Page 23 of Haunted Hearts

“It’s because they’re deceiving you, Blaze,” blurted out his mother. Lillith saw Blaze throw his mother a daggered look.

“Mother, I wasn’t talking to you,” Blaze said in a low voice. Lillith swore she saw his jaw twitch. “Stop trying to cause trouble.” He placed Lillith’s hand on his arm and started walking to the manor, taking her with him. Serena and Posy followed right behind them.

“Uh . . . Blaze, I’m afraid my uncle wasn’t really clear about the terms in the betrothal contract,” said Lillith.

“Clear? Oh, you mean about the date,” he said, continuing to walk, placing his hand over Lillith’s, as she clung to his arm. It felt damned good and almost made her want to cry. This should be her betrothal, not Serena’s. Once again, life was taking a wicked turn for her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. I’ll convince your uncle to let us marry sooner than the allotted time, I promise. We’ve waited far too long for this.”

“Nay, I’m afraid that won’t happen,” she said, trying to figure out exactly how to say it.

“Why not?” he asked.

“Blaze, listen to me,” said his mother, catching up to them. “My cards showed me that this arrangement isn’t what you think it is.”

“Enough with the cards, mother. Now hush up,” Blaze warned her, looking at her from the corners of his eyes. “Stop trying to ruin this alliance.”

“I’m doing no such thing,” protested his mother. “All I’m saying is that the girl I saw in the cards that you’re to marry has blond hair, not black.”

“Oh!” gasped Lillith, realizing Blaze’s mother had used some witchery to discover the truth. This wasn’t at all the way Lillith wanted him to find out.

“My mother is just a little addled. Ignore her,” said Blaze, forcing a chuckle. “She means nothing by it.” They ascended the steps to the keep. He opened the door for her and they entered into the corridor, leading to the great hall.

It had been many years since Lillith stepped foot into Skull Manor. Unfortunately, it only looked spookier than she’d remembered it from her younger days. It got its name after a battle many years ago that left it burned, stark, and looking like a skull, with gaping holes in it that reminded people of a nose, eyes, and mouth. Of course, it no longer looked that way now.

Even though it was daytime, the manor was dark and cold. It was only a small holding, nothing that could compare to a castle. Its stone walls closed in around her, making her feel as if she couldn’t breathe. It always seemed so dark, cold, musty, and lonely in here. That is why in the past she’d always suggest that she and Blaze spend time outdoors instead. She wondered how Blaze could even stand it living here.

A lone torch lit up the passageway, barely throwing enough light to see. The flame cast a shadow on the wall that looked like a laughing skull. A shiver ran through her body. Was this some kind of magic the witch brewed up? She hadn’t known Blaze’s mother had even returned to Skull Manor. The woman had always seemed odd to her, and they’d never really talked much. Now that Lillith knew Minerva was a witch, it scared her more than anything. Lillith didn’t want to do anything to anger the woman. If she did, she might end up cursed, crazy, and dead, just like her brother, Robert.

Minerva was already talking about having used her cards to see the future. Those cards were evil as far as Lillith was concerned. Once when she and Blaze were children, they tried to do their own reading. Lillith drew cards with horrible pictures on them, giving her nightmares for a month. Ever since then, she wanted nothing to do with them again.

“Just bring the dowry through here and to the room at the end of the hall,” instructed Barnaby, directing Lillith’s guard and page. Barnaby was the castle steward, and a man who had always been loyal to Blaze’s family, as far as Lillith knew. However, she got the feeling that he had never approved of her in the past and still didn’t. He gave her that look with one eye narrowed that said he didn’t think Lillith was good enough for Blaze. Then again, she supposed it shouldn’t matter since she wasn’t the one marrying him anyway. Perhaps Barnaby would like Serena better.

“I didn’t even ask what’s in your dowry,” said Blaze, bringing her to the great hall. The others followed.

“It’s not,” she answered.

“Not? Not what? You mean not what I’d expect?” He chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, Lillith. I’d marry you even without a dowry. All that matters to me is that we’re together again.”

Oh, God, why was he making this so hard to tell him the truth? The last thing she wanted to do was to hurt him when he sounded so happy and excited about the betrothal.

“I’ve got your favorite meal prepared,” he told her. “My cooks made venison in dill gravy with those tiny little onions you adore, cooked just the way you like it.” Blaze escorted her up to the dais. “Your sister can sit with us if she wants, but the others will have to sit below the salt.”

“Blaze, I’m not sure you’re going to want me up here at all once I tell you what I have to say.”

“Nonsense.” He pulled out her chair for her. “I’m so happy right now that nothing you say could ever upset me.”

“Don’t bet on it,” mumbled Lillith taking a seat.

Blaze was polite and helped Serena to get seated as well. His head guard, Emery whom Lillith remembered, sat next to Blaze. Next to Emery was Blaze’s mother. Usually just the nobles sat at the dais. However, it didn’t seem that Skull Manor had any nobles anymore besides Blaze and his mother. She figured all the knights must have left after the death of his father.

“Everyone, raise your cup,” said Emery, standing up and holding his cup in the air. “Today is a special day. It is the day that the feud with the Bonnels has finally ended, because of a betrothal and very special alliance. I’d like us all to drink to Lord Blaze and his new bride-to-be.”

“I agree,” said Blaze, lifting his cup high as well. “My bride, please stand and join us in the toast.”

Lillith looked over to Serena.

“What should I do?” Serena whispered.

“Come on, don’t be shy. Stand up, so everyone can see you and drink in your beauty,” Blaze said to Lillith.

“You’d better stand,” Lillith whispered back to Serena.

“Nay!”

“Do it, Sister.”

Looking like she was going to swoon, Serena slowly stood up, lifting her cup in the air with one shaking hand.

“Lillith, I said I wanted my bride-to-be to stand. Why are you still sitting?” asked Blaze softly. “And why in heaven’s name is your sister standing instead of you?”

“I can’t stand, Blaze,” explained Lillith, feeling her nerves getting the best of her, knowing what was about to come. If he really was a warlock, there would be no telling what he might do if he thought they betrayed him. Which they had.

“Why not?” asked Blaze.

“Because,” she said, letting out a deep breath and closing her eyes, not able to look at him when she said the words she dreaded more than anything in life right now. “You are not betrothed to me, Blaze. You have made an alliance to marry my sister, Serena.”