Epilogue

One Month Later

The air wasbright and filled with the scent of heather and blooming flowers. The walls of Castle Muir shone in the sunlight, with the banners of the Muir, Clyde, MacDean, MacNichols, and MacLoughty clans adorning the walls.

Laughter filled the air, and Ailis smiled as she watched the gathered witnesses mingle and speak with each other. Among the chatter of adult voices, she could hear the laughter of children as Lily played some game or another with the children who'd accompanied her friends.

Today was Ailis's wedding day, and she couldn't imagine a more perfect day to marry the love of her life.

Over the past three weeks, she and Lily and Duncan had grown closer. Even more amazing, Duncan had slowly emerged from his isolation, anger, and grief. He would always be somewhat of a stern laird, but he'd made friends among the lairds of nearby clans and begun to build alliances.

And amidst those he trusted, he smiled and laughed more freely.

The chime of a small bell and the sound of bagpipes drew everyone's attention to the gardens. Adults coraled children, and Ailis hurried to take her place next to her father at the end of the gardens.

She'd considered holding the ceremony on the beach, but she didn't want to worry about the rocks or waves. Besides, with the spring flowers in full bloom, the garden was a riot of colors, as if nature itself was celebrating the joyous occasion.

The witnesses were assembled on either side of a narrow path toward the center of the gardens. Maisie, Leona, and Isobel stood in front of her. They would be her witnesses, while their husbands, and Jack, would be Duncan's.

Grace and Freya were standing to the side. Young as they were, she'd hesitated to designate them among those who would accompany them to the altar.

Then she'd remembered what Lily had said during their first meeting so many nights ago—about wishing she had siblings. With Duncan's permission, she'd given Grace and Freya the task of watching over Lily for the duration of the preparations and the ceremony.

Their first meeting had been punctuated by Lily's happy statement. "Good day. I'm Lily, and yer sister Ailis is going to marry me faither. Does that mean we'll be sisters too, or…" A look of wide-eyed wonder. "Are ye me new aunts? I've so many uncles, but I've never had an aunt before!"

Freya had hugged the child. "Of course, we're yer aunts. But ye ken, Ailis did a lot by way of raisin' us, like she was our maither. So, mayhap we can be yer aunts and sort of yer sisters too."

Lily went wide-eyed. "Ye can do that?"

"Dinnae see why nae."

Lily considered that for a moment, then latched onto one of Freya's hands and one of Grace's. "Do ye want to see me puppy?"

From the smile on Grace's face, Ailis had a feeling they'd all come to rue the friendship between the three girls, but she couldn't bring herself to regret what she'd started.

And that was far from the only friendship that had developed over the days between Clan Fraser's attack and their wedding day.

After their unfortunate first meeting, Keith and Duncan had struck up a surprisingly strong friendship and slowly drawn Graham and Caelan into their circle, forming a group of men who enjoyed hunting and friendly contests while their wives enjoyed their book club.

The bagpipes began to play the procession music, pulling Ailis back to the present. She followed her friends on her father's arm. When Maisie stepped to the side, her breath caught in her throat.

Duncan stood dressed in a soft cream shirt, his sword polished to a shine and his kilt and sash almost glowing in the sunlight. His shiny dark hair was braided into a warrior's band, and his cerulean eyes sparkled with joy.

She'd thought he was breathtaking the first time she'd seen him. But joy had transformed a handsome man into a figure who could have made a Fae prince blush with embarrassment.

Her father led her up to stand beside him as the music faded. Duncan held out his hand, and she placed hers in it as the priest spoke the first words.

"Who brings this man to be wed to this woman today?"

"I, Jack Wallace, do hereby present me braither, Duncan Wallace, Laird of Clan Muir, to be wed today."

"And who brings this woman to be wed today to this man?"

"I, James Anderson, Laird of Clan Clyde, do hereby present me daughter, Ailis Anderson, to be wed today."

"Then we will now proceed with the ceremony. Ye have chosen to be wed by the older handfastin' rituals?"

"Aye."

Ailis stood, her hand in Duncan's as the ribbons were wrapped around their wrists and the ritual vows were spoken. The priest gave the ribbons several sharp tugs, and then her father and Jack tried to pull them apart. The bonds held through every effort, as Ailis had known they would.

Then it was time for the exchange of the rings. Ailis slid the ring she'd chosen for Duncan onto his finger and received his ring in return. Then her father ritually removed the tartan of Clan Clyde, which Duncan and Jack replaced with the tartan of Clan Muir.

The final blessing was uttered, and the symbolic bonds were released. Duncan's hand was warm around hers as the priest declared, "I now declare ye husband and wife. Ye may kiss the bride!"

Duncan's kiss was everything she could have hoped for, and she would have happily fallen into it forever if a discrete cough hadn't interrupted them.

