I nod, not trusting my voice, and step into the hallway. The door closes behind me, and I immediately press my ear against it. I can hear Ashland's low, rumbled responses and the doctor's higher-pitched voice as he works.
“It's going to be okay,” Caitlin says behind me. “Come now.”
I turn to find the three women watching me, each with varying expressions of understanding.
“I know,” I say. “I just—I don't want to lose him.”
“You won't,” Bronwyn assures me. “He's too stubborn. Too in love with you.”
“The man's a goner,” Kyla adds with a smirk.
I manage a weak smile.
Caitlin steps closer and pulls me into a hug. I freeze for a second, then turn into it. It feels good, maternal in a way I haven't really felt before.
“Proud of you, lass,” she says quietly.
“Why?” I ask, genuinely confused.
“For being there. For standing by him. For not running when you saw what he really is. That's not easy.” She pulls back to look at me. “You're incredibly brave.”
“Some women would've run screaming,” Bronwyn adds.
“I didn'tfeelbrave,” I whisper. “I was terrified. I almost threw up.”
“Oh, being terrified doesn't mean you're not brave,” Kyla says, leaning against the wall. “Sometimes brave means being scared out of your mind and doing it anyway, aye?” She grins at me. I think it's the first time she has. “Welcome to the family, Bianca.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. Family. I've spent my whole life hating who I thought the McCarthys were, believing they were monsters responsible for myfather's death. And now they're welcoming me in. Accepting me. Calling me family.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
The bathroom door opens, and I spin around so fast I nearly knock into Bronwyn. She steadies me with a laugh.
“Easy there. He's fine, love. My god, aren't you smitten?”
The doctor steps out. “Bruised ribs, cracked ribs, possible minor concussion. His hands will hurt like hell for a while, but nothing that won't heal. And something tells me he's got a nurse who'll take good care of him, eh?” He smiles kindly at me. “You can go in. He's been asking for you.”
I don't wait for him to finish. I push past him back into the bathroom. Ashland's still sitting on the toilet seat, but now he's wrapped up in bandages. His hands are carefully taped, and there's a butterfly bandage over the cut on his brow.
His face lights up when I walk in. “There she is,” he says.
I cross to him in three steps and wrap my arms around his neck, mindful of his ribs.
The doc calls from behind us, where he's packing up his bag. “You've gone down as a bit of a legend, Ashland McCarthy. Beating Crowning's heir in single combat. Everyone's talking about it. Haven't seen a fight like that inyears.”
Ashland's jaw tightens. “Didn't do it to be a legend.”
“I know.” I press a kiss to his chin, careful to avoid his injuries—which is actually quite hard, considering how battered he is. “And I'll always be here to patch you up afterward, I guess.”
He smiles and catches my face in his bandaged hands, tilting my head up to kiss me properly, slow and deep, full of promise. I sigh against his mouth.
“Kyla told me, ‘Welcome to the family,’” I whisper when we part.
“How do you feel about that, lass?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.
I think about it. About Caitlin's hug, Bronwyn's kindness, and Kyla's fierce approval. About Seamus giving us a safe place to land and Tiernan coaching Ashland through the fight. Lorcan’s immediate defense of his brother and Nolan’s twinkling eyes when he saw the two of us together. About this family I was raised to hate, who are now welcoming me with open arms.
“It feels like home,” I whisper. “It feels like I belong.”
