The ride back to the castle was quiet, the kind of companionable silence that came from shared experience.
Mhairi sat in front of Alpin on Dùbh's saddle, his arms bracketing her as he held the reins, and tried not to think about how right it felt.
How safe.
The sun was sinking toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Long shadows stretched across the road ahead of them, and the air had taken on that quality of early evening—crisp and clear, carrying the scent of wood smoke from distant cottages.
"Ye're quiet," Alpin observed, his voice rumbling through his chest against her back.
"Just thinkin’."
"About?"
"About how close that was. If ye hadnae been there..." She couldn't finish the thought.
His arms tightened around her briefly. "But I was there. That's what matters."
They crossed through the castle gates as the first stars began appearing overhead.
Servants moved about the courtyard, lighting torches and finishing the day's final tasks. A few called out greetings to Alpin as they passed, their eyes curious but respectful as they took in Mhairi's presence.
Alpin dismounted first, then helped her down. His hands lingered at her waist for a moment longer than strictly necessary before he stepped back.
"I should stable Dùbh," he said. "Get him settled fer the night."
"Aye." Mhairi made no move to leave. The courtyard was emptying, servants disappearing into the keep, warriors heading toward the barracks. Soon they would be alone in the gathering darkness.
"Mhairi?"
She looked up at him, that man who had saved her, protected her, given her space to heal and grow. The man who looked at her like she was something precious rather than something owned.
The words came before she could stop them.
"I want a future here."
Alpin went very still. "What?"
"I want a future here," she repeated, stronger this time. "In MacDougal lands. Learnin’ from Donnach, helpin’ the villagers, being part of this community. I want tae stop runnin’, stop hidin’, stop being afraid of what comes next. I want..." She drew a shaky breath. "I want tae build a life. A real life. Here."
The silence that followed felt endless. Mhairi's heart pounded as she watched emotions flicker across Alpin's face—surprise, hope, something that looked almost like fear.
"Say something," she whispered.
"I want it with ye."
The words were quiet but they hit like a physical force. Mhairi's breath caught.
"What?"
Alpin stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. "I want a future with ye. However that looks, whatever that means. I want ye here, buildin’ that life ye're talkin' about. And I want tae be part of it."
"Alpin…"
"I'm nae askin' ye fer promises. Nae askin' ye tae decide anything taenight." His voice was intense but careful, giving her space even as he closed the physical distance between them. "I'm just telling ye that whatever ye want tae build here, ye willnae be daeing it alone. Nae unless ye choose tae be."
Mhairi felt tears prick her eyes. "I've never had that before. Someone who wanted tae build somethingwithme instead offerme."
"Then it's about time ye did."
