Epilogue
One Year Later
Ada stood beside William in the great hall of Tantallion Castle, which the king had bestowed upon William for his service. The Steward and his sons had been captured and imprisoned, and the rogue lairds’ castles had been seized, and all felt well in the world.
She gazed in complete and utter happiness at the gentle and protective way William cradled their son in his arms. For a warrior known far and wide as Wolf, it made her chuckle to see him coo at Rhys as he was doing now.
The hall buzzed while all the people who had come to witness Rhys’s blessing day chattered happily. Ada smiled contentedly, as did William, but to their right, Bram and Marjorie appeared tense, and to the left, Thomas and Grant did, as well. Esther, who stood by Thomas, was the only one of their closest friends who had a calm expression upon her face. That was no surprise, seeing as how Ada now knew Hortense and Portense had long ago worked the little bit of magic their father had allowed them to use to compel Esther to leave the nunnery and journey to Ada’s home to watch over her after her mother’s death.
Ada caught William’s eyes upon her, and when he cocked a questioning eyebrow, she nodded, giving her husband permission to reveal their well-guarded secret to their most trusted family and friends. Before he could speak, however, Marjorie stepped close, wringing her hands, and whispered, “Are ye nae worried the fae will come and try to give Rhys a gift?”
Ada shook her head, knowing well that Hortense and Portense were just about here. Maximilian, who she’d discovered the fae had blessed with the breath of life when he was a babe discarded near the woods by the nunnery, would be accompanying them, as well as Hella and Freya, whom Ada had missed terribly.
Bram moved to Marjorie’s side, putting him directly in front of William. “Brother, why do ye nae seem concerned?”
“Because,” William said, keeping his voice low, “I ken the fae will give Rhys a gift.”
“But it will be a good one,” Ada finished just as quietly.
“How do ye ken such a thing?” Grant asked, as he too had moved close to them.
“Aye, tell us,” Thomas said, moving in beside Grant once more.
Ada smiled and motioned them all forward. “Because,” she said, “after Rhys was born, my intuitions returned. But,” she hastened to add, lest they misunderstand, “they are only about him. And I have a strong instinct that the fae are going to gift him with something…furry.”
In that very moment, the door to the great hall swung open, and Hortense and Portense entered with Hella and Freya trotting beside them. Maximilian walked behind them, leading along three snow-white puppies with silver eyes.
Excited to see William’s reaction at the secret she’d kept from him, she turned and laughed at his confused look. “Three pups?” he asked, his voice cracking. “I thought ye said one.”
Ada grinned. “I lied. I wanted to surprise ye.”
“Why three?” He still appeared baffled.
She grasped his hand and brought it to her stomach. “One for Rhys, and one for each babe in my belly.”
“By God!” he exclaimed. “I have nae ever been happier in all my life.”
And with that, he pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in the love she had always dreamed of.
I hope you enjoyedThe Heart of A Highlander. If you feel inclined to leave a review, it would be much appreciated. Reviews are the single best way other readers can discover my books! You can leave a review by clicking here:The Heart of a Highlander.
If you loved myHIGHLANDER VOWS: ENTANGLED HEARTSseries then I think you will love my new Historical Romance series,RENEGADE SCOTS! The first book in the series,OUTLAW KING, is now available. Enjoy a glimpse into the story below.
Prologue
1296
Northern Scotland
Revolt had its own scent. It was one of burning wood and flesh, fetid wounds and rancid sweat, and it lay heavy in the air. Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, smelled it with every breath he took.
“Rebellion surrounds us,” Laird Niall Campbell said, pride ringing in his voice.
Bright-orange flames leaped into the sky from the destroyed guard towers that flanked the raised drawbridge to Andrew Moray’s castle, which Robert had been commanded to invade.Commanded.The word reverberated in his head, making his temples throb. He glanced to his friend who sat mounted beside him. Perspiration trickled down Robert’s back beneath his battle armor, and the moans of captured men reached his ears. Gut-hollowing guilt choked him. “We’re on the wrong side of the fight,” he said low, acknowledging out loud what they both knew.
Niall hitched a bushy red eyebrow as hope alighted in his eyes. “Dunnae tease me, Robbie,” he whispered, ever careful, though they were far enough away from Richard Og de Burgh that the King of England’s man would not be able to hear them. “Dunnae say such a thing unless ye are ready to disregard yer father’s dictate.”
“I’m ready,” Robert replied, meaning it. The desire to follow his heart and defy his father, who demanded blind obedience to a plan that no longer had worth, had been building for months. Now, in this moment, it felt as if it would cleave him in two, it beat so strongly within him.
