“Think nothing of it, ye have proven ye more than deserve it. And nay more calling me, me laird. I am tae be yer father-in-law, if she says ‘aye’ tae ye of course.” He chuckled softly. “I dinnae doubt her answer very much. Every morning at breakfast the first thing out of her mouth has been a demand tae ken when she can see ye.” He released Kai’s hand and gestured to the door. “Ye will find her in the practice room. According tae Lyla, she has been practicing from dawn tae dusk. Something about working out some frustrations by stabbing a hay bale repeatedly.” He shook his head, laughing once again.
“Thank ye.” Kai smiled and turned, ready to run from the room to find Ava.
It had been too long since he had seen her. He was not sure he’d be able to control his passion when he did, the relief that they were still alive and the outpouring of love now that nothing need separate them.
“Oh, and Kai?” Laird Finley’s voice called him back, hesitating in the doorway.
“Aye?” Kai said, spinning back to face him.
“Let us have the wedding soon, aye?” Finley said with care. “There are enough rumors about what happened in Laird Grant’s church and castle that day. I wish tae protect Ava from any dark scandals.”
“Aye. Let us have the wedding as soon as possible.”
“Good, now go tae her. Before she tears about the sparring room with that blade of hers.”
Kai laughed and turned, running down the corridor. He moved so fast that more than once did he nearly collide with a guard or a maid, shouting his apologies as he ran on.
“Marry me?”
Ava dropped the sword she had been sparring with. It clattered onto the floor as she spun around at the voice she knew so well.
Kai stood in the doorway, leaning upon it, a look of pure happiness on his face.
He’s here.
She hadn’t seen him for two weeks. Every day she had dreamt of seeing him, but her father had insisted on patience, that they had to wait for the dust to settle after all that had happened in Laird Grant’s clan.
She was sure she had misheard him. Surely the first words he had uttered to her in two weeks could only be the stuff of her dreams. They could not be real.
“What did ye say?” she whispered in disbelief, struggling to make her tongue work.
“Marry me, Ava?”
“Ye mean… me faither… he…” She could barely form words as she raced toward Kai, her body shaking. Even after all that had happened, she had been terrified that her father would rescind his blessing. Kai only had little money and Finley was desperate for more. “He has given his blessing?”
“Aye, he has.” Kai raised a hand and cupped Ava’s cheek, brushing the loose tendrils of her hair back behind her ear. “All that remains now is yer answer, Ava. Will ye marry me?”
She smiled gleefully.
This feeling was something she had never expected to feel. The sheer happiness and joy, the knowledge that she would now be forever connected to a man she loved so much.
“Dinnae keep me in suspense,” he reprimanded her playfully, moving toward her for a kiss.
“Aye, I will marry ye, Kai.”
“Thank God fer that.” He kissed her, their tongues danced together.
“Nae here,” she pleaded, pulling back a little. “Let us go elsewhere.”
“Somewhere that we can celebrate, just the two of us?” he whispered mischievously, his smile growing once again.
“Aye.”
“Then come with me.”
He took her hand and pulled her out of the room. They tiptoed through the castle, more than once having to hide behind pillars of stone to mask themselves from guards who were patrolling. At one point, they even saw her father and Lyla walking together, but they hid themselves too well to be seen.
The moment they reached Ava’s chamber, they bustled inside, Kai kicking the door shut. They ended up plastered against her door, both pulling at one another’s clothes with such intensity that Ava was fairly certain she heard material rip.
