22
He had found her—or rather, she had found him.
“Aye,” he said, lowering his own sword. When he had seen the fire from the path, he had gone investigating, hoping that whoever it was would share their spot for a few hours. He had ridden hard, and his horse was far too labored to go on.
Apparently, he was right where he needed to be.
“Erik,” Finley breathed, removing her sword from his err, manhood before scrambling to her feet. “Ye’re here.”
He sheathed his own sword, drinking her in. “And ye are a sight for sore eyes, lass.”
She moved to touch him, but he noted that she held back, clasping her hands together instead. “I was coming for ye,” she said softly, surprising him. “I-I was coming tae find ye, I mean.”
“Truly?” he asked, his heart hammering in his chest. “But wot aboot yer position?” He was going to tell her when he saw her that there was no cause for worry, that whatever happened, he would remain by her side, and if it meant him giving up his position for hers, then he would do so. He wanted Finley to be his wife, to be his everything like Ferra was to Kaiden.
He never wanted to live without her again.
“I gave it up.”
“Nay!” he barked, feeling like a fool. “Ye cannae. It was yer right! Yer dream!” He would march to the keep and demand that Edna take her niece back. He could never live with himself knowing she had done so for him.
Finley reached out and touched his cheek, causing Erik to close his eyes. How he had dreamed of her touching him, soothing the ache that he had ever since he had ridden out of the courtyard.
“Nay, mah dream has changed. I thought I wanted tae be second-in-command, to become a great warrior, but that was before I met ye, Erik. I want more out of mah life, and that is ye.”
Her words humbled him, and he reached out, tugging on her waist until she was flush with him. “Aye, I know, lass,” he said softly. “I want more as well, and that is ye.”
She let out a sob, and he held her close, feeling her tears wet his tunic. How he had ever thought he could go on with his life without Finley being part of it was beyond him. It wasn’t his finest moment.
After a moment, she drew away from him, wiping her eyes. “Would ye like tae sit by the fire?” she asked.
He looked down at her dying fire. “I think I could get more warmth from a tree.”
“It was better than this,” she answered, socking him in his shoulder.
He chuckled, feeling some of the weight lifting off his chest as he helped her stoke the fire. Soon he was stretched out before it, a flagon of ale in his hands and Finley at his side. “Ye know,” he started, staring at the fire. “I never loved Isabel.”
“Ye cared for her greatly,” Finley replied with a little sigh. “Are ye certain?”
Erik looked over at her profile, his heart rending in his chest. “Aye, lass. I never could love her like I love ye.” There. He had said it. He had told her what he wanted to tell her.
Her swift intake of breath caused him to smile, and her eyes met his. “Erik.”
“I love ye,” he repeated, in case she hadn’t believed him the first time. “I probably loved ye the moment I saw ye in that tree over there. Isabel might have clouded mah mind, but never mah heart when it came tae how I felt aboot ye.”
Her expression softened, and he felt a lump in his throat, finding it hard to swallow. “I never want tae know what it feels like tae not have ye with me, Finley. I will move tae yer clan, let ye have yer dream of being second-in-command tae yer aunt if ye want, but I will never leave yer side again.”
Tears spilled over on her cheeks, and Erik reached over, grabbing her hand to find it shaking like his. “I want tae marry ye, lass, and give ye everything ye deserve.”
“Oh, Erik,” she said after a moment. “Ye already have.”
He pulled her to him, and their mouths met in a frenzy of movements, his kisses both demanding and tender. He wanted to drown in her kiss, feel the love wind its way into his very soul for this fierce woman.
Never again. He would never be apart from her again.
A month later
Finley sighed happily as she moved about the floor, her hand clasped in Erik’s. Today was their wedding day, a day she had never thought that she would see in her lifetime, yet it had happened. After they reunited in the wood, Erik had come to the keep, welcomed by both Edna and Leeth with open arms and a stern warning that Finley would remain a maiden until their wedding day.
