EPILOGUE
Two Months later…
The sun was shining brightly in the garden of Sinclair Castle, and Blake smiled as he waited with Preston and Finlay at his side.
In the two months since Hutch’s death and Clan Murray’s foiled attack, Sinclair Clan had come together. The Elders had declared him Laird after a short meeting. Not long after that, he’d formalized a betrothal agreement and an alliance with Gregor clan, ending the feud his father’s foolish pride had started.
Any feud with Murray Clan had also been quelled, thanks to their new laird.
The hurt from his cousin’s betrayal and death still lingered, but now he was ready to enjoy the best day of his life.
The bagpipes began to play, and Blake turned to look down the aisle as Tessa Gregor and Preston’s new wife Kenzie both walked up the aisle, followed by…
Blake felt his breath stop, and only a prod from Finlay convinced him to inhale once more. Walking beside her father, Reyna was a radiant vision straight from the heavens, wrapped in her soft, faintly blue dress with it’s elegant stitching and the Gregor sash that would be replaced with a Sinclair one at the end of the ceremony.
Ewan Gregor set his daughter’s hand in Blake’s as the priest began the ceremony with the expected question. “Who brings these two here taeday tae be joined in holy matrimony?”
He heard Ewan’s answer, and Preston’s, but nothing caught his attention as much as the sparkle of Reyna’s eyes, and the perfection of her smile.
The ceremony continued. He spoke when he needed to and held his hand out for the hand-fasting bands when it was time. He slid the ring on her hand at the proper moment and accepted her ring in return.
Then the words he’d been waiting to hear sounded. “Ye may now kiss yer bride, Laird Sinclair.”
He bent to the task with a will, enjoying the taste of Reyna’s honey-sweet lips on his and the euphoria of knowing that she was his.
Someone poked him sharply in the ribs. “I ken ye love me sister, Sinclair, but there’s some things I dinnae need tae see her doing, and fainting from a kiss is one o’ them. Ye’ll have yer time later.”
Blake coughed but managed a smile. He bent close to whisper in Reyna’s ear. “As soon as we can escape from the wedding feast, there’s somewhere I want tae take ye.”
She laughed back. “I cannae wait.”
Together, they turned to greet their guests. Hannah came to stand at his side as they strode back toward the Great Hall, where a feast was waiting for the newly wedded pair.
Reyna and Blake led the first dance, alongside Tessa and Finlay, Preston and Kenzie, and surprisingly, Hannah and Ewan. After the first dance, they retired to the table with cups of honey mead.
Preston raised a cup in toast. “Congratulations on taking the title o’ Laird Sinclair, Blake.”
Blake laughed and raised his tankard in turn. “I should be saying that tae ye, Preston. Or should I be saying, Laird Murray?”
Finlay coughed as he choked on his drink. “Ye’re Laird Murray? But... I thought Oran died without an heir? And ye helped us defeat him as well. Did ye nae get punished fer betraying yer liege laird?”
Preston shook his head. “I’d already been speaking tae the Council o’ Elders about me concerns fer Laird Oran’s mental state. He was a cruel laird and getting worse every year. The punishments he meted out tae those who displeased him were far too harsh fer the offenses. There was talk o’ removing him fer the good o’ the clan, even afore he launched his foolhardy plan tae steal Reyna and force her tae the altar.”
“Even so…” Finlay frowned. “Tae claim the title…”
“Me great grandfaither was braither tae the laird o’ his generation. Since then, me kinfolk have served loyally as the guards o’ the Laird Murray, but it was always understood that me family was a cadet branch with the closest claim tae the title if the current laird failed tae secure an heir. ‘Twas one reason Kenzie and I had tae be so careful about raising his ire toward us. He kent who I was, and if he’d had any reason tae, he’d have had all o’ me kin killed tae protect his hold on the clan.”
“And ye didnae kill him…”
“I didnae dae the deed. A laird o’ a clan he’d declared war on did.” Preston shrugged. “And even if I had, ‘twas already sanctioned by the Elders, since we all kent he’d never step down quietly.”
“Well, congratulations then.” Finlay raised his cup. “Tae new lairds, newlyweds, and soon-tae-be new bairns.” he laughed and tugged his wife close.
“Hear, hear!” Glasses rose in toast.
The rest of their guests fell to eating, and Blake took the opportunity to lean down and whisper in his wife’s ear. “I think they’re well distracted now. Come with me?”
Reyna’s smile was all the answer he needed.
