Chapter 220: Meeting Caelan

Present Day

Willow groaned.

Her head hurt.

That was the first thing she became aware of as consciousness slowly returned to her. There was a terrible pounding behind her eyes, and every attempt she made to move seemed to make it worse.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

What in the goddess’ name had happened to her?

She felt as though someone had struck her over the head with something heavy.

For a moment, she remained still, hoping the pain would subside but when it did not, she forced her eyes open.

The room was dimly lit.

She could make out the familiar furniture, the wardrobe standing against the wall, and the small table beside the bed.

Willow frowned.

She was in her chambers.

How?

She slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, wincing when a sharp pain shot through her head.

She pressed a hand against her temple.

What had happened? The last thing she remembered was...

Her breath caught.

The cave and Miranda... Alistair’s body.

Willow went completely still.

"No," she whispered, her heart beginning to pound as she looked frantically around the room.

Had she imagined it? Had it been another dream?

She had been having nightmares about Alistair dying for so long that perhaps her mind had finally begun playing tricks on her.

Perhaps she had never gone to the cave and she had only fallen asleep and dreamed the entire thing.

Willow threw the covers aside and scrambled out of bed, her legs nearly gave way beneath her.

She caught the bedpost and held on until the dizziness passed.

She needed to find Alistair...

But what if he was dead? What if the body she had seen in the cave really had been his?

Willow shook her head... it was a dream, nothing more.

She took a shaky breath and started toward the door but before she could reach it, the knob turned and she froze.

Alistair stepped inside.

"Hey," he said with a smile. "You are up."

Willow stared at him.

How could she not have noticed? How could she not have known this was not her Alistair.

They were so different... this person’s eyes were cold, detached even as he smiled at her.

Had she been so far gone that she could not have seen the glaring difference.

Did that mean... was Alistair really...

She took a step backward, her entire body cold.

"Willow" the man in front of her frowned. "What is wrong?"

Willow shook her head, willing it all to be one big nightmare.

"Willow, are you all right?" He asked again, now taking a step toward her.

"Stay away from me." she screamed.

The smile on his face dropped completely as he folded his arms across his chest and looked at her.

"You should not have gone to the cave." he muttered.

Willow’s heart dropped.

She had not imagined it.

She stumbled backward and turned frantically, searching for something she could use to defend herself.

Her eyes landed on the lamp sitting on the bedside table.

She lunged for it but the man moved faster and before her fingers could close around the lamp, he caught her wrist.

"Willow, stop."

"Let go of me!" she screamed, twisting violently, trying to pull free from his grasp.

"Listen to me." he muttered, tightening his grip.

"Get your hands off me!" She raised her other hand and struck him across the face.

His head turned slightly and for a moment, he looked surprised then his expression hardened.

"Willow."

She tried to hit him again but he caught her other wrist.

"Stop it!"

"Let me go!" She kicked at him.

He cursed under his breath, lifting her and tossing her onto the bed.

Willow landed hard against the mattress.

She barely had time to catch her breath before he climbed onto the bed and pinned her wrists above her head.

She fought with everything she had. She twisted beneath him, clawed at his arms, and tried to drive her knee into his side but he was stronger... far stronger.

"Stop it, Willow!"

"Get off me!"

"By the gods, woman, will you stop fighting for one moment?" He pressed her wrists more firmly against the mattress. "I am not going to hurt you."

Willow finally went still, staring at him.

She felt tears gathering in her eyes, but she forced them back. She would not cry in front of him.

"I will get off you if you promise not to try anything stupid. Do you understand?"

Willow nodded once.

The man studied her for a moment before he released her wrists and moved away.

Willow immediately sat up, pulling herself toward the headboard.

Her eyes darted toward the door.

It was not far. If she could get past him, she could run into the corridor.

There were guards outside, servants.

All she needed to do was get out of the room.

She could call for help, have this man arrested and expose whatever terrible scheme he and Miranda had been planning.

But she needed to be careful.

He had already proved that he was faster than she was and she had no idea what else he was capable of.

The man remained standing beside the bed. He looked at her for a moment before sighing.

"I know how you must feel." he began.

Willow said nothing.

She could not even bring herself to look at him.

How dare he? How dare he stand there wearing Alistair’s face and claim to understand how she felt?

He could not possibly understand what it felt like to look at the man she loved and know that he was gone.

Her hands trembled but she curled them into fists.

"Willow."

She kept her gaze fixed on the door.

"I know you have questions." The man sighed again. "I suppose I should begin by introducing myself."

She did not want to hear his name. She wanted him to disappear.

She wanted to wake up and find Alistair beside her, running his hand through her hair.

"My name is Caelan."

Willow’s eyes widened.

Caelan?

The name sounded familiar and she was sure she had heard it before.

But where?

She slowly turned toward him, her breath catching as she realized where she had heard his name.

"Calean? Morgana’s mate?"

"You know your history." He smiled faintly.