Page 30 of Haunted Hearts

“What? What is it you do?”

“I can’t explain, but I can show you. Give me that chance, Lilly. At least give me that since soon you will be married to the baron and my chances of ever making you my wife are over.”

“I – I don’t know,” she said, seeming to contemplate the suggestion. “What about your betrothal to my sister?”

“What about it?”

“Are you going to marry her?”

“I’ve signed an agreement. I don’t like it since I was tricked, but if I can’t have you, then what other choice do I have?”

“Do you swear that you and your family don’t practice dark magic and control people’s minds?”

“I swear it,” he said, taking her hands in his. “Just give me another chance, my Lilly Bee. I want you to think good thoughts about me when you’re raising a family with the baron. I want your memories of me to be fond ones, not bad.”

“Oh, Blaze,” she said, starting to cry. “Everything has been so difficult lately. All I want is for life to be carefree and simple again. The way it used to be.”

He didn’t ask, he just pulled her into his embrace. She gently laid her face against his chest. “I am here for you, Lilly,” he said softly, kissing the top of her head and holding her shaking body against his. She smelled fresh, like the sweet morning dew. Her hair was soft like the gossamer wings of a butterfly, and he couldn’t get his fill.

Blaze held her, knowing it might be the last chance he’d ever have to do so. He wanted to be her protector, not the one who scared her. That’s the way it should be. The way he’d always meant it to be. He wanted to keep her safe and happy. That was all that mattered, even if he had to sacrifice his own happiness to do it. But never did he ever want the person he had to protect her from to be himself.

“Blaze, what’s taking you so long?” Minerva walked into the room and stopped in her tracks when she saw Lillith in his embrace. Lillith sniffled and pushed away, wiping a tear away with the back of her hand. “What’s this?” asked the woman in a haughty tone.

“Hello, Lady Minerva,” said Lillith, standing straighter. “I was just leaving.” She brushed past the woman, making a beeline for the door.

“Lillith? Aren’t you forgetting something?” Blaze’s eyes flashed over to the dagger on the table. He wanted to see what she would do. If she brought it back to her uncle, it would mean she didn’t believe him or trust him. If she left it, he would know that mayhap he could get her to forgive him after all.

“Nay. I don’t believe so,” she said, trying to sound cheery. “Goodbye.” Then she was gone, leaving Blaze standing there with his mother.

“What was that all about?” asked Minerva with a frown. She was back to looking at him with narrowed eyes again in a suspicious manner. “Blaze, did something happen between you and that girl?”

“Her name is Lillith, Mother. And nay, nothing happened in the way you mean. Although, I must say I wouldn’t have minded if it had.”

“She’s not your betrothed, Blaze. You’re to marry her sister, unless you’ve already forgotten.”

“Don’t remind me.” He headed over and picked up the dagger, running a hand over it in thought.

“What’s that doing out?” she asked. “I thought I told you to hide it, before it linked you somehow to Lord Bonnel’s death.”

“Lillith was looking for it,” he told her, walking back to the trunk and placing it back inside.

“Why? What did you tell her?”

“I told her the truth.”

His mother’s eyes opened wide. “The truth? About what?”

“About everything. I am done lying to the woman I love.”

“Blaze Payne, I warn you, this will come back to haunt you someday.”

“The only thing haunting me is my heart, Mother. I’m afraid I’m in love with Lilly but I can’t marry her. I’m betrothed to her sister, but I’m not sure I can marry her either.”

“Why not?”

“Because it would hurt too much. For both of us,” he said.

“Blaze, you signed a contract. Besides, you heard Lillith. She is betrothed to a baron now. If you go around breaking your word, you’ll be fighting other lords the rest of your life.”

“I know. And if I do nothing to try to get Lilly back, I’ll regret it until the day I die. I lose either way, don’t I?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure. But one thing I do know is that I’m going to prolong the wedding and keep Lilly here as long as possible. Because every minute I spend with her will be a memory that will have to last me for the rest of my life.”