Light flashed between the stones. It swelled, searing my eyes. But I didn’t look away.
A figure stumbled through.
Blond hair. Wire-rimmed glasses. Brown eyes wide with shock.
“Albie,” I breathed.
A second figure emerged—massive and dark-haired, his kilt swinging around his knees.
Tavish.
I launched myself at them.
They caught me, wrapping their arms around me in a crushing embrace. Tavish buried his face in my hair. Albie pressed his forehead to my temple.
“I found you,” I gasped, tears running unchecked down my face.
“You called us,” Albie said, his voice thick with emotion.
Tavish’s hands shook as he cupped my face. “We tried everything. Every spell Albie could find. We slept next to the auld stones. Nothing worked.” Moisture sheened his eyes, turning them sapphire. “And then we heard your voice.”
I kissed him. Then I kissed Albie. Then I pulled back and just looked at them, drinking in the sight.
They were here. They were real. They were mine.
Tavish’s gaze moved past me, and his expression shifted. He released me and dropped to one knee.
Albie followed, both of them kneeling before my dad.
“My king,” Tavish said, his voice formal. “We’re humbled fate chose us for your daughter.”
Before my dad could speak, Mum rushed forward and yanked both men to their feet. She threw her arms around them, pulling them into a fierce hug.
“I’m so happy to meet you,” she said, her voice muffled against Tavish’s chest. He met my eyes over the top of her head, looking bemused.
I shrugged, putting a hand over my mouth to contain my joy. But it spilled over anyway, and my shoulders shook as I half-laughed, half-sobbed. Malcolm appeared at my side and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“This is really going to mess up our movie nights.”
Mum eased back from my mates enough to beckon me over. When I got in range, she grabbed me and yanked me into their group hug.
“Let’s get you home,” she said.
Home.
Tavish and Albie smiled at me.
“I like the sound of that,” Tavish said.
Chapter
Twenty-One
TAVISH
Portia’s hand was warm in mine as she tugged Albie and me up another staircase. Not that we needed tugging. After three weeks without her, both of us were eager to claim her.
Completely. No half measures this time.
