Page 170 of A Legacy of the Light

“Don’t tell your mother that,” Hector says, taking the plate of roasted potatoes from him.

“I’m right here, you arse,” Cait quips, taking the dish of potatoes from her brother before he can load any onto his plate.

Colin laughs, and food is swapped up and down until everyone’s plate is piled high.

We eat and laugh along, as Hector, Cait, Reyne, and Colin trade insults. I nurse my wine, and watch Reyne lean into Eòghann. I watch Finneus tell Fraser and Pat about the wonders of the palace library, and I watch Alaister joking with Eòghann.

My stomach and heart are full beyond measure. I haven’t felt this way in a very long time. I haven’t felt so . . . loved.

As if sensing the growing emotion knotting my throat, Tavish subtly puts an arm around me and pulls me closer to him on the bench.

“You okay?’ he asks quietly.

I tilt my head to look at him, and only manage a nod.

He places a soft kiss on my forehead and I lean into him, letting the evening wash over me.

Colin hands me a plate of raspberry and chocolate torte with a wink as Pat hands out shots.

I decline mine, not wanting a sore head for the journey tomorrow, but laugh as Reyne grimaces when she downs hers.

“I fucking hate whiskey,” she says, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand.

“Reyne,” Hector chides from the other side of the table.

I expect him to tell her off for swearing.

“How dare you besmirch whiskey in such a manner,” he adds with a smile so close to hers and tips back his─and Colin’s─shots.

Laughter bubbles out of me along with others around the table, not drowning out Colin’s complaint toward his uncle.

◆◆◆

The evening moves on, and our party dwindles in number. Alaister, Pat, and Fraser are the first to leave, shaking my hand and wishing me well. Hector, Cait, and Colin leave after them.

“You will always have a seat at our table,” Hector says, surprising me by pulling me into a hug.

“And ours,” Cait adds, tugging me from her brother and wrapping me in a motherly embrace that pulls at the wound in my heart.

Colin pats my shoulder as his mom hugs me tight. “Be safe, Elsie,” Cait whispers and releases me.

“I will, and thank you for everything. All of you.” I look at each of them in turn, committing their kind and welcoming faces to my memory. Cait links her arms through Hector’s and Colin’s and they walk from the bonfire into the city to return home.

“I will take my leave as well, dear,” Finneus says, rising from the table.

“Will you come to the stables in the morning?” I ask him, hugging him tightly.

“Of course,” he replies and confirms what time we will be leaving with Tavish.

“Thank you for today, Finneus.”

“It was my pleasure,” he adds. After another hug he turns and walks briskly in the direction of his home. I watch his retreating form and spot him wiping his face subtly.

That leaves me, Tavish, Reyne, and Eòghann. I turn to take my seat back at the table to find Reyne and Eòghann already stood, hand in hand and ready to leave.

Reyne’s lips are pressed together in a tight line as she tries, and fails, to hold back her emotions.

Eòghann steps toward me, his brown eyes sparkling with sorrow in the firelight. I pull him into a hug, too.