“Of course, ye can, love.” She squeezed his hand. “We can spend the whole day together if ye like. Maybe work on those knife-throwin’ lessons I promised?”
His face lit up. “Really? Ye still want to teach me?”
“I promised, dinnae I? And I always keep me promises.”
“Unlike some people,” Elijah muttered though his eyes were warm as they rested on his son.
They reached their chambers, and Iris felt something settle in her chest. The familiar space, the shared bed, the tapestries and furniture she’d begun to think of as hers. Everything was exactly as she’d left it, and yet, somehow it felt different. More permanent. More real.
“Home,” she said again, mostly to herself.
“Aye.” Elijah came up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist as Codie darted off to examine the room as if making sure everything was in its proper place. “Home. Where ye belong. Where we both belong.”
She leaned back against him, watching Codie poke through her things with a child’s unabashed curiosity. “I’m sorry I left. Even for a few days. I should have stayed and made ye talk to me instead of runnin’ away.”
“Ye werenae runnin’ away. Ye were takin’ yer sister home.” His arms tightened. “And I should have gone after ye immediately instead of lettin’ me pride keep me frozen in place.”
“We’re both terrible at this, arenae we?”
“Absolutely terrible.” She felt him smile against her hair. “But we’re learnin’. Together.”
“Together,” she agreed. “That’s the important part.”
“Faither? Lady Iris?” Codie appeared beside them, looking up with those serious brown eyes. “Are we really a family now? All three of us?”
“Aye, lad,” Elijah said, pulling his son close with one arm while keeping the other around Iris. “We’re really a family. Messy and imperfect and probably goin’ to drive each other mad on occasion but a family nonetheless.”
“I like that,” Codie said, leaning into his father’s side. “I like havin’ a family.”
“So do I,” Iris admitted, her throat tight with emotion. “So do I.”
And standing there in their chambers with the afternoon sun streaming through the windows, wrapped in her husband’s arms with their son pressed close, Iris finally understood what home truly meant.
It wasn’t about the building or the lands or even the clan. It was about this. The three of them, together. Flawed and still learning how to be what each other needed.
But together, nonetheless. And that was enough, more than enough. It was everything.
EPILOGUE
Six months Later
“Codie! Nae so close to the water!”
Iris’ voice carried across the riverbank where they’d spread their picnic blanket on this crisp autumn afternoon. The same spot where Elijah had first kissed her properly, where they’d had their disastrous swimming lesson that had ended in confusion and hurt feelings. Now it felt like reclaiming something, making new, happier memories in a place that held complicated ones.
“But I want to see if there are fish!” Codie called back, crouched at the water’s edge with a stick in hand.
“Ye can see fish from here just fine. The water’s too cold now; ye’ll catch yer death if ye fall in.” She turned to Elijah, who was lounging on the blanket with an amused expression. “Tell yer son to be careful.”
“He’s only me son when he’s bein’ reckless? The rest of the time he’s ours?” But Elijah was already standing, moving toward where Codie was leaning dangerously far over the water. “Comeon, lad. Yer maither’s right. It’s too cold for swimmin’, and ye’ve only just recovered from that cough.”
“I wasnae going to swim,” Codie protested, but he stepped back from the edge. “I was just lookin’.”
“Then look from back here where it’s safe.” Elijah ruffled his son’s hair. “Besides, I think Cook packed those honey cakes ye like. If ye come back to the blanket now, ye might get one before I eat them all.”
“Faither! Ye wouldnae!” Codie took off running back toward where Iris sat, and she couldn’t help but smile at how much he’d changed over the past months.
The frightened, careful boy who’d been so desperate for approval had gradually transformed into a more confident child. He laughed more freely now, asked questions without fear of being scolded, and had started calling her “Maither” without the hesitation that used to color the word.
