Annaleigh winced when the physic quickly put another stitch in her scalp. “They lied tae me,” she said. “They told me that Robbie was ill and that I was tae return home tae see him right away. They told me that he was dying.”
William heard her and he came up to stand at the end of the bed along with Kieran. “Is that why they came?” he asked her. “To tell you that your brother was dying?”
Annaleigh’s gaze moved from War to William. “Aye,” she said. “They said my father might be ill, too. But it was all a trick. They took me out tae the stables and wouldna let me leave. I tried tae run but… but I dunna remember what happened.”
“You fell and hit your head,” Kieran said. “I saw what happened. You were running from Brendan when you fell and hit your head on the stables’ door.”
The physic finished with the stitches and stepped away from the bed as Jordan and Jemma moved in to bandage up her head. But Annaleigh was still in fight or flight mode, still thinking on the terror she had endured.
“They were awful,” she muttered. “They grabbed me and were forcing me tae go home with them so they could use me as a hostage against my father. I always knew them tae be sly and nasty, but they were going tae hurt me just tae gain their wants.”
“No more,” War said softly. “You’re safe now. You do not have to worry about them any longer.”
Annaleigh looked to War, still kneeling beside the bed, still holding her hand. She was becoming more lucid now and her eyes glimmered at him when she realized what he meant. She may have been groggy, but she wasn’t daft.
She knew.
“Ye punished them, dinna ye?” she asked quietly.
He nodded faintly, lifting her hand up to kiss it. “I would do anything for you.”
She smiled at him but it also occurred to her that William was watching. So were Kieran and Jordan and Jemma. Everybody was watching. Embarrassed, and not to get War into any trouble with William, she tried to discreetly remove her hand from his but he wouldn’t let go. She couldn’t understand why War wasn’t more concerned with what everyone was witnessing until William spoke up.
“War is going to remain here with you, Annie, while Kieran and I go to Langton Castle,” he said. “War has asked permission to court you, but the final word must come from your father. Also, I do believe your father could use a show of strength from his allies against those within your clan who might be thinking ofusurping him as chief. Kieran and I intend to deliver Argyle and Brendan back to him as a gift from your betrothed.”
Annaleigh had no idea what he was talking about. “What gift?” she said, puzzled. “And what betrothed?”
William grinned. “Did you not just hear me?” he said. “War asked permission to marry you. I have given it, but the final word must come from your father.”
She blinked. Then, she looked at War, open astonishment on her features. “My… my betrothed?”
War couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “If you’ll have me.”
Realization set in. Now, she knew why he’d refused to let go of her hand and she could hardly believe it. It seemed that a good deal had happened while she lay unconscious so rather than ask an avalanche of questions, she simply accepted it. She accepted her destiny. Aching head and all, she sat up and put her arms around his neck, squeezing the life from him. As Jordan and Jemma, William and Kieran beamed, War squeezed back.
It was the best embrace he’d ever experienced.
“I’ll have no other,” Annaleigh whispered into his ear. “From now until the end of all things, there will be ye and no other.”
They were words to live by.
When William and Kieran returned from Langton Castle almost three weeks later, War received the final approval from Ian, who was more than willing to give it when William and Kieran told him the story of how War saved Annaleigh from Argyle and Brendan. Furthermore, when William and Kieran came home, it was with Cord Scott in tow. At Ian’s request, the man went straight into the vault of Castle Questing for his fate to be determined for his part in his sons’ plot.
But that would come at a later date.
The only thing that mattered to War was that he had his Scots angel, the lass who had once saved his life. He’d been able to repay that debt and then some. War Herringthorpe was a manshadowed by the greatness of his bloodlines, but he was also a man who had found his way in life on his own. His own path, his own love, and his own destiny.
Edmund would have been proud.
EPILOGUE
Bamburgh Castle
Six months later
War was drunk.
He was absolute, unashamedly drunk as he sang loudly alongside James de Wolfe and Christian Hage, and another knight he’d met a few months back by the name of Apollo de Norville. Men he’d become close to over the past several months, through dealings with another de Montfort former supporter, and business on the border, including cleaning out The Bones and sending their leader, a one-eyed bastard who called himself Father Moon, back to Tobin du Reims to do with as he pleased in the wake of Talus’ death.
