Chapter 23
The walk back to the castle felt surreal.
Piper’s arm throbbed with every step, and she could feel blood seeping through the makeshift bandage Elijah had fashioned from a strip of his shirt. But none of that seemed to matter compared to what had just happened.
Elijah loved her.
Had asked her to marry him.
And she’d said yes.
I’m goin’ to marry him. I’m goin’ to be his wife.
The thought was dizzying. Terrifying. Wonderful.
“Are ye all right?” Elijah asked, his arm steady around her waist, supporting her weight. “Do ye need to rest?”
“I’m fine,” Piper said, though her legs felt shaky. “I just… I cannae quite believe this is real. Any of it.”
“It’s real,” Elijah said firmly. “All of it. Ye’re safe. Yer parents are in custody. And ye… ye’re goin’ to be me wife.”
“Aye.” Piper looked up at him, at his strong profile in the moonlight. “I am, arenae I?”
“Havin’ second thoughts already?” There was a hint of teasing in his voice, but also uncertainty. As if he couldn’t quite believe she’d agreed either.
“Nay. Never.” Piper squeezed his hand with her good arm. “I love ye, Elijah. And I meant what I said. I want to be yers.”
“Ye already are mine,” Elijah murmured, pulling her closer. “Have been since the moment ye ran into me arms in that forest. I just dinnae want to admit it to meself.”
“Why nae?”
“Because admittin’ it meant admittin’ I’d failed to protect me heart. That despite all me vows to never let anyone close again, ye’d somehow slipped past every defense I had.” He paused. “And that terrified me.”
“Does it still terrify ye?”
“Aye,” Elijah admitted. “But nae as much as the thought of losin’ ye does. That, that’s far worse.”
They reached the castle gates, and the guards immediately straightened to attention. Their eyes widened when they saw the blood on both Elijah and Piper, but they didn’t ask questions. Just opened the gates and let them through.
The courtyard was empty except for—
“Da!”
Connor’s voice rang out, and suddenly both children were running toward them, Amara close behind. Connor reached them first, launching himself at Elijah with enough force to nearly knock him back.
“Ye’re alive! Ye’re both alive!” Connor was crying, his small hands clutching at Elijah’s shirt. “I thought… I thought they might hurt ye! I thought—”
“Hush, lad.” Elijah shifted his grip on Piper so he could wrap his free arm around his son. “We’re both fine. Everyone’s fine.”
“Miss Armstrong!” Masie stopped a few feet away, her face pale in the torchlight. “Ye’re… ye’re hurt!” Her eyes had locked on Piper’s bloody arm.
“It’s just a scratch,” Piper said, trying to smile reassuringly. “I’m all right.”
But Amara’s sharp eyes had already noticed. She moved closer, her expression shifting from relief to concern. “That’s nae just a scratch, dear. That needs tendin’ to immediately.”
“I’m fine—” Piper started.
Amara caught her eye, and Piper saw the older woman’s gaze flick to the children, then back. A silent question:
Do they need to ken how bad it is?
Piper gave a tiny shake of her head. The children had been through enough tonight. They didn’t need to see how deep the cut actually was, how much blood she’d lost.
“Perhaps ye’re right,” Amara said smoothly, understanding immediately. “Just a scratch that needs cleanin’ and bandagin’. Come, children. Let’s give yer faither and Miss Armstrong some space while they get cleaned up.”
“But—” Connor protested.
“But nothin’,” Amara said firmly. “They’re both safe, they’re both home, and that’s what matters. Now come. I believe Cook left some honey cakes in the kitchen, and I think after tonight, we’ve all earned a sweet treat.”
“Honey cakes?” Connor’s tears slowed. “Really?”
“Really. Come on, both of ye.” Amara began herding the children away, but not before catching Elijah’s eye. “The healin’ room is ready. I had them prepare it the moment Harris brought the children back.”
“Thank ye, Maither,” Elijah said quietly.
Amara’s expression softened. “I’m just glad ye’re both safe. Now go. Get that arm seen to before she loses any more blood.”
She led Connor and Masie away, their questions and protests fading as they disappeared into the keep.
“Yer maither is very perceptive,” Piper observed.
“Aye. She doesnae miss much.” Elijah guided Piper toward a different entrance. “Come on. The healin’ room is this way.”
