Chapter 226: A rescue party of one

Willow could not believe what she was hearing.

He actually sounded pleased as though the truth coming out had been a relief an they could simply begin again.

"I think you and I can continue getting to know each other," he said. "Properly this time."

"Are you deranged?" Willow snapped at him. "Are you completely out of your fucking mind?"

Caelan’s smile faltered.

"Willow..."

"You think I am going to get to know you?" She took a step toward him. "You think I am going to sit here and smile at the man who killed my..." her throat tightened at the word.

She could not even finish the sentence.

"He is dead, is he not?" Caelan spat, rising from his chair. "Alistair is dead. I am aware that you loved him, but there is nothing either of us can do about that now."

Willow felt sick to her stomach.

"How dare you?"

He sighed.

"I am trying to be reasonable." his voice rose. "I did not intend to kill him."

He took a step closer until he was leaning into her. Willow took a step back.

"Willow, I am beginning to lose patience." he said. "Miranda believes you should be locked in one of the dungeons. She thinks you are too dangerous to be allowed anywhere near the rest of the palace but I do not want that... I do not want to lock you in a dungeon, Willow. You have everything you need here. Your clothes, your belongings, your bed."

He gestured toward the tray.

"I have even brought you food."

Willow could only stare at him.

Was she supposed to thank him?Was she supposed to be grateful that he had decided to imprison her in her own chambers instead of throwing her into a dungeon?

He moved closer to her.

"I think we can make this work. We do not need to be enemies. Whatever Alistair has offered you, I will give you more to be with me. We were getting along so well before. Why must everything change now?

Willow stared at him in disbelief.

He genuinely seemed unable to understand why she wanted nothing to do with him. As though the fact that he had been pretending to be her dead mate was something she should simply overlook.

He raised his hand to caress her face.

"I know this is difficult, but perhaps with time..."

She flinched away before he could touch her.

Caelan’s hand stopped in midair as he stared at her right before his expression darkened and he slowly lowered his hand.

"You are making this very difficult."

"Get out." Willow swallowed. "Get out of my room."

"Willow..."

"Get out!" her voice rose.

Caelan stared at her without moving.

"GET OUT!"

Something changed in his face.

His jaw tightened and the softness disappeared from his eyes.

For the first time since entering the room, Willow saw the anger he had been trying to conceal.

He took a step forward and she moved backward but he did not stop approaching until she stumbled against the bed.

Before she could move away, he placed both hands on the mattress on either side of her, trapping her between his arms and leaning over her until his face was only mere inches from hers.

She could see his harsh breathing and his eyes dark with anger.

"Listen to me very carefully, Willow." he snarled. "I have been very patient with you."

Willow’s heart hammered in her ribs.

"I have allowed you to insult me. I have allowed you to scream at me. I have even defended you against Miranda but there is a limit to how much disrespect I am willing to tolerate. I will give you time to collect yourself and time to understand that your circumstances have changed but when I return, I expect proper behaviour. Do you understand?"

She wanted to spit in his face but she was suddenly, terribly aware of how easily he could hurt her.

He had killed Alistair.What chance did she have?

Willow nodded once.

His expression softened.

"There." He slowly straightened. "I do not want to hurt you."

He sounded sincere.

Willow was beginning to understand something.

Caelan did not see himself as a monster. He did not seem to believe he was doing anything wrong.

In his mind, he was being patient, kind and understanding. He had killed her mate, stolen his identity, and imprisoned her yet somehow, he believed she was the one being unreasonable.

Willow’s stomach twisted.

Caelan stepped away from her.

"Eat the food." he said. "It is not poisoned, if that is what you are thinking."

She kept her eyes fixed on him as he turned toward the door, unlocking it.

He stepped out, the door closing behind him and a moment later, Willow heard the lock slide into place.

Her hands were shaking as she stared at the door. She had never been so frightened in her life...not even when Lucius had been alive.

At least with Lucius, she had known what kind of man he was. He had never pretended to be anything other than cruel.

Willow wrapped her arms around herself.

She knew she could not remain here...she had to escape.

But how?

The door was locked and the windows were too high above the ground.

She looked toward the tray of food and her stomach growled again.

For a moment, she considered refusing to eat.

Perhaps she could starve herself. That would be better than allowing Caelan to control her life but then she needed her strength.

If she wanted to escape, she would need every bit of strength she could gather.

Willow slowly rose from the bed and approached the table. The food had begun to cool, but it still smelled delicious.

She hesitated.

Could she trust it?

Her stomach twisted with hunger.

Eventually, she picked up a small piece of bread, examining it carefully.

There was nothing unusual about it and so she took a bite, waiting.

Nothing happened.

She took another and efore long, she had eaten most of the bread.

Willow had no idea how much time had passed.

The room had grown dark.

The last traces of daylight had disappeared from the windows, and the only light came from the lamp beside her bed.

She had spent hours pacing and thinking. Every time she heard movement outside, her heart began pounding.

She kept expecting Caelan to return as he promised that he would and she dreaded the moment.

She had tried the door several times but it remained locked.

There was no way she could climb down the windows without risking a terrible fall.

She had even searched the wardrobe and drawers for something she could use to force the lock But there was nothing useful.

Eventually, she had returned to the bed and now she sat with her knees drawn toward her chest, staring at the door.

Her thoughts kept returning to Alistair.

She would never hear his real voice again, never feel his arms around her... she would never see him smile.

A tear slipped down her cheek but she wiped it away.

She needed to remain alert and ready.

Just then she heard footsteps.

Someone was approaching.

Caelan... it had to be him.

She scrambled off the bed and reached for the lamp. She would have to defend herself if he tried to touch her again.

The metal base was heavy and if she struck him hard enough, perhaps she could stun him long enough to escape.

She grabbed it with both hands.

She would not allow him to force himself on her.

Whatever he had come to do, she would fight him even if it cost her her life.

The footsteps stopped outside the door and Willow held her breath as the lock clicked.

She raised the lamp just when the door opened and a figure stepped into her room.

Willow froze.

It was not Caelan but the guard who had caught her on the staircase and handed her over to Caelan despite her pleas.

"My lady?" His eyes moved toward the lamp clutched in her hands.

He raised both palms.

"Please. Do not be frightened."

"What are you doing here?"

"I am here to get you out."

"You?" Willow let out a bitter laugh. "You gave me to him!"

"Please, my lady. Keep your voice down. If someone hears us, we will both be in danger. I had no choice but to give you to him. If I had attacked the man pretending to be Alpha Alistair in front of the other guards, what do you think would have happened?"

"Why should I believe anything you say?" she shot at him.

"Because it is the truth. I need him to believe I was on his side. I needed to know where he would take you."

"Who are you?" Willow asked.

"Luceris, my lady."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because Alistair was a dear friend of mine." Luceris looked at her. "We have known each other for years and whoever that man is, he is not Alistair."