“How pleasant to see you, Kenneth,” she said, dropping a polite curtsey her pulse racing.
He grinned at her, a gleam in his eye that sent her thoughts tumbling – back to their last stolen meeting, to his hands on her face, his kiss so fierce and full of promise she had barely slept afterward. The waiting felt unbearable now. She longed for the day when there would be no more shadows, no more secrecy.
“Come with me,” he said softly. “I need tae speak with ye fer a moment.”
He took her hand, warm and steady, and together they slipped from the solar, down the corridor and up the narrow tower stairs. The stone was cold beneath their feet, the air growing sharper as they climbed.
Arriving at the top of the stairs they stepped onto the battlements.
Before them stretched a mist-laden landscape, blanketed in snow – quiet, and magical beneath the pale winter sun. Selene leaned against the stone, her cloak pulled tight, her breath clouding the air.
“What is it you wished to speak about?” she asked.
“Well… naething, really,” Kenneth admitted, his voice softer now. “I only wanted tae be with ye fer a few moments.”
“Your meeting with the Council went to your satisfaction?”
He hesitated before continuing. “They gave their approval to our marriage as I expected they would. An alliance with Clan MacLeod is what they care about and that pleased them.”
Selene shook her head. “I had no idea that kinship and alliances meant so much to the Highlanders.”
He drew in a soft breath. “Och. That was behind the trouble with Aidan. Me faither and Eilidh’s father, giving nae thought tae the hearts they broke and the trouble that came from it.”
She tightened her arm in his.
“The Council accepted me decision tae attempt a meeting with Aidan. At least, if he refuses, we can advise the king we have tried.”
“There is wisdom in that,” she said, nodding slowly, a knot tightening in her stomach.
“I’m hoping – perhaps foolishly – that it might be possible tae arrange a meeting. Somewhere on neutral ground. A chance tae speak. Tae discuss a truce. I’ve been busy all morning with Callum and the men – organizing patrols, sending out scouts tae find Laird Aidan. We ken the wretch is here somewhere, but he keeps moving. Even when we locate his encampments, they’re gone by the time we arrive.”
Selene listened intently, her brow furrowing.
“Dae you truly believe Aidan would be willing tae make terms fer peace?”
Kenneth shook his head slowly. “I must believe it is possible,” he said, though his voice carried little certainty. “If we cannae resolve this between us, the king will pounce like a cat that’s been stalking a wee mouse. It will take very little fer him tae decide we’re rebels and our lands must be forfeited.”
Selene felt a chill that had little to do with the wind. She shook her head. “I understand. But surely even Aidan would not wish to risk his clan’s lands. No matter the madness that has taken hold of him, it would be too high a price. Vengeance cannot surely be something he wants above all.”
“I can only hope ye are right,” Kenneth murmured.
He drew her into his arms then, holding her close against his chest. From the battlements she could see everything she knew he intended her to see – the sweep of the clan lands rolling away beneath the mist, the sea glimmering faintly on one side, the rugged beauty of Skye stretching endlessly on the other. Wrapped in his arms, with the mist curling around them like something enchanted, the place felt unreal – a realm suspended between worlds.
“It is very beautiful,” he said quietly. “Even more so like this. The mist makes it seem… magical. I wanted ye tae see it – tae ken what ye will share with me.”
“I do love it,” Selene said softly. “Almost as much as you do.”
He bent and kissed her, a lingering kiss that tasted of salt and whisky. For a few precious minutes, all thoughts of Aidan, of the king, of danger and duty fell away. She was filled instead with a swelling happiness – the knowledge that very soon Kenneth would be her husband.
Reluctantly, he pulled back. “Ye will freeze if you stay much longer,” he said, brushing his thumb along her cheek. “Ye should return tae the solar. I hate tae leave ye tae yer sisters again, but I must speak with Callum about the patrols.”
“I understand,” she said, though she wished he would stay.
“I look forward tae taenight,” he added, smiling warmly, pride glimmering in his eyes. “When I introduce ye as me future bride.”
She squeezed his hand and leaned up to press a quick kiss to his cheek before they descended the tower stairs together.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
