Chapter 6

Lilith ushered Freya towards the stairs but she didn't follow her sister. Instead, she snuck back towards the great hall, standing right outside the door, hidden. Though she couldn't see Aaden and Cameron, she could hear them as they conversed, the silence of the room now that everyone else was gone making it easy to eavesdrop on them.

She was curious. When she had first met Aaden that night at the inn, she would have never guessed he was a Chieftain, though perhaps she should have known better than to assume he was a mere soldier. Chieftains, after all, were not necessarily any nobler than a common soldier and Aaden was perfect proof of that.

He was handsome, that much was true. His blonde hair curled at the nape, his hazel eyes sparkled with mirth and mischief every time he looked at her, and that beard, neat and trimmed short, gave him a rugged appearance that contrasted curiously with his boyish charm. But none of that made him any more likeable in Lilith's eyes. If anything, it made him more infuriating.

If he wasnae so handsome, it would be easier tae ignore him.

"Forgive me fer sayin' this about yer cousin, but he doesnae ken how tae properly treat a lass," Cameron said the words too mild for the venom that dripped from his tone. It didn't surprise Lilith that he felt this way. What surprised her is how open he was about it with Aaden. Perhaps he felt more at ease with him because they had met before and Lilith couldn't help but wonder if they had developed some sort of camaraderie.

Cameron had never spoken of Aaden, though. Surely, they were only acquaintances.

"Naething tae forgive," Aaden said with a soft chuckle. "I agree. Me cousin can be… immature."

"Immature," Cameron hummed, clearly unconvinced by the term. "Aye, I suppose that's it. Well, if he's here fer Freya, that must mean that ye're here fer Lilith?"

"Aye," Aaden said. "I wouldnae compete with me cousin."

Cameron laughed, the sound bright and amused. "I wish ye good luck with that. I am sure ye already ken what they say about her."

"I dae," Aaden confirmed. "But I think it's all rumors."

"It isnae," Cameron assured him. "She has sent away every single suitor her faither has presented tae her. I would advise ye tae nae delude yerself that ye're different or ye, too, will be sent away. Dae the best ye can if ye truly wish tae wed her."

"Trust me, Cameron, I will give it me best efforts," said Aaden.

So far, he isnae doin' a very good job.

If that was the extent of his best efforts, then Lilith was hardly impressed by him. Some charming words and a sorry attempt at a bouquet were hardly enough to erase that filthy behavior of his, the memory of which had already stained their relationship. Had he not been so reckless and impudent when they had first met, perhaps Lilith could have at least been persuaded to hear him out, since she had little choice on the matter of her marriage. She preferred to have no husband at all, but if she had to choose, then she would choose brains over beauty, something that Aaden seemed to lack.

Aaden, however, didn't only give her the impression that he was dull as a rusty blade. He was also a terrible flirt, and he had no regard for what was decent.

"What does Lilith like?" Aaden asked and Lilith found herself surprised that he would even ask. Most of her suitors didn't try to get to know her. They preferred to talk about themselves or things they liked. "If I am tae court her, I should ken how."

Lilith heard Cameron draw in a deep breath, the silence between them stretching for a few moments. "She likes tae read. She's always in the library with a book in her hand. She likes music, archery. She's a fine archer."

"Is that so?" Aaden asked, sounding impressed. "I prefer the dirk meself. Does she have a favorite song?"

"A favorite song?" Cameron hummed, another silence stretching between them. "There is one she sings with Freya often."

Softly, Cameron began to hum a familiar tune, one that Lilith knew well.

"Ach, I ken that song," Aaden said, and Lilith could have sworn she could hear a smile in his voice. "I remember me maither singin' it tae me when I was a bairn."

"I dinnae ken if that will be enough tae endear ye tae her," Cameron said. "In fact, I doubt anythin' ye can dae will sway her."

"Dinnae fash," said Aaden. "I like a challenge. I willnae give up so easily."

As they spoke, along with their words, Lilith also heard their footsteps approaching. Hastily, she hid behind the nearest alcove, watching them as they walked out of the great hall and towards the main entrance, before stepping out into the courtyard. It was riskier to follow them out there, since there weren't many places to hide, but she was too curious to abandon her task now. Aaden was a small mystery, but a mystery nonetheless. It was more than she could say about her other suitors, who were like open books, their thoughts and intentions easy to read.

