Ainslee buried her face into his tunic, letting the tears soak the fabric. It was hard to believe she was in his arms, with her brother’s threat far behind them. They were free, and they were both alive.
“I couldnae let him kill ye. I couldnae allow him tae hurt yer clan.” She then shuddered. “I thought I could stop him.” It all seemed unbelievable now, what she had went through today, but now that it was over with, Ainslee wasn’t sure if she would ever be the same again.
“Mah lord.”
Ainslee allowed Arran to pull away from her, wrapping her arms around her waist as she watched him speak softly to his second-in-command about what to do with the carnage that existed around them. Many Scots had died on both sides this day, but one of them had not been her husband.
Nor her brother.
Drawing in a breath, she refused to look where he was being held. He was not part of her future.
Arran and his clan were.
Sure, she could have let Arran kill him, and they would walk away much like they were going to do today, but his death was not going to bring back the others that he had killed. It wasn’t going to mend any bridges or result in peace.
Besides, the clan deserved to have their time with the man who had given them so much pain. She could understand Arran’s decision and support it as his wife. Her brother would die eventually, but it would not be today.
Arran came back to her, exhaustion lining his face, and she felt the same in her body.
“Come, we ride for home.”
Home. They were going home. The keep would become hers to protect, to fill with laughter and love for generations to come.
She accepted his outstretched hand, and he led her to a horse, helping her mount before swinging up behind him.
“Wot about the others?” she asked, looking around them at the horrid scene that still had to be dealt with.
“They will follow once they have taken care of the dead,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around her waist. “We must go ahead.”
Ainslee didn’t respond, and he guided the horse out of the woods and to the path that headed back to the keep. She allowed herself to relax against her husband’s strong chest, feeling the exhaustion creep up on her as well.
“Lass, ye nearly gave me a fright today.”
She sighed, her eyelids heavy from what had just transpired. “I know, and I am sorry. I couldnae let this go on.”
Arran grumbled but his arm only tightened around Ainslee’s waist as she slipped into the darkness.
Ainslee woke with a start, at first thinking she was back in the clearing, tied to a tree.
It didn’t take her long to realize that there was a soft mattress at her back, the heaviness of the furs on her body. A quick glance around told Ainslee that she was home.
I am home!
Immediately, she started looking for Arran, finding him seated in the chair next to the bed, his chin pressed against his chest. For a moment, she watched him slumber, her heart growing tender with each breath. This man had defended her life, had came after her, and had listened to her.
Ainslee knew she could never love him more than she did right now.
Careful not to wake Arran, she removed the heavy furs that were covering her and sat on the side of the bed, the room dipping slightly. Her mouth was as dry as cotton, and her head was still pounding from the blow that had been rendered, but other than a few scrapes and bruises, she was no worse for wear.
There was ale and food waiting by the fireplace, so Ainslee carefully made her way to it, pouring herself a cup and drinking deeply.
“Ainslee.”
Ainslee nearly dropped the cup as she met Arran’s gaze. “Arran.”
He stretched his large frame. “Ye’re awake. How do ye feel?”
“Like I could sleep for days,” she replied, placing the cup back on the table. “And ye?”
