Sincerity laced her words and he dipped his head in acknowledgement. ’Twas time for a new beginning, for all of them. He’d been gifted with a mate, two cousins, and now a new mother when he’d been bereft of one for so very long.
“I’ve seen how deep your love for your fae kind is this past month.” Father squeezed Muirin’s hand. “Have discovered my ice queen has thawed and become someone I admire. ’Tis time for the fae to live, including all of us.”
“Here, here,” Duncan cheered. “A saying both Coll and I have embraced since the day Grace said those very words to us after her vision. Never will we forget them.”
“Speaking of visions.” Hamish grunted, his brown eyes clouding over. He grabbed the back of the closest chair and leaned against it. “’Tis another, and a rather strong one at that.”
“What do you see?” Muirin grasped Hamish’s arm and rubbed his back. “Speak.”
“I see Jeremiah and Colin MacKenzie.” He groaned, knuckles whitening around the wood. “Jeremiah confronts his father. Oh hell. Jeremiah’s livid, has just learnt the truth about Kyla’s fae blood. Colin said ’twas time.” He shoved his eyes open, his gaze clearing as it landed on Ronan. “Jeremiah sails now for Carron Castle. He wants what he’s been denied, the chance to make Kyla his bride. We need to leave, now.”
“I’ll allow no one to take Kyla from me, never again.” Ronan raced for the door, Duncan and Hamish one step behind him. She was his, and he’d ensure it.
Bolting upright in bed, Kyla squinted through the dark toward the window as the head guardsman’s shout resounded. She shoved the covers back and hopped across the cold polished planks and gripped the windowsill. The skies had lightened a touch, dawn so very close. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep after hearing of Hamish’s vision, not while Ronan rode so hard to return to her, but sheer exhaustion had taken ahold and she’d slipped under.
“Raise the portcullis!” The clunky rattle of the chains reverberated across the yard.
Horses’ hooves pounded then three riders galloped under the arch and hauled their mounts to a stop. The warrior at the party’s head bounded from his destrier in thick black boots, his plaid belted around his waist and claymore swaying at his side. Ronan. His short black hair blazed blue on the ends, was messed by the wind and when he glanced upward and found her at her window, his piercing golden gaze narrowed in on her and stated one thing loud and clear. He was coming, and wouldn’t be halted.
He stormed through the main doors while Duncan bellowed orders to his guardsmen on the battlements to secure the keep. The portcullis cranked down, the main gate swiftly barred, the postern gate too. The yard swarmed with men.
Wringing her hands, she paced her chamber, fussed with her hair, her fingers getting stuck within the usual frizzy mess she made of it when she slept at night.
A knock rattled the door and Ronan stepped inside, shut the door behind him and slid the bolt home. He scrutinized her from head to foot. “You. Fell. Asleep.”
“I didnae mean to.”
“I couldnae stand the loss of our connection.” He dropped his satchel next to the bed, unfastened his sword belt and propped his weapon against the headboard then unlaced his boots and toed them off. Leather jerkin unbuttoned and removed, he hauled his black tunic over his head, tossed his clothing on the upholstered red and gold brocade wingchair and dressed only in his kilt, halted in front of her.
“You are making yourself quite at home.” She touched one finger to his chest, swirled down over his golden skin then traced along the waistband of his tartan.
“From this moment forth, your bedchamber is my bedchamber.” He dipped his head, touched his forehead to hers. “I also intend on making you my wife, in every single way. Would you do me the great honor of marrying me, Kyla?”
“Aye, I would love to be your wife.” Excitement buzzed through her and she shuffled closer, touched the tips of her toes to his toes.
“Then I wish for you to wear my ring.” He removed a glittering ring from his sporran and taking her hand in his, set it on her palm.
“Oh my.” A large diamond with two beautiful sapphires either side sparkled bright atop a shiny band of gold. “’Tis so beautiful. Where did you get this from?”