Epilogue
Days later, the Keep was returned to normal and funerals were held the day before for all those who had fallen. Except for Kira’s father, who was laid to rest in an unmarked grave so that descendants couldn’t find him and unknowingly mourn a man who had brought such torment to the lives around him.
They sat in the Grand Hall for the first time since their wedding, and this time it was to celebrate the end of the feuds that had long since plagued the Galbraith Clan.
MacDougal and Galbraith banners hung all around as decoration, MacDougal and his men present to celebrate together and to fortify their renewed bond in front of their people.
Kira and Hunter sat in the middle of the far wall, the same place they had overseen the feast for their union.
Only this time, their chairs were pressed together from how close they were.
Kira kept a hand on Hunter’s knee, not wanting him to go a second forgetting that she was there to support him.
They had lost two dozen men in the battle, and each weighed heavily on Hunter’s heart.
It would take time, and she would be there to help him through each moment.
A clanging of a goblet caught everyone’s attention and Kira’s eyes fell to the man. It was the new captain, appointed directly following the funerals the day before. Niall, a good man and skilled warrior from what Kira had heard.
“I ken this is a celebration, but I think it would weigh too greatly on my mind if I dinnae give my thanks to Calum.”
The mention of the name sucked the air from her lungs momentarily.
So much had come to lie in the days following the fall of Fairbairn.
They received word that Calum’s mother had been located in the dungeon of Fairbairn Keep.
She had been there all that time, since before the attack on Galbraith years ago.
She had been the leverage Fairbairn used to manipulate Calum to do his bidding.
“He was a good captain. He never missed training and was always a source of strength and motivation for us all,” Niall continued.
“He died a hero. A man devoted to this clan more than any of us. Sworn to protect this Keep and our Laird. He defended our Lady and kept her safe until his last breath. And so, I wish to toast to Calum and to our new Lady Galbraith. May we all serve ye just as Calum had.”
“Here, here!” the room cheered.
Kira smiled and gave a nod of appreciation.
The room clinked goblets together and exploded into chatter and celebration.
But her focus fell to Hunter, who looked pained but remained silent.
No one but themselves and Laird MacDougal had all the information.
To the world, Calum had died a hero and stayed loyal to his Laird.
No one would know of his betrayal—Hunter commanded it so.
Everything was getting back into motion after the speech, but Hunter’s face remained gloomy. It was then that Kira remembered the kindness that Hunter had shown her at their wedding; she had been on the edge of total despair when he pulled her from it and got her to dance.
And so, Kira was on her feet and holding a hand out for him to take. He looked at her curiously before looking down and shaking his head. “I am nae in the mood for dancing.”
“But I am. Shall I find another dance partner?”
With that, his eyes snapped to hers with alarm before he sighed and stood.
Hand in hand, they found their way back to the dance floor.
Just like at their wedding, the room fell to a hush and the music started again, a sweet, slow song that urged lovers to find one another and sway to its beat.
They danced in familiar patterns across the floor, their hands pressed together and switching sides at the end of every rotation.
By the end of the first song, Hunter’s demeanor seemed a little lighter, but he remained silent and lost in thought. He started to try to walk off as the song changed, but Kira pulled him back in for another dance.
“I’ll let ye sit back down once ye’re nae longer holding the world on yer shoulders,” she said breezily.
He shot her an annoyed look and Kira pressed a kiss to his cheek before leaning in to whisper in his ear.
“Ye saved me from collapsing into myself at the wedding. Now it is my turn to help shoulder yer burdens. Let me.”
And there in the middle of the Grand Hall, with both clans watching, Hunter hugged her tight.
Her cheek pressed into his chest and her arms snaked around him, holding him just as firmly.
Everyone continued to dance around them but they all faded away.
It was just them for that moment, alone in their own little world as the music swelled and all the feelings of the past couple of months came tumbling down around them.
“Things with Calum… It makes me question who I can trust. If nae him, then who?” Hunter whispered to her.
“He had his reasons and instead of telling me so I could help, he kept it to himself and betrayed me instead.” He cleared his throat, clearly on the verge of tears.
“And yet, nay matter how much it makes me want to question everything and everyone, it makes a few things clear. That even when I’m doubting the world, I still have faith in us. In ye.”
Kira smiled, her heart swelling at his words.
Hunter continued, “And that I made myself untrustworthy to him. The man who was next to me my entire life. Because of my hatred and anger… He knew that he wouldn’t be safe confiding in me what he had done all those years ago, letting yer faither through the gate…
And so his maither would nae have lived as she does now.
And I have to own that, my part in all this.
That is why I will let him be known as a hero, because I dinnae give him the chance to be honest. My hate was too large.
And because of that, I almost lost ye. I almost lost everything. Again.”
Kira wished she could siphon off his pain, take it into herself and carry it all for him. There wasn’t anything she could say to make the sting of betrayal feel any better, and telling him he didn’t need to blame himself… It just wasn’t the way forward.
“We all played our parts,” she said lowly. “And now, it’s time to forgive and move forward. To let love lead the way instead of hate.”
Hunter nodded, his jaw clenching in an attempt to remain composed. “I want to, I do. I just… dinnae if I have it in me to forgive him or myself.”
“That will come in time. For now, can my forgiveness be enough? That I’m thankful for all that’s happened, because it led us here, to this moment.” She squeezed him. “Take my forgiveness for now and hold it. We will work on yers in time.”
After a long exhale, Hunter nodded. He kissed the top of her head and kept her close.
They swayed to the music as they stayed pressed together, uncaring who was watching.
When the song ended, they returned to their seats.
Hunter’s face was finally brighter, though a mournful glimmer remained in his eyes.
She relaxed into his side and picked up her wine.
As the next song started, she spotted Edine taking to the dance floor with MacDougal’s only son—the heir to the MacDougal Clan.
All the complicated planning that came with heirs and what would happen to the Fairbairn Clan under Hunter’s rule made her head hurt.
But it certainly piqued her interest to see her darling Edine smiling brilliantly as the MacDougal heir twirled her.
She peered up to see Hunter glaring in their direction and Kira couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s the matter? They are only dancing.”
“That better be all they are doing,” he mused. “I will nae have MacDougal pressuring Edine into a political marriage. Ye heard him at breakfast that day, he’s very adamant that his son marry soon.”
“We do owe the MacDougals a great deal, though. Could ye really refuse to solidify the union of the clans like that?”
Hunter’s gaze dropped to hers, his hazel eyes soft and the smile finally reaching them.
“I think the Galbraith Clan has finally learned our lesson about political marriages. And if Edine is given the choice between duty and heart, I will nae dissuade her from listening to her heart. I will nae stand in her way of happiness.”
Kira sighed happily and leaned in, stealing a kiss from his lips. “I’m so proud of ye, Hunter. Ye really are the man I always knew ye to be.”
Hunter smiled. “I hope to always be. If I’m nae, I trust ye to right me.”
“Always and forever, my love.”
Hunter kissed the back of her hand before letting it rest in his lap. The two stayed like that, holding hands with smiles on their faces as they sipped wine and watched the celebration unfold. Kira’s heart sang that she finally belonged somewhere and at last, she wasn’t property—she was an equal.
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