His sire wrapped his arm around his mother’s waist. “Son?”
He tried again, forcing the words beyond the lump in his throat, “I met my true sire. He’s a Blackfriar, a nice man. I’ll tell you about him sometime. But I just wanted to tell you…”
He saw the quick twinge of disappointment in their eyes before they masked it. Och, how he hated to cause them pain. Then he knew. No more. It was in his power to comfort his mother, and he would do it.
Bella stood off to the corner, his beautiful Bella, and as if she could read the words in his heart, she gave him a slight nod of encouragement.
“I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate all you’ve done for me, loving me the way you have—” he paused for long enough to see the delight emerge in his mother’s eyes, “—and that you will always be my true parents. You took me in when I needed it most, and you’ve been wonderful every day since then, and I will be forever grateful…forever.”
His mother ambled toward him, her steps shaky and graceless, which was completely out of character for her. She’d always waited for him to come to her. “Oh, Loki. You know we love you, and I’d be overjoyed to hear about your true sire.” She reached up to wrap her arms around him at the same time that his father grasped his shoulder.
His mouth opened, and the words he uttered were weak, but audible nonetheless. “I love you both.”
“Loki, did something happen we are not aware of?” Brodie asked.
“Nay, I just…it took me a long time to believe I deserved to come here, but now I do. And I understand what was in your hearts when you took me in.”
“Do you?” His mother cupped his cheeks to bring his gaze down to hers. “Do you understand what it was like for me to be locked in a chamber for most of my life, with no friends or family who loved me?”
His head ached terribly from the truth of her words. “Aye, I do.”
“That is correct, you do. And you and your father helped to put an end to that for me. So you are more than deserving of the good will that has come your way since then. Please do not ever forget that. You found a way into our hearts quickly. But you seem to understand that a bit better now.”
Loki’s knees threatened to buckle, but the booming sound of his father’s voice forced them back to a locked position. “Let’s get something to eat and let Kenzie know we have not deserted him. Celestina, wait until you meet this new lad.”
Finally, the strings that had been choking his soul loosened, freeing him from all the things that had been niggling at him for quite some time.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Loki is granted Castle Curanta as its chieftain, and he and Bella adopt Kenzie.
After they had all stuffed themselves, Alex stood at the dais, his usual movement when he was about to make a speech. The large crowd settled quickly.
“As most of you are aware, our clan was once again challenged by an evil force that attempted to hurt one of our own and steal some of our wealth. We were able to easily put an end to this threat. I thank all the warriors for traveling with me, as well as their wives for supporting them in this venture.
“Fortunately, the battle was short. Loki, Bella, and Kenzie, come forward please.”
Kenzie’s eyes bulged, but he came forward as requested, his wee legs trembling, bending his neck as far back as he could to gaze up at Alex Grant. Bella reached down to squeeze his hand in a show of support.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am of my nephew, Loki Grant,” Alex continued, “who demonstrated the value of his years of hard work and training in front of all of us. He fought hard and achieved a quick victory in a pivotal sword fight. I also wish to commend Kenzie, who helped us from start to finish, and was the person who retrieved King Alexander’s jewels.”
Shouts and cheers erupted from the clan, and Kenzie beamed from all the attention.
Alex raised his hands to quiet everyone. “Kenzie, we are pleased to have you at Clan Grant, and there are two people here who are interested in adopting you if you agree. Loki and Bella would like you to be their son if you are agreeable.”
Kenzie’s delight and surprise told them all how he felt. He burst into tears and looked from Bella to Loki, then back again. He ran to Bella and hugged her tight, then rushed over to Lokito do the same. He stared at both of them with a tear-stained face and asked, “I do not have to live alone? I have parents and a Mama and a Papa again?”
Bella knelt in front of him, Loki right beside her, and the sight of the lad’s crumpled face nearly broke her heart. She couldn’t imagine what Loki must be thinking and wondered how close this was to his life. “Aye, ‘tis true, Kenzie, if you wish to stay with us.”
“Aye, I prayed every day, just like Father Brian and Father Francis told me. I asked for a new mama and papa, and now you are here.” He hugged them again. “Many thanks. I love you both.”
Bella’s tears slid down her cheeks, but she wiped them away when Alex motioned for them to stand.
“This really is not finished yet, though I’m pleased to see that Kenzie Grant will officially be your son. We have taken over a small castle not far from here, and my brothers and I have decided that we wish to ask Loki to take over as chieftain of the keep.”
Gasps of surprise and cheers and whistles greeted Alex’s announcement. Bella’s heart swelled with pride as she turned to look at Loki. He met her gaze with a question in his eyes. “What do you think?”
Bella nodded with tears in her eyes. “Aye. I’ll go anywhere you wish to go, Loki. Forever.”
