Epilogue
One week later
"Braither."
Lachlann looked up from the accounts spread across his desk to find Calum standing in the doorway of his solar, travel-worn and grinning, a sealed letter in his hand.
He was on his feet immediately. "Calum. When did ye arrive?"
"Just now. Rode straight through from England tae Edinburgh." Calum crossed the room and clasped his arm in greeting. "I have news."
"The king's reply?"
"Aye." Calum held up the letter. "And ye're goin' tae want tae read it."
Lachlann took it and broke the seal, his eyes scanning the formal script quickly. The king acknowledged receipt of his correspondence. The warrant was voided. Torquil's claim was invalid. Lachlann's actions were justified.
Alba was free.
He looked up at Calum. "How did ye manage this so quickly?"
"Let's just say the king was nae pleased to learn Torquil had manipulated him."
"I imagine nae." Lachlann folded the letter carefully. "Where's Alba?"
"The east garden, last I was told."
"Someone fetch her," Lachlann called toward the door, then turned back to Calum. "Thank ye, braither."
"Ye're me braither and she's me sister," Calum said. "What else was I goin' tae dae?" He paused, his expression turning more serious. "How is she? Truly?"
"She's—" Lachlann considered how to answer that. "She's stronger than she was. Still healin' from some of it. But she's here, and she's safe."
"Calum!"
They both turned as Alba appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up when she saw her brother.
She ran to him and Calum caught her in a tight embrace, his eyes closing briefly.
"Ye're all right," he said into her hair. "Thank God ye're all right."
"I'm all right," she said, pulling back to look at him. "Ye brought word from the king?"
"Aye." Calum gestured to the letter in Lachlann's hand. "It's over, Alba. All of it."
She stared at him for a moment, and then her knees buckled slightly. Lachlann was there immediately, his hand at her elbow, steadying her.
"Easy," he murmured.
"I'm all right," she said again, but her voice was shaking. "I just, it's truly over?"
"Aye," Lachlann said. "It's truly over."
She pressed her hands to her face and took a long breath. When she lowered them, her eyes were bright but clear.
"Good," she said. "That's––that's good."
Calum was watching her with the careful attention of someone who knew her well enough to see past the composure. "Alba. What happened here? Lachlann's letter said Torquil attacked."
"He's dead," Lachlann said flatly. "He came fer her with ships and men. We fought. I killed him."
Calum's eyebrows rose. "Ye killed him?"
"Aye."
"In single combat?"
"More or less."
"Good," Calum said, with the same finality Lachlann had used. Then he looked between them, his gaze sharpening. "Is there somethin' else I should ken?"
Alba glanced at Lachlann, and he saw the question in her eyes. He nodded slightly.
"We married," Alba said. "Two nights before the attack. In the chapel. It was fast, we had tae strengthen our position against the warrant."
Calum went very still. "Ye married."
"Aye."
"Without waitin' fer anyone's permission or even sendin' word."
"There wasnae time," Lachlann said. "Torquil's ships were in the water and the warrant was active. We needed to complicate his claim. "
"And did ye consummate it?" Calum asked bluntly.
Alba's face went red. "Calum."
"It's a legitimate question," Calum said. "If ye're claimin' marriage as a defense, it needs tae be a real marriage."
"It's real," Lachlann said, meeting Calum's eyes steadily. "In every way that matters."
Calum looked at him for a long moment, and Lachlann could see him processing it. Running through the implications, the timing, the necessity of it.
Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.
"Ye are bold, Lachlann," he said. “I’ll give ye that.”
"There wasnae time tae ask, although I did send ye a message, did ye nae receive it?" Lachlann said. "And if I'm bein' honest, braither, I wasnae certain ye'd approve."
"Approve?" Calum laughed. "Lachlann, I've been watchin' ye dance around each other ferever. I'm relieved ye all finally did somethin' about it, even if the circumstances were shite."
Alba blinked. "Ye kenned?"
"Of course I kenned. I've kent Lachlann since we were bairns, and I ken when he's interested in someone. And the way he wrote about ye in his letters," Calum shook his head. "It was obvious." He turned to Alba. "Are ye happy?"
She looked at Lachlann, and something in her expression softened. "Aye," she said. "I'm happy."
"And ye?" Calum asked Lachlann. "Are ye happy?"
"Aye," Lachlann said. "Very much."
Calum nodded, satisfied. "Then I give ye both me blessin'. Though it's a bit late fer it, considerin'."
"We'd like tae have a proper ceremony," Alba said. "With family present. And witnesses who arenae bein' woken in the middle of the night. If ye'd stand fer me?"
"Of course I'll stand fer ye," Calum said. "I'm yer braither. Though I expect tae be invited this time, nae just informed after the fact."
"Ye're invited," Alba said, smiling. "A fortnight from now, if ye can stay that long."
"I can stay," Calum said. "I took leave from court specifically fer this." He looked around the solar, then back at them. "So. Show me what needs rebuildin'. I want tae see what me sister's new home looks like."
They spent the afternoon walking the grounds, Calum assessing the damage from the battle with the practiced eye of someone who'd dealt with similar situations before.
He asked good questions, made useful suggestions, and by the time they returned to the castle for the evening meal, Lachlann found himself grateful all over again for the brotherhood they'd built over the years.
That night, after Calum had retired to his guest chamber, Lachlann found Alba in their room, sitting by the window and looking out at the darkened glen.
"What are ye thinkin'?" he asked, crossing to her.
"That me braither approves of ye," she said. "That the king has absolved us. That Torquil is dead and his claim is void and I'm actually, truly free." She looked up at him. "It still daesnae feel real."
"It will," he said. "Give it time."
She stood and moved into his arms, and he held her while the castle settled around them, the familiar sounds of evening wrapping them in a cocoon of normalcy that felt hard-won and precious.
She kissed him then, soft and slow, and he kissed her back and thought about how much had changed. How a woman he'd taken in out of obligation had become someone he couldn't imagine being without. How a marriage of necessity was also something real and true and entirely his own choice.
"I love ye," she said against his mouth.
"I love ye too," he said, and meant it with every part of himself.
But there’s more…
But Alba and Lachlann’s story doesn’t end here…