Page 29

Niall pursed his lips and rested one hand on his hip. “Aye, a funny-looking Kelpie indeed. I told ye that there was no such thing as spirits.”

“And it was naething tae dae with Marcas either,” Moira said pointedly. Tension rose around them and she felt an uncomfortable sensation wrapping around her heart. The initial joy of seeing Niall coming to rescue her had faded, and was now replaced by the familiar sensations of uncertainty. What was she supposed to think when she looked into his eyes? Had anything truly changed?

Niall took a few moments to respond. He seemed to have much on his mind, but he looked pensive and weary. He stroked his chin and looked at her directly in the eyes.

“I’m sorry for doubting ye, Moira. Thank ye for getting tae the bottom of this. I am in yer debt,” he said. Moira could barely believe her ears. An apology from Niall! And it was sincere as well. She smiled and arched an eyebrow.

“Can I get ye tae say that again, but this time in front of everyone else?” she teased.

Niall smiled. “It’s just for ye,” he said. The smile fell from his face, and he looked concerned. “I was worried that I would never see ye again once ye ran off tae danger.” Then, he kissed her. It was a tender kiss, all but too brief. Niall leaned back and tilted his head, smacking his lips taegether. “We hae a lot tae talk about, but I think we should get ye back home sae that ye can hae a bath. That water…that is nae good water.” He wiped his lips and they laughed.

Niall led Moira to a horse and they rode back home, leaving the misty loch behind.

20

The stale smell that lingered over Moira was dispersed with a warm bath. The air was sweet and scented, and her skin felt soft. The water sloshed all around her, and she enjoyed being immersed in a bath far more than she had been submerged in a loch. She still laughed at how convinced she had been that a Kelpie was responsible, and thought in the future it might be better if she didn’t let herself get carried away. She never would have imagined that silly men would have been responsible for it all, though.

Once she was thoroughly clean, she dried herself and then ventured back to her chamber—her actual chamber this time. Niall was waiting for her.

Despite his heroic appearance at the loch, things hadn’t been repaired between them. There had been many unkind things said, and Moira wasn’t sure what was going to happen in the future. Her stomach fluttered with nerves as she entered. Niall rose and welcomed her before showing her to the bed. It was late in the evening now, with the dusky moon covering the land.

“Ye seem a world better,” Niall said.

“I feel it,” Moira replied.

“I spoke with the men we captured, and we hae found a better way for them tae dispose of their waste and keep their town clean. Everyone seems happy with the arrangement. The man who pushed ye sobered up quickly and offered his most sincere apologies. I told him that he can make it up tae ye by bringing ye the juiciest cut of meat ye hae ever tasted, and he seems tae be content with that,” Niall explained.

“I’m glad, and thank ye for nae punishing them tae much. I dinnae think they understood what they were daeing. They thought they were keeping their home clean.”

“Aye, there’s no sense in punishing a fool when ye can teach him tae dae better.”

“And what of Jamie and the others?” Moira asked.

Niall smiled broadly. “Now that the healers know the cause of the sickness, they hae been able tae fashion a concoction tae alleviate the symptoms. By tomorrow morning we will know if there is any improvement in their health, but as the healers said, it’s quite sure that they will be back on their feet before tae long.”

“That’s wonderful,” Moira said, genuinely happy, yet still there was a hesitancy in her voice, as there was in Niall’s manner.

“There haes been another sickness in this castle, though, and I hae been the one affected. Moira, after our argument, I did a lot of thinking and I realized how callous I was acting. I was scared for all that I haed built, and the last thing I wanted was tae turn intae my father. I just…all my life, he told me that we could never trust anyone and that peace was a weakness. I was afraid that he was right. It was difficult tae get the lesson out of my mind, and when I thought Jamie had been poisoned, I… Well, it doesnae matter what I thought. I was wrong. I should nae hae doubted ye, or yer brother. Ye hae both acted with pure intentions. It is I who haes been the villain. I should never hae questioned yer character like that. Ye were right in everything ye said, and I’m sorry.”

Moira listened to what he had to say and was thrilled that he had the awareness to share his feelings like this. But there had been a lot that had passed between them, and there was still much that needed to be discussed.

“I understand, and I thank ye for yer apology, but ye hurt me a great deal. What ye said…it’s all well and good saying that ye we were wrong in this instance, but what if something else happens? Are ye gaeing tae doubt me again? Is this gaeing tae happen every time? I cannae live with a man who doesnae trust me. If I am tae be yer wife, then ye are gaeing tae hae tae trust me with all ye hae, otherwise what’s the point? I hae never lied tae ye, Niall. I hae only tried tae be a good wife for ye, but I want tae know that ye are gaeing tae let me be that wife.”

“I will,” he said quickly. He rushed to the bed and sat beside her, taking her hands in his. He looked into her eyes and she lost herself in his. Emotion swelled in her heart.

“Moira, I know I hae been a fool and that I hae been the only one who haes put this alliance in jeopardy. When this all began, I wanted tae ensure that peace would last, but recently, the alliance hasnae been sae important. When we argued, I wasnae afraid that there would be war, I was afraid that I would lose ye. I didnae expect tae fall in love sae deeply, and I can only apologize from the bottom of my heart and tell ye that if ye let me, I will spend the rest of my life making it up tae ye. But I understand that I hae hurt yer honor, and I wilnae hold it against ye if ye decide ye want tae leave.” He bowed his head, and Moira looked at him strangely.

“Are ye mad, Niall? I dinnae want tae leave!” she cried.

“Ye dinnae?”

“Of course nae! I just wanted tae make sure ye understand that ye cannae take me for granted or treat me like the enemy. I just wanted tae see the true emotion inside, tae know that ye truly care about me,” she said, and she had. It had been in his eyes when he had fished her out of the lake. It had been in his voice when he had warned the men against hurting her. It was in him now, bursting out of him, and she could not deny it at all.

Niall smiled. “I would never. It reminds me of a story that Grizel told me when I was younger. I never truly understood it until now.”

“Ye will hae tae tell me that story,” she said, all the while their lips were growing closer to each other. Niall’s hands squeezed hers and then slipped around her waist, resting perfectly on her slender frame. She murmured with delight as she reached around his neck, and suddenly the words disappeared, replaced by a soft moan as their lips pressed against each other. Their eyes closed, and Moira was suddenly dancing in a world of dreams. Tingles spiked and pleasure thrummed through her body.

Moira fell back onto the bed and Niall followed, for the two of them were entwined as tightly as vines that had grown together for hundreds of years. Moira felt the comfortable weight of him pressed against her. She could feel his hard arousal aching, and something twitched inside. Her eyelids fluttered, and she reached the point where she didn’t know if this was reality or fantasy.