“There’s nothing to forgive, father,” I said. “I’m grateful for the life I had, it brought me to where we are now. Even with all I’ve suffered, I wouldn’t change it for fear of losing something I care about.”
I met Bors’ gaze, and he smiled and nodded his agreement even as I wondered about all the details of my birth, my real mother, how I came to my fate…so much I didn’t know.
“Thank you, my dear,” the king said, looking up. “I am so grateful as well.”
It was all so incredibly overwhelming. In a matter of days, my life had been turned upside down. I had fallen in love, I had seen the death of the man I had thought was my father, I’d almost met my own end, feared my newfound love was lost, killed a man and now here I was, in the company of King Rowan, surrounded by such riches and extravagance that I felt unworthy to even look upon it all, never mind touch or enjoy it.
All I had known was gone, replaced by a world in which I felt I did not belong. I felt like I was standing on the shore while the sand was swept out from under my feet. I held onto Bors’ hand and locked eyes with him. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it, but somehow, he knew it all without my uttering a word.
He pressed my fingers to his lips, never looking away from me. In his eyes, I saw light and fire, love and adoration: all the things I had never imagined I would have—all the things I now knew I could never live without.
He took time with the kiss and said finally, “I love you. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be with you always.”
King Rowan frowned at those words, deep thought furrowing his brow, but I smiled. Such luxury and finery surrounded us, and somehow it was my birthright. But I would give it all up in an instant for my scarred clan warrior. I loved him, and I would not be separated from him.
Somehow, I knew, we would find a way for our love.
Sara
I regained my strength quickly and the doctor was pleased at how well I was healing. He said I would not suffer any lasting consequences for the attempt on my life.
I was relieved to hear it, but still had one important question that I was unsure how to ask. When I was left alone with my nursemaid, I finally asked her what was on my mind.
“Tell me truly. Will I still be able to bear children?”
She turned to face me over her shoulder, her eyes soft and warm. She was kindly and aged, like the grandmother I had never known.
“Yes, you will, child. And I hope you bless our kingdom with dozens of daughters and sons just as lovely as you.”
The next few days passed like a happy dream. I spent long hours with Bors and my father, and I learned all that had happened while I slept.
Clan Johnston had been forced to pay reparations for their part in my kidnapping, and for sanctioning the ill-fated attack on Angelica’s house. The king had placed Clan Mackay under his personal protection, meaning that any attempt at war would be swiftly and severely dealt with.
My father—the king—wanted to know every detail of all I could remember about my life to that point. My childhood, my upbringing, the man I had known as my father and many other things. What I did not know from my own experience, Bors was able to fill in for me, about Bardo and the Queen’s Guard, sharing what he knew or gathering information from contacts he made in the castle.
“I’m very grateful to you for returning her to me,” my father said to Bors, one afternoon at my bedside. “But I’m no fool and I have eyes. It’s clear to me that there is more to your relationship than captive and savior.”
Bors glanced at me and then at my father. “I was hoping to wait until Sara had regained her strength, but I guess now is as good a time as any.”
The king raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
“The truth is, your grace, with all due respect it doesn’t matter what you say. Sara is mine, not yours, and we would have been married before you even met her if not for the attack by the Clan Johnston men that forced us to flee.”
“Is that so?” My father was trying to stifle a smirk. I guessed he wasn’t used to being spoken to like this, and it tickled him to be treated as a normal man for once.
“As soon as she’s ready, I’m going to marry her. And I’d like to do it with your blessing. That is, if she’ll still have me?”