"Of course,"Sophie said, pushing them toward him. "Though it's still quite rough."
As Kenneth read,he found himself captured by her words. She wrote of a woman finding her strength, of love blooming in unexpected places, of courage in the face of darkness.
"This is remarkable,mo chridhe, me heart," he said honestly, looking up to find her watching him anxiously. "Ye have a true gift."
A blush colored her cheeks."Truly? Ye're not just saying that?"
"When haveye ever kenned me to say somethin' I dinnae mean?" Kenneth asked, setting down the pages and moving to kneel beside her chair.
"Never,"Sophie admitted, her hand coming up to trace his jaw. "It's one of the things I love about ye."
The word hung between them,charged with meaning. Kenneth caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Say it again," he whispered roughly.
Sophie's eyesshimmered with tears and something brighter. "I love ye, Kenneth Elloway. I think I have since that first night,when ye came to rescue me from me tower like somethin' out of a story."
"Sophie,"Kenneth's voice was hoarse with emotion. "I daenae deserve?—"
"Nae,"she interrupted fiercely. "Daenae say ye daenae deserve love. Ye deserve everythin', me brave, honorable, stubborn man."
Kenneth felthis carefully constructed walls crumbling to dust. How long had he fought against this feeling, telling himself it was weakness, that he couldn't afford to love her? But watching her face death without flinching, seeing her strength and courage shine through every trial, had shown him the truth.
"I love ye,"he confessed, the words rushing out like a dam breaking. "I love yer spirit, yer kindness, the way ye make me want to be better. When Mason took ye..." his voice broke. "I've never been so scared in me life. The thought of losing ye..."
Sophie slidfrom her chair into his arms, her fingers threading through his hair. "Ye dinnae lose me," she whispered. "Ye found me, just as ye always will."
Kenneth pulled her closer,breathing in her familiar scent of heather and home. "Aye, always. I swear it, Sophie. Nay matter what comes, I'll always find ye, always protect ye."
"I ken,"Sophie said softly. "Just as I'll always stand by yer side, helping ye carry the weight of yer responsibilities. We're stronger together, ye and I."
"When did ye get so wise?"Kenneth asked, managing a shaky smile.
"I learned from the best,"Sophie teased, then grew serious. "Ye taught me to be strong, Kenneth. To trust in meself. How could I not love ye for that?"
Kenneth cuppedher face in his hands, mindful of her bruised cheek. "I was wrong before, when I said love was a luxury we couldnae afford. Love like this... it's not weakness at all. It's the greatest strength I've ever kenned."
Tears spilleddown Sophie's cheeks, but her smile was radiant. "Then show me," she whispered. "Show me how much ye love me."
Kenneth needed no further encouragement.He captured her lips in a kiss that spoke of all the emotions he'd kept locked away for so long - his love, his fear of losing her, his pride in her strength, his gratitude for her presence in his life.
Sophie methis passion with her own, her hands clutching at his shoulders as if she never wanted to let go. When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Kenneth rested his forehead against hers.
"I never thoughtI could have this," he admitted. "After me faither... I thought love would make me weak, make me a poor leader for me clan."
"And now?"Sophie asked, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest.
"Now I ken better.Ye've made me stronger, mo chridhe. Ye've shown me that there's nay shame in lettin' people in, in caring deeply." Kenneth caught her hand, pressing it over his heart. "Everythin' I am, everythin' I have, is yers."
"As I am yers,"Sophie promised. "In this life and whatever comes after. What happens now?"
"Now?"Kenneth smiled, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Now we build a life together, ye and I. We lead our clan, write yer stories, maybe even..." he hesitated, then forged ahead. "Maybe even start a family of our own, when ye're ready."
Sophie's eyes lit up."I'd like that," she whispered. "Very much."
"Aye?"Kenneth felt his heart swell with joy. "Then that's what we'll do. Together."
"Together,"Sophie agreed, snuggling closer into his embrace.
As the sunset outside their window, Kenneth held his wife close, thanking whatever fate or divine intervention had brought her into his life. He had started this journey thinking only of dutyand clan politics, but somewhere along the way, Sophie had stolen past his defenses and claimed his heart.
