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Then she leans forward and presses a quick kiss to my mouth—unexpected, firm, as if sealing the confession between us.

I swallow, the weight of the moment settling over me again.

“I want ye to say it plain,” I murmur. “Afore the Gods—afore the sea that’s watched us all our lives. Say ye take me.”

She gives me that look, as if I’m ridiculous for even asking.

“I’ve just agreed to marry you, you daft man.”

“True enough,” I say, smiling. “But I enjoy hearing you say ye choose me.”

Her throat moves as she swallows.

Then she nods, sharp. “Every day, from now until forever.”

My chest aches. The good kind of pain. The kind that means something has finally gone right.

“And I’ll still have my wedding,” she adds, eyeing me as if daring me to argue.

“You can have whatever you want,” I say, and the truth of it rings in my bones. “A wedding. A feast. A church full of folk watchin’ me swear myself to you. Ask it, and I’ll see it done. But I want this for now. I willnae wait another minute without you as mine.”

I place the worn strip of tartan upon our joined hands like a vow made visible.

Ellen watches with wide, shining eyes.

I loop the cloth and knot it carefully, tying my life to hers.

We stand with our hands bound, palms pressed, skin to skin.

The world hushes around us.

I lift our joined hands and press my forehead to them.

“Ellen,” I say, voice thick. “Mo ghràdh.”

Her lips tremble.

“James,” she whispers back.

I lift my head, meet her gaze.

“I give you my word,” I say. “My name. My strength. My mistakes. My whole damned heart.”

Tears gather despite the fierce set of her chin.

“I give you mine,” she says, and her voice is fierce with it. “And you willnae take it lightly.”

“Never,” I promise.

She draws in a breath, then lets it out slow.

“I’ll argue with you,” she says, a brave kind of humour trembling through her voice. “I’ll make ye miserable.”

A breath of laughter escapes me. “Aye. I’m countin’ on it.”

“But I will love you,” she finishes, quieter now, as if saying it again still scares her.

I step closer until our bound hands rest between us like a sacred thing.