Determined to figure him out, Lilith followed them outside unseen and found them standing in the shade of a large oak near the south wall. Slowly, she approached and hid behind a row of tall bushes, close enough to listen to them over the bustle of activity in the courtyard, but also far enough to remain unnoticed.

"But I'm tellin' ye, she is naething like other lasses," she heard Cameron say. "What they say about her isnae all true. She's nae a cruel lass nor is she incapable o' love. She is just stubborn an' has decided that she doesnae wish tae wed. Who can change her mind?"

Though it warmed her heart to know that Cameron didn't see her the way most other men did, she still wished he hadn't revealed that to Aaden. It would be more convenient for her if he did, in fact, think of her as cruel and cold, with no trace of love in her heart. She didn't want him to be encouraged to pursue her. Already, he seemed to be determined enough.

"Maybe I can," Aaden said with a small shrug that Lilith could hardly see through the bushes. "She wouldnae be the first lass tae fall fer me. I have plenty o' experience, so I think I can handle her."

Laughing, Cameron shook his head. "What experience could compare tae this?"

"Well, there was a lass I met once who wanted me very much. An' I did bed her, mind ye, but I thought I wouldnae stay in town fer long. I was there fer clan business, ye see," Aaden said.

"That doesnae sound like the same situation tae me," Cameron interrupted with a chuckle.

"Let me finish," said Aaden. "So I thought I would leave an' I figured there would be nae harm if I bedded her friend, too."

From where Lilith crouched, Cameron seemed to look at Aaden with something akin to horror. "Ye didnae."

"I did," Aaden confirmed. "An' o' course, the mission was delayed an' I had tae stay there longer, an' o' course she found out. She gave me a good slap fer it, too, but I managed tae convince her it was only a mistake an' tae bed her again."

"Ye did?"

"I did."

Cameron let out a disbelieving laugh, a whoosh of air that mirrored the way Lilith felt about all this. How could someone be so blinded by Aaden's charm and his good looks to allow him to treat her like that? How could that woman allow him to convince her that what he had done was acceptable?

How did he even manage it?And why would he take advantage of a woman like that?

Lilith couldn't wrap her head around it, but she didn't need to. All she needed was the knowledge that she had been right about him all along. Aaden was nothing but a lying, conniving bastard and she was going to make this pursuit a living hell for him to take revenge for all the women he had wronged.

For a short while, she remained hidden among the bushes, but just as she was about to creep back into the castle when the conversation had turned to the topic of the clan, Cameron excused himself as one of the soldiers called for him from the other side of the courtyard. With Aaden alone, Lilith found her opportunity to slide up to him, her face a mask of hatred and fury.

"Ye!" she told him once more, that finger pointing at him again. "Dinnae think I dinnae ken what ye're doin' here. I see right through ye."

Aaden seemed completely unfazed by her sudden appearance and also by the way she glared at him, his hands coming up as if in surrender but his smile retaining its amused edge.

"Och?" Aaden asked, eyebrows flying up to his hairline. "All I'm doin' is tryin' tae have yer hand in marriage."

"Ye ken ye cannae have me hand," Lilith said, snatching back the one she had extended towards him as if she feared he would grab it and ask to marry her right then and there. "Ye wish tae fool everyone intae thinkin' that yer a good man, a noble man who doesnae take part in barbarities such as pointless fights, but what ye truly are, is a beast. An' ye're nae lookin' fer a wife. Ye're lookin' fer a bed slave, someone who can satisfy ye until ye can find yer next victim."

The smile slowly dropped from Aaden's face now, much to Lilith's satisfaction. She wanted him angry. She wanted him prone to making a mistake, to proving to everyone just what kind of despicable man he truly was.

"That is a serious accusation, me lady," he said, his voice level despite the guarded tone. "I can assure ye that if we are tae wed, I will be faithful tae ye. An' I am nae as cruel as tae treat ye or anyone else as a bed slave."

