“Aye, aye, as I worry about ye. I cannae tell ye how much ye have been worrying me since the day ye found me in that inn and asked me tae give ye lessons.”
“That feels like a long time ago,” she murmured in thought. If she had known then what a path they would be led down, how asking for seduction lessons would make her fall in love with Kai, she would have probably turned up at that inn much sooner.
“I did well though, didnae I?” Kai said, taking her hand in his and escorting her gently out of the church.
“Well? Look at ye! Ye’re covered in blood and I dinnae recognize meself.” She threw off the ring that Laird Grant had forced on her finger, then took the coif and hood off too, leaving them on the church steps as they left.
“I mean I did well with me seduction lessons,” he whispered, trying to lighten the mood. “Ye have utterly and completely seduced me, Ava.”
“Ha! That is the best thing tae come from this awful affair.”
“Ye in me arms, Ava. That is the best thing tae come of it.” Gently, ever so softly, plainly sensing there had been enough rough touches and grabs that day, he turned her hand over and kissed the inside of her palm.
This is why I love him so much.
EPILOGUE
Two weeks later…
“How are ye, me laird?” Kai said as he sat down in the chair opposite Laird Finley MacKinnon. The older man had not stopped fidgeting and stretching since Kai had returned to the castle.
After the battle, Domhnall and Laird Finley had made it plain that they should each return to their own clans for a few days as the matter of what had happened between them was reported to the king. A new clan leader had been chosen for Clan Grant, a man of a much softer manner, who had been horrified to hear about how his cousin had acted.
Now that calm had come after the storm, Kai had pestered Domhnall every day for his permission to visit Ava. After two weeks, Domhnall had sent him off, saying he couldn’t stand to listen to Kai’s pleading anymore.
Now Kai had arrived and had been greeted by Laird Finley. He had looked for Ava every few minutes since entering the castle, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Me old bones suffer,” Laird Finley said with a heavy sigh, leaning back in his chair. “I am nae the young warrior I once was. Along with me insistence of nae wanting tae admit I cannae always be the one tae protect me daughters, I am also a stubborn fool who doesnae want tae admit his own weaknesses.”
“Ye did protect them. Ye fought Laird Grant and killed him.”
“I would have died had ye nae thrown me that sword at the right time.” Laird Finley spoke with heavy sincerity, gazing him in the eye. “Ye and I both ken it.”
Kai couldn’t admit such a thing aloud. He just stayed silent, watching as Laird Finley adjusted his old bones again.
“All this riding and fighting has taken its toll on me old body.” He winced. “But I shall recover. How is yer wound?” He pointed at the scar now formed across the side of Kai’s temple.
Over the previous two weeks, Enya had come to visit for a short while. Her healing gifts that they told no one about had accelerated his recovery greatly. Even the scar on his back, where he had been stabbed in the forest, was now fully healed.
“I am doing much better, thank ye,” Kai assured him. “I wished tae say something tae ye. Tae make ye an assurance, me laird.”
Laird Finley widened his eyes, clearly curious enough to encourage Kai to go on.
“I ken I dinnae have the money Laird Grant has. I cannae offer yer family the same security, but I dae come from a good and honorable family. Domhnall’s lairdship is safe and secure. There may have already been an alliance between us, but… if ye were tae give me yer blessing tae marry Ava…” He hesitated, trying to read Laird Finley’s emotions without contact but his talent failed him. That or Laird Finley was very good at masking what he thought and felt. “The alliance would be stronger. I would dae anything I could tae serve yer family, tae protect Ava and Lyla.”
Laird Finley sat taller, lifting his chin a little. Sensing some reluctance, Kai went on.
“I can offer what I have, ye are more than welcome tae take me money tae aid yer clan…” He trailed off as Laird Finley raised a hand, gently pleading for silence. “Domhnall also agreed tae give more than conventional tae fer the marriage of a third son in line.”
“Ye would give anything ye could tae marry her, wouldnae ye?”
“I would.”
“Then that is all I need. Love. Devotion. Give it tae her, and I’ll ken I have made the right decision tae give ye me blessing.” Laird Finley stood from his chair and extended his hand toward Kai. “Ye have it, Kai.”
Kai jumped to his feet as quickly as he could, grasping Finley’s hand and shaking it firmly.
“Thank ye, me laird. Thank ye so much.”
