Epilogue
Three Months Later
Lily laughed as she lunged at Killian, flipped her sword in her hand, and then launched an attack on him again.
He chuckled too, his eyes gleaming as he dodged her blow. Teaching Niamh swordsmanship was the favorite part of Lily’s day. She loved the life they had carved out for each other here. It was three months of bliss now, and she loved every second of being Killian’s wife and the lady of his keep.
“Ye always believe ye can best me in a duel,” Killian teased as he backed her into a corner and then slashed his sword over hers.
The sword fell from her hands, but she moved quickly and swept him off his feet with her leg.
He landed on the ground, groaned from the pain of the impact but laughed when she climbed over his body and straddled his thighs.
“I win again,” Lily announced with a wide smile just before Killian framed her cheeks with his hands and pulled her face closer to his for a kiss.
Neither of them recalled Niamh was with them till she cleared her throat.
“I am right here, people,” she announced, clapping her hands as Killian and Lily laughed while helping themselves to their feet.
“Did you learn anything?” Lily asked Niamh as she turned to her, grinning wide while she blushed from the recent kiss with her husband.
“Let me show ye my skill.”
Niamh spent the next few minutes showing Lily and Killian all she had learned in the past three months, then she did a back flip and landed on her feet with ease.
“Congratulations.” Lily applauded her while she smiled, but Niamh threw herself into her arms for a tight hug.
“Thank ye… Thank ye, Lily.”
Killian joined in the embrace, and they hugged for a long time before he pulled back. “Let us head back to the keep.”
Lily walked with him, and he linked their fingers, pulled her close to him, and then kissed her forehead.
“Ye think our bairns will ken how to fight with a sword?”
Lily laughed before she answered, “If they are our children, then they will be just as skilled as we are.”
She didn’t doubt that, and she also anticipated carrying his child, even though it hadn’t happened yet.
Lily wanted to enjoy every day with Killian while she could. It took them both a lot of pain to find each other, and she had built a life for herself here with him.
A life I would have never dreamt of having.
“Aunty Lily!” Laird McLennan’s daughter, Rose, called the next morning when Laird McLennan arrived with his family for their first visit since the wedding.
Lily grinned wide as she bent down and scooped little Rose into her arms. Then, she greeted Yvaine with a warm hug before moving on to Arran.
“It is good to see ye, Lily,” Arran said before nudging her in the side again.
“He missed ye a lot,” Yvaine teased just like she always did, and Lily joined in their laughter.
Killian’s heart warmed each time he saw Lily with children. He knew she would make a good mother, and he could not wait for her to carry his child.
Soon enough.
Killian suppressed a blush as he shook hands with Duncan, then greeted Amelia by kissing the back of her hand.
“Welcome to MacColl, Lady McLennan,” Killian greeted. “Welcome, all of ye. It is an honor to have ye visit my clan.”
“It is my pleasure,” Duncan responded with a pleasant smile.
“My lady!” Lily called in excitement, and she and Amelia hugged for a long time before they parted again.
Niamh joined them, and Killian watched as Lily and Niamh led Amelia to Lily’s chamber. Still grinning, he turned to Duncan. “Shall we discuss business now?”
“Of course,” Duncan said before matching his steps so they could get to his study.
They discussed a new business venture with the English merchant who had taken over Richard Easton’s business, and Killian knew they were going to be successful as they went over the details.
During supper, later that day, Lily wore a lovely green earasaid, and the moment Killian saw her emerge from their chamber, his breath hitched in his throat.
Lily rarely wore earasaids or decorated her hair like the other ladies of his clan, and she was the most beautiful woman in the world to him. He let himself enjoy watching her smile and the fullness of her cheeks as she greeted Rose with a light kiss on her cheeks.
The tantalizing rush of energy that surged through him was enough to charge his nerves.
“Ye’re bonnie,” he whispered to her when she sat by his side. He placed his hand over hers on the table, and seconds ticked away as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“Thank you.”
Lily’s flushed cheeks and round blue eyes made his desire for her burn hotter. Killian knew he would make love to her tonight, and he shivered in anticipation of what was to come.
They stole glances at each other the entire night. Killian enjoyed the light conversation about English traditions. Lily and Amelia told them all about the ton’s debutante balls and the frivolous parties the ladies of the ton were expected to show up at.
“I am lucky to have found my husband without doing any of that,” Amelia said and touched Duncan’s hand before they grinned at each other.
Killian’s gaze found Lily’s at that moment, and he whispered to her, “I love ye.”
Lily nodded softly. “I love you too.”
His love for her would last a lifetime, he was certain, and he would cherish her forever because he was lucky to have her.
The End?