Then two of them turned to face their guests, and the priest made the final announcement. "I give ye Laird and Lady Muir!"

The cheers echoed off the stone walls, but the most delightful by far was Lily's shout as she broke free of her guard's supervision and raced forward. "Ailis!"

Ailis swept the girl into a hug as she clung to her waist.

Lily looked up at her with bright eyes. "I can finally call ye Maither!"

Ailis laughed through tears of joy. "Absolutely, ye can, Lily-love."

Hand in hand, the three of them went to lead the assembled guests into the wedding feast.

* * *

Duncan watched his daughter and his new wife chattering together amid the laughter of their gathered friends and family. It was hard to believe how much his life had changed in the past month.

Ailis had brought sunlight and friendship and joy back into his life, along with the childish sense of wonder that accompanied Lily in the wake of her new freedom.

Since Scott Ferguson's death, Duncan and Ailis had taken the child beyond the castle several times, on trips to the seashore and the surrounding Highlands.

They'd also accompanied Ailis back to Castle MacDean when she went to visit her friend—not as a retreat, but to plan the wedding.

He was no longer isolated, and now he was even thinking of rebuilding the old castle. Ailis had shown him the truth—in his need to hide, he'd forgotten to live.

‘Tis God's blessin' that she sent me those letters, never kennin' I'd read them. But I'm glad I did.

A shout of surprise drew his attention to a nearby table, where Lily was eating with her new friends, including Ailis's two younger sisters. All of the children were looking at the floor. An instant later, he saw why.

A small, furry body wriggled out from under the table and darted off, a scrap of meat clutched firmly between his tiny fangs.

Lily looked up with an amusingly indignant expression. "Maither, Faither, the puppy stole our food!"

Ailis laughed as she joined the children and ruffled Lily's hair. "Aye, it did. Ye'll have to be more careful now that they're more active and eatin' solid food. But that didnae look like Moonspot."

"It wasnae Moonspot. I think it was Muddy. Or Jack-Hopper. I couldnae see his paws afore he ran off."

"Muddy?" Kat blinked and wrinkled her nose.

"It's his name, ‘cause he's all brown and likes to roll in the dirt. And Jack-Hopper likes to jump around, and his paws are the color of Uncle Jack's hair. Moonspot's better behaved, but Faither made me leave her in me room." Lily sighed. "I wanted to bring her with me to the weddin', but…"

"But she'd sit still even less than ye would, me wee lass." Ailis hugged the youngster. "I hope ye're havin' fun today, though."

"I am. I've got friends and new aunts and everythin'! Today's almost perfect," Lily announced.

Curious, Duncan stepped closer to them as Ailis asked the question that was on his mind.

"Almost? And what would make the day better for ye, little lass?"

Lily smiled brightly. "I've been wantin' a braither or sister. Grace and Freya said they'd be me sisters, but they're older than me, and sometimes they have to be me aunts, so it isnae the same as an always braither or sister. But now I have a maither and a faither both, that means I can have one, right?"

"Well, maybe nae immediately, but I'll certainly discuss the matter with yer faither." Ailis was flushed crimson with embarrassment, but it looked like it was taking everything she had not to burst out laughing.

She was far from the only one.

Duncan grinned, then swooped in to wrap an arm around Ailis's waist and lift her into his arms.

Ailis made an indignant sound. "What are ye doin', Duncan?"

"Our daughter has made a very important request, wife. I think ‘tis imperative we discuss it in private. At once." He smirked at her as he carried her out of the Grand Hall and into a small corridor.

"Ye…" Ailis's halfhearted protest dissolved into laughter. "And what do ye think of our daughter's request?"

Duncan set her down, her back against the wall as he caged her smaller body with his own. He lowered his voice to a seductive purr that he knew could make her melt. "I think ‘tis an excellent idea. We should get started on fulfillin' her wish at once. And while we're at it, we can continue fulfillin' more of yer fantasies… and mine…"

Ailis blushed but slapped his chest in a scolding manner. "We've guests, Duncan! And wee ones as well."

"Even so…" He bent to kiss her firmly on the lips, before pressing his lips to the curve of her jaw. "There's nay…" Kiss. "Harm in…" Kiss. "Gettin' plenty of practice."

Ailis put a hand on the side of his face and planted a firm kiss on his lips. "Nae right now, me love. But later tonight… we can certainly practice as much as we both like." She smiled at him.

Duncan huffed, but then he relaxed. "Och, ye're a terrible tease and a minx, but I can accept those terms." He sighed. "I love ye."

"And I love ye as well. Now, let's go and celebrate our weddin'. We can enjoy our marriage later."

Duncan smiled softly and followed his wife, already looking forward to their wedding night.

He wondered what fantasy they'd be fulfilling that night.

The End?