“And I was wrong. But I willnae pretend that duty doesnae matter. I am the Laird of Clan MacCabe. I always will be until the day I die. But I was wrong to believe that loving ye would weaken me. Ye give me strength I didnae ken I could possess, Ava.”
Ava jutted her chin, though her voice wavered. “Ye shut me out.”
“I ken.” His jaw tightened. “I believed distance would spare ye. Instead, it nearly destroyed us.”
She blinked fast. “Ye daenae get to decide what spares me.”
“Nay,” he agreed softly. “I daenae.”
Silence stretched between them.
Nathan whimpered, seemingly sensing the tension and unsure what to do about it.
Ava softened immediately, kneeling to pull him close. “It’s all right, darling,” she soothed.
Caden crouched and looked her right in the eyes.
“I must do this duty to meself and ye. And our boy,” he whispered. “I promise I will be the man who deserves ye, lassie, because I cannae stay away anymore. I daenae even want to try.”He swallowed thickly. “I fell in love with ye because of who ye are when nay one is watching. Because ye chose Nathan without hesitation. Because ye choose kindness even when it costs ye.”
Ava let out a shaky breath and gripped Nathan tightly. The poor boy looked between them.
“I love ye,” Caden said simply. “Nae as duty demands, but as a man who finally understands that love isnae something to be protected from—it is something to be protectedwith.”
Ava’s eyes filled with tears. She leaned down and kissed Nathan’s head. “Yay,” she murmured. “Da told a crazy story, indeed.”
Nathan giggled and wrapped his arms around her neck.
Ava stood, hugging him tightly.
Caden stood as well and stared at his family. A sniff sounded from the corner behind them, and he turned to see Finlay watching them.
Finlay raised an eyebrow, as if to say,I told ye so.
Caden gave him a warm smile, but then rolled his eyes. He would have to find a way to thank his brother properly for telling him to pull his head out of his arse.
Nathan yawned widely; the long days had caught up to him at last.
“Tired,” he murmured, snuggling into Ava’s chest. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Ava pressed a kiss to the crown of his head, before walking over to Finlay and handing him over for the evening.
Caden watched the exchange, finding no jealousy in his heart. There was only happiness that his wife and brother were friends.
As Finlay took the sleeping child into his arms, he winked at Caden, before walking out of the hall.
“May I speak with ye in yer study?” Ava asked.
Inside the study, Ava felt her heart rate quicken. A fire crackled in the grate, and she stood by it to ward off the chill notin the air.
She slowly turned to Caden as he closed the door.
“Did ye really mean what ye said?” she asked warily, not willing to trust her heart.
Caden nodded. “Aye. I meant every word.”
“And if loving me endangers ye?” she pressed. “Or yer position? Or yer people?”
“Then I will face that danger with ye,” Caden declared. “Nae behind yer back. Nae alone.”
