Neala's lip wobbled, but she did not cry again despite the rushing emotion. She imagined Cat and Iona meeting these two strangers looking for her. A faint smile flickered across her face as she imagined their reaction. "They… they're nae the ones who stabbed ye, are they?"
Eoin laughed, and Breana chuckled a little as well. "Nay," Eoin assured her. "Though they didnae hold back with those bows."
"Come," Maeve said. "Let's sit. It's time tae meet the rest of the family."
The five of them moved toward one of the tables, stopping every so often to greet various people whose names Neala knew she would have to relearn. They settled at the largest table at thehead of the room facing outward, where Cailean settled into the king's seat, Maeve on his left. He indicated that Neala should sit on his right, and after a moment of hesitation, she did.
The man on her other side, a cheekily handsome young man with tree-sap golden curls, leaned over to greet her. "Thank God ye're here," he said. "I was beginnin' tae think I'd have tae go hunt down that prince meself tae stop yer brother from mopin'."
Neala blinked and then laughed at the absurdly casual friendliness of the man. Beside her, Cailean sighed, though he was smiling when she turned to him.
"Neala, this is Darren Bruce, me closest friend and me current heir," he said. His voice softened. "He's been a brother tae me. Ye can trust him with yer life."
Darren winked. "Dinnae be soft, Cailean," he warned. "And I willnae be yer heir for long. I've got Bruce Castle tae inherit; and anyway, ye and Maeve will have this place crawlin' with wee McNairs the moment the war is won."
The thought delighted Neala, and the comfortable way they were effortlessly teasing each other reminded her of the home she'd known. She knew that now that she was here she would never return to the White Sparrows full-time again, but she was excited that the family who raised her could finally see her happy with the family which she had sought her entire life.
They continued with introductions around the table. There were Fergus and Ferda, Darren's cousins, and Neala was eager to share that Ferda's name, too, had been whispered in the halls of the Sparrows. A man named Senan welcomed her with a flower he made appear from basically nowhere, and another named Ewan told her excitedly that he'd held her when she was a baby, and he was a soldier here at the castle. There were many others, too, but Neala lost count of all of their names. Nobody seemed to mind, each of them excitedly welcoming her into the fold.
Cailean and Maeve kissed, causing wolf whistles and teasing laughs from the group, and Neala heard him whisper thanks to Maeve for making the day possible. Neala was excited to get to know her new sister-in-law; if her brother loved her so dearly, then Neala was sure she would too. Food was served, and conversation flowed, and the atmosphere around them was the happiest and most buoyant that Neala had experienced in a long time. She and Cailean kept touching each other's arms, assuring themselves that the other was real. Later, when the feast was over, she would take him back to the secret library room and show him the memories of their family, but for now, she would lose herself in the moment.
But even amongst all the joy, during a small lull in conversation, her mind wandered to the prince who had set her free. It would take some time before he reached Blackthorn Castle, and Neala couldn't help but feel apprehension as she imagined what would happen when he faced his father.
She sent a silent prayer, wishing Ansel well. She didn't know his motivations, or what he truly wanted, or if he even knew himself. But she did wish with all of her heart that he'd find the right path to the life he wanted, rather than the one he'd been born into.
Even if their paths never met again, she owed him a debt. Because though he had been unable to grasp his own freedom when it was offered to him, he had given Neala her own in a world where she'd never expected it.
And she intended to live in it to its fullest, with her brother at her side.
EPILOGUE
The dancing and drinking went well into the night, and Breana sat at a table a little to the side, simply drinking the joy in. Her own mood had grown a little pensive since, a while into the feast, Maeve had taken her aside and told her the news—that she'd learned from Ansel Ashkirk that their father was dead. Breana had already known it, but the confirmation had still felt like a blow. She wasn't upset exactly, she'd already cried all the tears her father deserved and more, but it was still a strange feeling. Over the next weeks, she'd need to find time to help Maeve work through her own reaction, but for now, she'd let Maeve continue to pretend that everything was fine.
Breana smiled as she watched Cailean twirl Neala around in the dance, though even that smile came with a flicker of sadness. Her brother-in-law had been reunited with his sister, and she was overjoyed for him, but guilt itched at the edge of her mind, too. She had been given a chance to go to Nessa, and decided to continue her mission instead. Was it the right thing? And if they went to Nessa now, would she even be able to bring her home? She resolved to talk with Maeve and Cailean in more depth as they planned the route ahead, and deal with the Nessa problemas soon as she could. Perhaps, if Neala could come back from the dead, then Nessa, too, could be saved.
"Breana?"
She blinked and looked up, seeing Eoin smiling down at her. "Should ye nae be restin'?" she asked. "Yer wound reopened only hours ago."
Eoin grinned. "The healers checked me over and warned me tae take it easy, but I'm permitted tae walk about so long as I dinnae exert meself," he promised. "Come. It's a wee bit noisy in here, and I really want tae talk tae ye now that we're nae racin' against the sands of the hourglass." He held out a hand. "The night is dry, and the clouds are gone. The moon and stars are waitin', and I want tae show ye how bonny they are."
His smile was like the sun peeking through the cloud in Breana's mind. She returned it with one of her own, taking his hand and getting to her feet. The two of them walked together hand in hand out of the great hall, unnoticed except for a brief knowing look from Maeve.
Breana followed Eoin through a corridor and up a set of spiral stairs. They exited through a small wooden door at the top of the tower and ended up on a little balcony. Breana didn't ask how Eoin had known this was here. Instead, she gasped in delight and moved forward to the balustrade, leaning over to take in the sight.
The countryside shone in the moonlight, bathed by the stars. Nothing had really changed, and yet at the same time, everything had. It seemed to Breana that the beauty of nature itself had been enhanced by the events of their victory—as though Scotland's very land was celebrating with them.
She turned to tell Eoin something, but the words died on her lips as she saw that he was kneeling before her.
"What—" she started.
Eoin took one of her hands in both of his. "I saw miracles tonight. More than one. Can ye believe it? Two dead McNairs brought back tae life, reunitin' with each other against all odds after twenty long years. A rigged, unwinnable battle endin' nae only in victory but with absolutely minimal bloodshed. The son of our darkest enemy makin' a choice we may never understand and settin' the princess free. A lost home returned tae those who had long left it. How many more miracles can we experience? It may sound gluttonous, but I believe there's room for one more."
Breana's surprise softened into a smile. "What are ye gettin' at?" she asked, enjoying how her hand felt between his.
"Ye brought me back from the dead too, Breana," Eoin told her. "Nae just by physically savin' me life, though God kens I'll never be able tae repay ye for that. I was a ship on course tae the rocks, forgettin' tae live as I raced ahead. But ye reminded me tae live again. Ye reminded me what it was tae dream."
A wave of warmth traveled down from the top of Breana's head to the very tip of her toes as she looked into those wide blue eyes in the moonlight. His earnestness, his gentleness, and the way he was looking at her almost moved her to tears. "I told ye," she whispered. "Ye've a whole life of dreamin' tae live."
