"Aye." He kissed her forehead. "We did."
A servant approached hesitantly, clearing her throat. "Me laird? A guard is askin' fer ye. Says he needs a decision made."
Alpin nodded. "Tell him I'll be there shortly."
The servant hurried off, and he turned back to Mhairi.
"Go," she said, giving him a gentle push. "Yer people need ye."
"Our people," he corrected. "This is yer home now too, lass. These are yer people as much as mine."
Her eyes widened slightly, then softened with emotion. "Our people," she repeated, testing the words. "I like the sound of that."
"So dae I." He kissed her once more, quick but fierce. "Get some rest. I'll come find ye when I'm done."
"I'll be in the kitchen," she said with a small smile. "Someone needs tae make sure everyone gets fed."
"Of course ye will." He shook his head fondly. "Stubborn woman."
"Aye. But I'm yer stubborn woman."
"That ye are." He stepped back reluctantly. "And I wouldnae have ye any other way."
He watched her walk toward the kitchens, her spine straight despite her exhaustion, already ready to help where she was needed.
His Mhairi.
Fierce and kind and unbreakable.
And as Alpin turned to deal with the aftermath of the battle, he carried with him the warmth of her presence, the knowledge that she was safe, and the certainty that whatever came next, they would face it together.
EPILOGUE
One week later
Hold still, ye're fidgetin' like a bairn."
Mhairi tried to obey, but it was hard to stand still when Kenina was lacing her into a gown of soft cream silk with delicate embroidery at the cuffs.
"I cannae help it," Mhairi said, gripping the bedpost. "Me hands willnae stop shakin'."
"That's normal." Kenina pulled another lace tight. "I was the same way when I married Peadar."
Kenina tied off the last lace and stepped back, her eyes softenin'. "There. Perfect."
Mhairi turned to look at herself in the small mirror Freya had brought up earlier. The woman staring back at her looked different. Older, maybe. Or just changed by everything that had happened in those past weeks.
It had only been a week since the battle. Since Ashcombe had died. Since they'd evacuated the village and brought everyone there to MacDougal Castle.
It felt like a lifetime.
"Ye look beautiful," Freya said from where she sat on the bed, her own dress already pristine. "Alpin's goin' tae forget how tae breathe when he sees ye."
"He'd better nae." Mhairi smoothed her hands down the silk, still not quite believing this was real. "I need him conscious fer the vows."
Kenina laughed, the sound bright and warm. "Trust me, he'll manage. Although that man looks at ye like ye hung the moon and stars. "
A knock at the door made all three of them turn.
