Chapter 19

19

"Iken ye hate to admit it, but ye are having fun."

Cameron bumped his brother's shoulder with his own, nearly knocking himself off balance as he hit Daniel's solid frame. Daniel chuckled as Cameron struggled to stay on his feet.

"And ye have had too much to drink."

Cameron denied this before sauntering over to the dance floor, content to dance with himself. Daniel shook his head at his brother, though he realized Cameron's words weren't too far from the truth. It was strange to realize he was dangerously close to happiness. As he scanned the room, he could hardly believe the great hall was teeming with such life.

It had been a long time since Daniel had hosted a party. He thought he would hate it, but after all of Cameron's talk about strengthening ties with neighboring clans, he was starting to think it wasn't such a bad setup. Daniel could stay in his castle and invite all the neighboring clans.

His eye caught Lana on the dance floor, spinning around with her brother. As if sensing his eye on her, she looked up with a hint of a smile on her lips. Daniel felt drawn to her, and he was suddenly walking toward them.

"May I?" he asked, once he stood beside them.

Alexander smiled at him and stepped back to let him slide his arms around Lana for the next dance.

"Hello, husband," Lana greeted warmly.

Despite their angry words yesterday, things had softened between them. They were both caught up in the joy of the wedding and the well-wishes from all the friends and family around them.

"Hello, wife," Daniel returned.

Lana leaned in, and he wondered if she wanted to be kissed. He didn't dwell on it. He simply leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, teasing her gently with his tongue as he kept them in step with the dance.

The kiss had the desired effect, and Lana stepped closer to him, closing the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, long and slow. Nearby, Daniel heard someone clear his throat, and he glanced up to see Alexander glaring at him. Her brother was dancing with his wife, who had the opposite reaction, giving Lana a conspiratorial wink.

Daniel wouldn't be intimidated, though out of respect for her brother, he put some distance between himself and Lana. Still, he kept his mouth close to her ear as he whispered to her.

"Are ye ready to give up?" he asked.

His thoughts drifted to his study just down the hall. Perhaps he could whisk Lana inside without anyone noticing.

"Are ye ready to give in?" she asked back.

Daniel slid his hand down her back, though he stopped himself before he got too far. As much as he wanted to lift Lana into his arms and carry her out of this room, he knew it would cause a scandal that people wouldn't soon forget. And after the last scandalous wedding he had attended, he was trying his best to behave.

He resumed spinning her on the dance floor.

Angry voices carried to where they danced, interrupting their reverie. The pit in his stomach grew as he heard angry words and women's cries.

Daniel looked at the main entrance and saw soldiers bursting through the crowd, dressed for battle.

He found Cameron immediately, and the brothers rushed for their swords. Even intoxicated, Cameron knew a threat when he saw one, and Daniel didn't want anyone else by his side if they had to fight. The other men in the room began to gather with him, suddenly recognizing the danger.

Guests pressed themselves against the walls as the interlopers marched forward. After drawing his sword, Daniel searched the room for Lana and Skye, relieved when he saw them with Lana's sisters and mother. Alexander and Magnus were suddenly at Daniel's shoulders, and the group moved forward to meet the soldiers, who stopped in the center of the dance floor.

"What is the meaning of this?" Daniel boomed. He noted the green and gold of the soldiers' tartan, and as the men parted, he knew with certainty who would emerge from behind them.

Laird MacDougal stepped forward, his hair grayer and his stomach rounder, but Daniel would recognize his ex-father-in-law anywhere.

He stepped forward and stood face-to-face with Evelyn's father and Skye's grandfather.

"Where is the woman ye've chosen to replace me daughter?"

Lana pulled Skye closer to her, scanning the room to see if she could get the girl away from this terrifying intrusion.

"Who is this?" Skye whispered.

Lana gave her a reassuring hug while she kept her eyes locked on the fight occurring in the center of the room. Daniel's men fought against Laird MacDougal's soldiers, the clashing of their swords echoing through the room. As the soldiers were distracted, Lana walked Skye toward the perimeter of the room, seeking escape.

"What are ye doing, MacDougal?" Daniel growled, facing off against the man. "Ye arenae welcome here."

"Aye," Laird MacDougal said, pacing in front of Daniel as if he owned the place. "I understood that when I dinnae receive an invitation."

He stepped backward, sending another group of men in Daniel's direction.

Lana pushed Skye's face against her shoulder as Alexander and Magnus surged forward to join forces with Daniel and Cameron. The wedding guests watched with shocked faces and horrified gasps as the happy celebration turned into a nightmare.

Daniel surged forward, but the soldiers outnumbered him, and the crowd cried out as one of them pushed him backward.

