Chapter 225: Caught

"I have her, my lord." The guard called out.

Willow’s heart sank.

"No!" She began struggling frantically as the guard tightened his grip around her arm. "Let me go!"

She twisted, trying to pull herself free, but the man was much stronger than she was.

"Please, my lady," he muttered.

"Do not please me! Let go of me!" She tried to kick him.

He moved out of the way and caught her other arm before she could strike him.

"Help!" Willow screamed. "Someone help me!"

Her voice echoed through the corridor.

She could hear footsteps approaching from below then Caelan appeared at the foot of the stairs with a dark expression on his face.

She turned toward the guard.

"Please. You do not understand. That man is not Alistair!"

The guard began pulling her down the stairs.

Willow dug her heels into the floor and then tried grabbing the railing with her free hand, but he pried her fingers loose.

By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, she was breathing heavily. Her hair had fallen across her face, and tears of frustration were gathering in her eyes.

"Let me have her," Caelan said calmly. "The lady has been under a great deal of stress lately. She has been having hallucinations. She has not been herself since her father’s death. I believe the grief has finally become too much for her."

"You lying bastard!" Willow cursed.

She could not believe what she was hearing. He was standing there, telling everyone she was losing her mind and he sounded very convincing.

"That is not true!" she cried. "He is lying!"

Caelan looked at her with an expression that might have passed for concern.

"Willow, please."

"Do not touch me!"

She tried to pull away again but the guard held her firmly.

Caelan turned toward him.

"Find the healer and send him to me, if you will."

"Of course, my lord." The guard bowed.

Caelan reached for her but she jerked backward.

"Please!" she cried, looking at the guard. "You have to believe me!"

"I will send for the healer immediately, my lord." he muttered, releasing her into Caelan’s grasp.

"Thank you." Caelan smiled.

Willow watched the guard turn and walk away. Her heart broke a little more with every step he took until he disappeared around the corner.

Caelan began pulling her down the corridor as Willow fought with everything in her, struggling the entire way.

Miranda watched them approach with her arms folded across her chest. Her expression was anything but pleased.

"I told you this would happen," she muttered. "She should have been locked up somewhere secure from the beginning."

Caelan ignored her, pulling Willow past her.

She tried to twist out of his grasp as they approached her chambers, but Caelan only tightened his hold.

"That is enough." he snapped. "You are only making things worse for yourself."

He opened the door and pushed her inside.

Willow stumbled forward and fell onto the carpet. She barely had time to catch herself before the door slammed shut.

"No!" she screamed, scrambling to her feet and lunging toward the door as the lock clicked shut.

Willow grabbed the handle, twisting it violently but it would not move.

"Open the door!" She began banging on it. "Caelan! Open this fucking door!"

She struck it again and again until her hands began to hurt.

"Let me out! Please," Willow whispered. "Please, let me out."

Willow screamed for the guard and servants or anyone who might hear her until eventually, her strength began to fail.

She rested her forehead against the door, her arms aching and her throat burning with tears.

"Alistair," she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut.

A sob escaped her and Willow slowly sank to the floor. She drew her knees toward her chest and buried her face in them.

For the first time since discovering the truth, she allowed herself to cry without trying to stop.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook her. She dragged herself away from the door and climbed onto the bed.

She sat there, staring at the wall with no idea on what she was going to do.

An hour later, Willow heard the lock turn. She immediately sat up, her heart began pounding.

The door opened and Caelan stepped inside. He was holding a tray and the smell of warm food reached her almost immediately.

Her stomach growled.

She had no idea when she had last eaten.

Between the strange sleep Miranda had forced upon her, the shock of discovering Alistair’s death, and her failed attempt to escape, food had been the last thing on her mind.

Now, however, the smell was almost unbearable.

There was bread on the tray, a bowl of stew and what appeared to be roasted meat.

Her mouth watered.

"I brought you something to eat." Caelan said, closing the door behind him. He carried the tray toward the table and placed it down. "You have not had anything for quite some time, and you need your strength."

"I am not hungry."

As though determined to embarrass her, her stomach growled again.

Caelan raised an eyebrow but without speaking, pulled out a chair and sat down.

Willow kept her eyes fixed on the window.

The curtains were drawn, but she could see a thin strip of daylight through the opening.

She wondered how many guards were stationed outside and if she would ever manage to make it there then she remembered what he had told the guard who had claimed to want to help her.

He had already prepared an explanation for anyone who came looking for her would probably be told that she was resting and they would believe him because he looked like Alistair.

Willow’s hands curled into fists.

"You know," Caelan began, "You look just like her... my Drusilla. It is rather remarkable... the resemblance, I mean. When I first saw you, I could scarcely believe my eyes."

Willow’s jaw was clenched so tight she was sure it would break.

"She served as a handmaid in Morgana’s palace. I remember the first time I saw her. She was carrying a basket of flowers through the gardens, and she nearly dropped the entire thing when she realized I was watching her."

Willow closed her eyes.

Was he seriously doing this?Was he sitting in front of her, telling her about some woman he had loved centuries ago as though they were old friends?

"I loved her so much," Caelan said quietly.

There was something almost wistful in his voice.

"She used to be..."

"I do not give a fuck!" Willow turned to him, her eyes blazing. "Do you hear me? I do not give a fuck about Drusilla! I do not care who she was. I do not care what she looked like, and I certainly do not care that you loved her!"

Caelan’s expression darkened slightly.

"You do not get to sit there and tell me stories about some woman you loved when you killed the man I loved!"

Silence settled between them.

Caelan appeared disappointed then he sighed.

"I was only trying to have a conversation."

Willow let out a bitter laugh.

"A conversation? With me?

He looked at her.

"Who else?"

She stared at him. "Are you completely mad?"

His jaw tightened.

"I would appreciate it if you stopped insulting me."

"And I would appreciate it if you brought my mate back from the dead!" The words escaped her before she could stop them.

Her throat tightened and she looked away.

Caelan watched her for a moment then he leaned forward.

"I would like us to get to know each other."

Willow slowly turned toward him.

He continued as though he had said nothing unusual.

"We have already spent a considerable amount of time together. I know the circumstances were not ideal but I believe we can move past that."

Willow’s mouth fell open as Caelan gestured between them.

"It has not been easy pretending to be Alistair. There were times when I had to be careful about what I said or how I behaved but now that you know who I am, I no longer have to pretend."