"Ye must take me fer a fool," Lilith said, choking on a humorless laugh at the thought that she could be forced to marry a man like him. She had avoided so many others. This one was no different simply because Freya and her father were in a hurry now. "I heard ye speak with Cameron. I heard what ye told him about the lasses ye bedded."

Aaden had the decency to appear embarrassed by that, at least. A faint pink tint covered his face, racing all the way up to the tips of his ears, and he averted his gaze, staring down at the other side of the courtyard at nothing in particular.

When he looked at Lilith once more, his lips were pursed in dissatisfaction.

"Forgive me," he said. "I didnae mean fer ye tae hear such crude things."

"But ye meant tae dae them," Lilith pointed out.

"Aye, that is true," Aaden said. "But that was a long time ago."

"How long ago?"

"Weeks."

"Weeks!"

"Months?"

Throwing her hands up in exasperation, Lilith turned around to leave, but Aaden was quick to step in her way, stopping her. She was glad that he had the sense not to touch her, at least, or she would have bitten off his hand.

"I dinnae claim tae be perfect," Aaden said and his earnest tone caught Lilith by surprise. It was all an act, she reminded herself. A role that he played too well. "Far from it, in fact. But I would never treat me wife in such a way, I promise ye. It is why I have remained unwedded for so long."

"So what?" Lilith demanded. "Ye will force yersel tae change intae a better man simply because ye'll wed?"

"There is nae matter o' forcin' it," Aaden said. "Once I wed, it all stops. It is what I want. I would have tae be a terrible hypocrite tae ask a lass tae be faithful tae me without givin' her the same in return."

Once again, Aaden sounded truthful in a way that threw Lilith off. She didn't know what to make of it. She didn't know if she should believe his promises or if his words were nothing but lies, carefully crafted to lure her in.

After all, that was precisely why he was there. If it was her status and her father's wealth that he wanted, then he would try to make himself as appealing to her as possible.

"I can only ask ye tae forgive me fer what ye've heard," Aaden continued. "But I am askin' ye tae give me a chance. I can assure ye I can seduce ye like nae other man ever could."

Lilith couldn't help but laugh right in his face, shaking her head in disbelief. "Is that so? An' how, precisely, dae ye think ye'll dae that?"

A dangerous smirk spread over Aaden's lips as he sauntered closer. Lilith had to force herself to stay still, every instinct in her commanding her to step back. If she did, though, it would feel like losing a game neither of them even knew they were playing.

"Shall we make a bet?" he asked. "I bet ye that I can kiss ye without touchin' yer lips. If I win, ye must praise that ye'll be kinder tae me an' allow me tae court ye."

Lilith scoffed, rolling her eyes so hard that they threatened to fall out of their sockets. "That is impossible," she said. "Ye're only settin' yerself up fer failure."

"If ye're so certain, why dinnae ye accept?"

For a moment, Lilith considered it. She couldn't see the harm in it, since she was sure she would win the bet. But could it truly be so easy? Surely, Aaden himself had to know this wouldn't work, so why would he propose it?

In the end, her curiosity won over her hesitation. She wanted to see what it was he was planning.

"Very well," she said. "Show me."

Leaning closer, Aaden pressed his lips against hers. It was a chaste kiss, a soft brush of lips followed by a quick, almost imperceptible swipe of his tongue, and the shock of it had Lilith frozen in place, unable to speak let alone move. Her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the kiss, her cheeks heating and her stomach twisting itself into a knot, but surely, that was only a natural reaction to being kissed. The fact that it was Aaden kissing her meant nothing.

Confusion settled heavy upon her, but Aaden was smiling as he walked backwards, leaving her to stew in her own uncertainty and anger at the sudden kiss.

"That was the best bet I ever lost!" he told her.

It took a few seconds for Lilith's brain to catch up, but when she understood the ploy, she growled in rage, the blood rushing to her head in that way that always gave her skin a furious, unbecoming shade of red. She had half a mind to chase after him, but she suspected Aaden would enjoy that, amused by her antics.

Damn ye! I'll have me revenge still.

If he thought a kiss like that was enough to sway her, he was mistaken. With a trembling hand, Lilith wiped her mouth as if it had been stained by his lips, rubbing away the tingling sensation that still lingered.