"Papa!" The little girl's cry cut through the gasps and grunts, and suddenly all eyes were on Lana and Skye.

Lana pulled Skye back, placing a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Laird MacDougal turned to them, and his eyes locked directly with Lana's.

"Get the child!" he cried.

Lana took off for the corridor. Her heart pounded in her chest as the soldiers surged, trying to cut off their exit. But Daniel was even faster. He took the opportunity to race forward, shoving Laird MacDougal's soldiers out of the way until he stood beside Lana and Skye, his sword poised to protect them. Laird MacDougal's soldiers rushed forward, and Daniel raised his sword, ready to single-handedly take them out.

"Enough!" Laird MacDougal boomed.

His soldiers stopped and turned to him, waiting as he strolled casually toward the group. Lana watched him cautiously, still holding Skye close to her.

"Look at yer little family," Laird MacDougal said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "How quaint."

"Go home, MacDougal," Daniel snapped. He took a step forward, shielding Lana and Skye with his body.

Lana felt Laird MacDougal's eyes on her, sizing her up.

"So this is the woman who has replaced me daughter."

Daniel took another step forward, raising his sword, but Lana rushed forward to stand beside him, giving him the smallest of nods. She turned to Laird MacDougal's wrinkled face and his thinning gray hair, and told herself to be brave.

"I daenae wish to replace yer daughter, Laird MacDougal." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I only wish to care for yer granddaughter however I can."

Laird MacDougal glared at her with hatred. "The only person who should care for her is her maither," he shot back before turning to Daniel. "It is yer fault her maither isnae here to do so. And now ye have quickly replaced her with another woman. What sort of example is this for yer daughter?"

Lana felt Daniel itching to lunge at the man, but she interrupted, desperate to deescalate the situation and avoid any bloodshed in front of the child.

"Laird MacDougal, I think we have started this conversation poorly. I must welcome ye to this celebration. It is an honor to have ye grace our wedding."

"An honor?" Laird MacDougal turned from her and spit directly onto the polished floor. "Some honor when ye dinnae invite me."

"Ye willnae speak like that to me wife," Daniel growled, finally bursting forward.

He raised his sword toward Laird MacDougal, but a soldier suddenly burst forward, blocking him. They pushed against each other, their swords locked as Daniel and Laird MacDougal glared at each other.

"It was a mistake, Laird MacDougal," Lana cried out, the panic stark in her voice. "Please, join us for the celebration. Ye do wish this to be a happy memory for yer granddaughter, do ye nae?"

Laird MacDougal narrowed his eyes at her as Daniel and the soldier pushed against one another, their blades locked. Lana sent up a silent prayer, as the room held its breath. Finally, Laird MacDougal turned away with a snort and waved his hand in the soldier's direction, telling him to stand down.

"She isnae worth it," he said. Lana couldn't help the flush of embarrassment she felt, though she knew she would never please him. "Ye have replaced me daughter without permission, and ye have chosen poorly."

He gestured for his soldiers to follow him, and they crossed toward the door.

But Daniel chased after him. "Ye have nay say over who I marry," he growled. "Nay one questions me choices."

"Let him go, Daniel," Cameron cried as he appeared next to Lana.

Laird MacDougal whipped around. "Ye took me daughter from me," he hissed. "And ye have kept me granddaughter from me all this time. There is only so much loss one man can take."

Lana saw his hand drift toward his sword, and she instinctually stepped forward, pressing Skye into Cameron's arms. She did not think as the words flew out of her mouth.

"Laird MacDougal," she cried, drawing the attention of every person in the room. "I want to apologize to ye. It wasnae right that we dinnae invite ye to the wedding."

The man looked at her carefully, and she wondered if he was trying to gauge her sincerity. She took it as a win that he held his tongue, and she pressed on.

"Of course ye should attend, since ye have a granddaughter in this castle. It is only right that ye should meet the woman who will have a hand in raising her."

Lana saw the smallest falter in Laird MacDougal's stance, and he dropped his hand from the sword at his hip. She regarded him carefully and then made her move.

"We would like ye to stay," she said. "It would mean a lot to yer granddaughter if ye would join the celebration."

She kept her eyes trained on him, knowing she couldn't look at Daniel for fear he would shoot her a glare of hatred or betrayal.

"It's time for ye to get to ken yer granddaughter," Lana continued. "Please, join the party. Ye and yer men are welcome here."

Laird MacDougal's gaze flicked to Skye, who was in Cameron's arms. He took in the room for a moment, as if finally recognizing the chaos he had caused. He seemed to weigh his options, and then, just as Lana thought she couldn't hold her breath any longer, he gave a single nod.

"Very well," he said. "We will stay."