They walked through quiet corridors; most of the castle was asleep at this hour, until they reached a room that smelled of herbs and clean linen.
Elijah lit several candles, illuminating shelves lined with jars and bottles, a large table in the center, and a basin of water that had already been prepared.
“Sit,” Elijah said, gesturing to the table.
Piper climbed up, wincing as the movement pulled at her injured arm. Now that the adrenaline was fading, the pain was becoming more noticeable. Sharp and throbbing.
Elijah moved around the room with surprising efficiency, gathering supplies. Clean cloth. A needle and thread. A bottle of what looked like whisky. Various jars of salve and ointment.
“I dinnae ken ye had healin’ skills,” Piper said, watching him work.
“I daenae, really. But I’ve stitched up enough wounds over the years to manage.” He set the supplies on the table beside her, then carefully began unwrapping the makeshift bandage. “This is goin’ to hurt. I’m sorry.”
“I’ve had worse,” Piper said, then immediately regretted it when Elijah’s jaw tightened.
“Ye shouldnae have had any of this,” he said, his voice rough.
“None of it. Nae the scars on yer back. Nae the pain yer parents inflicted. And certainly nae this.” He finished removing the bandage, exposing the long, deep cut.
“I should have been faster. Should have stopped her before she slashed ye.”
“Elijah.” Piper waited until he looked at her. “This isnae yer fault. Ye saved me tonight. If ye hadnae been there, if ye hadnae come when ye did, I’d be dead. Or worse.”
“But ye’re hurt.”
“Aye. I’m hurt. But I’m alive. And I’m here. With ye. That’s what matters.”
Elijah was quiet for a moment, his fingers gentle as he cleaned the wound. Piper hissed when he poured whisky over it, the alcohol burning like fire, but she didn’t pull away.
“This is goin’ to need stitches,” Elijah said. “And I’m nae as skilled as a proper healer. It’ll scar.”
“I have plenty of scars already,” Piper said. “One more willnae make a difference.”
“It makes a difference to me.” Elijah’s voice was fierce. “Every mark on yer skin is a reminder of the people who hurt ye. And I hate it. I hate that ye carry those scars. Hate that I cannae erase them.”
“Ye daenae need to erase them,” Piper said softly. “They’re part of me story. Part of what made me who I am. And if I hadnae gone through all of that, if I hadnae suffered the way I did, I wouldnae have ended up here. With ye. So maybe, maybe those scars were worth it.”
Elijah looked at her for a long moment, something intense and unreadable in his eyes. Then he bent and pressed a kiss to her uninjured arm, just above the wrist.
“Ye’re too forgivin’,” he murmured. “Too kind.”
“I’m nae kind. I’m practical.” Piper watched as he threaded the needle. “And I ken that anger and bitterness only hurt the person carryin’ them. I’ve seen what it does. What it did to ye, after Catherine died.”
Elijah’s hands stilled. “What do ye mean?”
“Ye blamed yerself for her death. Let guilt and rage eat away at ye until there was nothin’ left but duty and distance.” Piper’s voice was gentle. “I daenae want that for meself. I daenae want to spend the rest of me life angry at people who arenae worth the effort of hatin’.”
“But they hurt ye.”
“Aye. They did. And they’ll pay for it. But that doesnae mean I need to carry their poison in me heart.
” Piper took a breath as Elijah made the first stitch.
The pain was sharp but bearable. “I’d rather fill me heart with better things.
With ye. With the children. With the life we’re goin’ to build together. ”
Elijah worked in silence for a moment, his stitches neat and careful despite his claimed lack of skill. When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.
“How are ye so wise? So… so good?”
“I’m nae good. I’m just tired of hurtin’.” Piper watched his face as he concentrated on her arm. “And I daenae want me parents to take anythin’ more from me than they already have. They’ve stolen enough of me life. I willnae let them steal me future too.”
“What do ye want me to do with them?” Elijah asked, finishing another stitch. “I’ll have them tried and imprisoned if ye want. Or I can banish them from me lands entirely. Whatever ye choose, I’ll make it happen.”
Piper considered the question. Part of her—the part that still remembered every beating, every cruel word—wanted them punished. Wanted them to suffer the way she’d suffered.
But the larger part, the part that wanted to move forward instead of staying trapped in the past, knew that revenge wouldn’t heal her.
