"I ken exactly what might happen. Ashcombe might attack. Yer faither might cause trouble. Graham might demand his coin." Alpin's voice dropped lower. "And I dinnae care. Because none of that changes the fact that ye belong here now. That ye're buildin' a life here. That ye're learnin' tae be a healer and makin' friends and namin' constellations on me battlements."
A tear slipped down her cheek. Alpin caught it with his thumb, his touch gentle despite the intensity in his eyes.
"This is me choice," he continued. "Mine and yers. And ye pullin' away, tryin' tae protect me from consequences I've already accepted, that daesnae help anyone. It just hurts us both."
"I dinnae want tae hurt ye," Mhairi whispered.
"Then stop avoidin' me. Stop thinkin' ye're a burden when ye're anythin' but." He paused, searching her face. "Can ye dae that?"
She was quiet for several heartbeats. The music swelled around them, and other dancers moved past in a blur of color and movement.
Finally, Mhairi nodded. "Aye. I can try."
"That's all I'm askin'."
They continued dancing, and gradually Alpin felt the tension leave Mhairi's shoulders. Felt her lean into him slightly, trusting his lead, letting herself be held.
"What daes this mean?" she asked after a while. "Us. This." She gestured vaguely between them. "With everythin' gettin' so complicated––"
"Some things are simple," Alpin interrupted.
"What things?"
"This." He pulled her closer still, until they were dancing scandalously near for a public gathering. "The way I feel when I look at ye. The way me chest goes tight when ye smile. The way I cannae seem tae think about anythin' else, even when I'm supposed tae be plannin' defenses or reviewin' supply reports."
Mhairi's breath caught. "Alpin..."
"I'm attracted tae ye, Mhairi. Deeply, completely attracted tae ye in every way that matters. And that's nae complicated at all. That's the simplest damn thing in me life right now."
Color flooded her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. "And the rest? The danger and the threats."
"We'll handle it. Taegether." His hand at her waist tightened briefly. "But dinnae ask me tae pretend I dinnae want ye. Because I willnae lie about that. Nae tae ye, nae tae anyone."
The music was slowing now, coming to an end. Around them, other couples were breaking apart, preparing for the next dance or heading toward the refreshment tables.
But Alpin and Mhairi stayed where they were, swaying slightly even as the final notes faded into silence.
"I'm attracted tae ye too," Mhairi finally said, so quietly he almost missed it. "In case that wasnae obvious from the way I stared at ye in the trainin' yard yesterday."
Despite everything, Alpin felt a grin spread across his face. "I noticed."
"I'm sure ye did."
"Hard tae miss when a beautiful lass cannae take her eyes off me bare chest."
"Ye were bein' deliberately distractin'."
"Was I?" He was full-on smiling now. "And there I thought I was just trainin'."
"Liar." But she was smiling too, real and genuine, the first true smile he'd seen from her all evening.
The musicians struck up a new tune, faster, livelier. Other couples flooded back onto the floor, and Alpin reluctantly stepped back, giving Mhairi space.
"One more dance?" he asked.
She glanced toward the refreshment table. "I should probably––"
"One more," he pressed. "And then I'll let ye escape tae wherever ye want to go."
