“I do,”Jaxon replied, tone even, controlled, though his heart thrummed with an intensity he rarely allowed to show.
The minister nodded gravely,lifting a braided cord of white and blue to loop over their joined hands. “Then by the power vested in me, I bind ye as husband and wife, until the fates or death may part ye.”
Jaxon feltthe warmth of her hand in his, delicate and soft, though still tense, almost hesitant.
He whispered just enoughfor her to hear, “Daenae doubt, lass. I will nae let harm touch ye, nor will I ever let ye regret this.”
The minister drapedthe cord over their clasped hands, weaving them together like the threads of destiny. “Let this cord be witness to yer devotion, a reminder of love, respect, and loyalty shared freely and wholly.”
He watchedGracie’s cheeks warm as he held her gaze, and the minister spoke once more, his voice rising with solemnity.
“By the power of this handfastin’,ye are bound, heart to heart, life to life, for all days that follow.”
He stepped back,hands raised, eyes sweeping over the crowd. “Ye may seal yer vows with a kiss, as husband and wife.”
Jaxon benthis head toward her, lips brushing hers in a kiss that carried all the weight of his authority, desire, and possessiveness. Her breath caught against his, soft and hesitant, and for a moment he felt her uncertainty like a shadow against his chest. But then, as he drew back slightly, he leaned close again, voice low and husky, brushing against her ear.
“The next time I kiss ye,”he murmured, eyes smoldering, “there’ll only be me in yer mind.”
The kirk seemedto hold its breath, silence filling the space between them as the crowd shifted in awe and curiosity. Jaxon’s jaw remained set, calm in appearance but burning inside with the need to claim her entirely, to ensure she never wavered again. For all the doubts he had sensed, all the fear and hesitation, he would not allow any man to take her from him, not Edmund, not any other, not fate itself.
The minister’s voice resumed,gentle and reassuring.
“By this handfastin’,ye are united. Go forth as one, bound in love and loyalty, and may ye honor this bond in all things.”
He gesturedtoward the gathered clans, whose applause rose in a swell of cheers, laughter, and tears. Both sides, McDougal and McMillan, erupted in congratulations, voices overlapping in joy and astonishment at the boldness and resolve of the Laird.
Jaxon lowered his hand,keeping Gracie close, his palm resting lightly against her back. He could feel her heart racing against his chest, small, rapid beats that called to him. The warmth of her body, the scent of her hair, the soft tremble in her hands, everything about her pulled at him with irresistible force. And as the murmurs of congratulations filled the kirk, he knew that he would guard her, claim her, and make certain that no shadow of doubt or regret ever touched her again.
Jaxon brusheda strand of hair from her cheek, thumb grazing the soft skin, and his gaze softened just slightly. Yet beneath that softness, a fire remained, sharp and possessive, a silent promise to her and to all who witnessed.
She is mine,and I will see to it that she never doubts it.
4
“Ileave ye for only a few hours, lass, as we journey to me castle and yer new home,” Jaxon said.
Gracie liftedher chin and replied, “Aye, me laird.”
She felt Jaxon's hand,firm yet gentle at her elbow. The murmur of the gathered clans faded behind them, as he escorted her to her parents’ waiting carriage.
“Ye are me wife now.I insist ye call me Jaxon.”
She hesitated onlya heartbeat before answering, “I understand, Jaxon.”
He leanedclose and placed a soft kiss upon her cheek, warm and deliberate, as though sealing the change in her life with a single touch.
Gracie feltthe heat of his hand as he helped her into the carriage, his palm steady at her back. The contact sent a strange rush through her, a warmth that startled her with its suddenness. She had known fear and doubt, but this was something else, unfamiliar and stirring. It left her breathless as she settled upon the seat.
Inside the carriagesat Andrew and Margaret, with April perched quietly beside them.
She watched Jaxon step back,nodding once before the door closed. The wheels creaked, the horses shifted, and the carriage jerked into motion. Castle McMillan lay ahead, and with it a life she could scarcely imagine.
As the roadrolled beneath them, Gracie folded her hands in her lap.
I acceptedbecause I feared there would never be another. But did I do the right thing?
The truth washeavy and sharp. Edmund’s absence had spoken louder than any insult, telling her she was too ugly to be chosen. Jaxon’s offer had been a lifeline, and she had clung to it without daring to question.