“Send them away,” she said finally. “Far away. Somewhere they cannae reach me or hurt me ever again. Let them live with their choices, but make sure those choices daenae impact me anymore.”
“Ye’re too forgivin’,” Elijah repeated, his voice almost wondering.
“I’m nae forgivin’ them,” Piper corrected. “I’m just choosin’ nae to let them matter anymore. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”
“Aye. Forgiveness would mean absolution. Lettin’ go of what they did.
But I’ll never do that. I’ll never forget or excuse their actions.
” Piper’s voice hardened. “But I also refuse to let their cruelty define the rest of me life. I refuse to let them stain any more of me soul than they already have.”
Elijah finished the last stitch and tied it off carefully. Then he cleaned the wound again and began applying a salve that smelled of lavender and something else Piper couldn’t identify.
“They dinnae stain ye,” he said quietly.
“Nae really. Ye’re, ye’re one of the purest souls I’ve ever met, Piper.
Ye’ve been through hell, and yet ye still choose kindness.
Still choose to protect others. Still choose love over hate.
” He wrapped clean bandages around her arm, his touch gentle. “That’s nae stained. That’s beautiful.”
Piper felt tears prick at her eyes. “Ye really believe that?”
“I ken it.” Elijah finished with the bandages and looked up at her. “Ye have a beautiful soul, Piper Armstrong. And I’m honored that ye’re goin’ to let me spend the rest of me life provin’ it to ye.”
“Elijah—” Piper’s voice caught.
“I mean it. Every word.” He moved closer, standing between her legs where she sat on the table. “Ye deserve everythin’ good in this world. And I’m goin’ to do me best to give it to ye.”
“I daenae need everythin’,” Piper said softly. “I just need ye.”
“Ye have me. Always.” Elijah cupped her face with both hands. “I love ye, Piper. More than I thought I was capable of lovin’ anyone. And I’m goin’ to spend every day makin’ sure ye never doubt that.”
“I love ye too,” Piper whispered. “So much it scares me sometimes.”
“Good,” Elijah said, a smile tugging at his lips. “Ye should be scared. Love is terrifyin’. But it’s also—”
“Worth it,” Piper finished. “It’s worth the fear.”
“Aye. It is.”
He kissed her then, soft and sweet and full of promise. Not the desperate, frantic kiss from the clearing, but something gentler. Something that spoke of futures and forevers.
When they finally pulled apart, Piper rested her forehead against his.
“What happens now?” she asked.
“Now?” Elijah’s hands stroked her hair. “Now we tell the children that their governess is goin’ to become their maither. We plan a weddin’. We build a life together.” He paused. “And we make sure yer parents never hurt ye again.”
“And tomorrow? What happens to them tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, I’ll have them escorted to the border.
Given enough supplies to reach the next territory, but nay more.
They’ll be banned from ever returnin’ to McMahon lands on pain of death .
” Elijah’s voice hardened. “And I’ll make sure every laird in the Highlands kens what they did.
Kens they’re nae to be trusted. They’ll find it very difficult to ply their schemes anywhere else. ”
“Thank ye,” Piper said. “For everythin’. For savin’ me. For lovin’ me. For givin’ me a future I never thought I’d have.”
“Ye daenae need to thank me for lovin’ ye, lass. Ye make it far too easy.” Elijah kissed her forehead. “Now come. Let’s get ye to bed. Ye’ve lost blood, and ye need rest.”
“Will ye stay with me?” The question came out before Piper could think better of it. “Just until I fall asleep? I daenae… I daenae want to be alone tonight.”
“I’ll stay as long as ye need,” Elijah promised. “Always.”
He helped her down from the table, his arm steady around her waist. And as they walked through the quiet castle toward her chambers, Piper felt something she’d never really felt before.
Safe.
Loved.
At home.
She’d spent so much of her life running, hiding, surviving. But now, now she could finally stop.
Because Elijah had found her. Had chosen her. Had promised to love her for the rest of their lives. And for the first time in twenty-four years, Piper Armstrong believed that maybe, just maybe, she deserved it.
All of it.
The love. The safety. The happy ending she’d never dared to dream of.
She was going to be a wife. A mother. Part of a family.
And nothing—not her parents, not her past, not her own lingering doubts—was going to take that away from her.
Not anymore.