrow coating her voice. “You thought about it too long, Willow. And that’s what he’s afraid of.”
“No, you’re wrong,” Willow blurted. She was sorry she hesitated, but the instant she realized she had, she knew that her heart had already chosen Caleb. “I don’t want any of it. I want him. He’s what makes me happy, Shauna. I live in a palace. I have never had to pour myself a cup of wine. I have more jewelry than you could ever imagine, and my wardrobe is as big as your entire room. But what good is it when you’re locked behind walls because your father is so hated someone might kill you to get to him? No. There was not a single day spent there that I could truly say I was happy.” She shook her head. “If Caleb is worried about me going back for a better life, I will make it clearer to him that I want a life with him, come what may.”
Caleb’s sister smiled at her. “I’m very glad to hear that. I’m happy you love my brother that much,” she said sincerely. “God knows you’ll have to,” she added with a soft chuckle and left the room with her.
They went to the kitchen together. Caleb was sitting at the table, his arms folded beneath his head on the table. No food had been cooked.
“Caleb!” Shauna snapped at him.
He shifted a bit and then let out a snore. Willow covered her laughter with her hand. He was asleep!
She tilted her head to have a good look at him while he slumbered. He thought he was doing the right thing by letting her go. Always noble Caleb.
Well, not today, Commander.
She was tempted to smooth a tendril of his hair off his cheek. From the corner of her eye she saw Shauna coming at him with a bug swatter. Willow didn’t wait to see where his sister meant to hit him before she leaned over his back and held out her hand to stop Shauna’s advance.
“Put that down!” she demanded.
Shauna lowered her swatter and then looked at her brother. “Good. He’s awake.”
Chapter 19
With all the ruckus, Caleb had awakened. The first thing he became aware of was Willow’s body strewn across his back. Protecting him from something. He turned his head to see Shauna standing over him lowering her bug swatter. Willow had stopped her. Willow had used herself as a shield.
He sat up and felt Willow sliding off. He wanted to pull her close and hold her. He turned to look at her and smiled, not knowing or even caring what he should do with her. He knew what he wanted