Page 65 of The Ruthless Highlander's Hellion
Caelan turned away, raking a hand through his hair. The silence stretched, broken only by the quiet crackle of the hearth.
Nicholas spoke again. “I understand this is hard for ye, Caelan. Truly, I do. If it were me sister, I might feel the same. But ye ken yer sister. She was never one to be led by the leash.”
Caelan gave a bitter laugh, his shoulders finally lowering. “That’s true enough.” He looked over at Alexandra, his expression weary. “Ye always were stubborn.”
Alexandra gave him a small smile. “I learned it from ye.”
He rubbed his face again, the fight slowly leaving him. “I daenae like it,” he muttered. “But I believe ye. And I trust Rosaline’s judgment. If she believes ye’ve found peace here, then maybe I should as well.”
Nicholas stepped forward, offering his hand once more. “I’ll protect her with all I am.”
Caelan stared at the hand for a long moment. Then he took it, gripping it tight. “If ye ever break her heart, I’ll bury ye in the coldest loch I can find.”
Nicholas chuckled. “Fair enough.”
Alexandra let out a breath of relief, moving to wrap her arms around her brother. “Thank ye, Caelan. Thank ye for hearin’ me.”
“I’ll always hear ye, sister,” he said softly. “Even when I daenae like what ye’re sayin’.”
Rosaline moved to embrace them both, her face shining with quiet joy. Nicholas stood back, watching the reunion, his heart full. This was the beginning of something promising.
Something true.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
"What say ye, brother?" Alexandra asked her brother in a quiet whisper.
"A fine feast. A fine clan," he replied.
"I'm glad to hear it," she said.
The great hall was bursting with laughter, torchlight dancing off the stone walls, and the long tables groaned under the weight of roasted meats, warm bread, wheels of cheese, and overflowing flagons of mead. Minstrels played lively tunes from the corner, the high, sweet whistle of a pipe lifting over the deep strum of a lute.
Children darted between benches, sneaking sugared figs and pastries while old men clapped hands in time to the music. The fire roared in the hearth, casting a golden hue over smiling faces and full bellies.
Alexandra sat at the head table, her heart light for the first time in many moons. To her right, Nicholas sipped from his cup, his posture relaxed, the hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. To her left sat Caelan, his demeanor calmer now, softened further by the presence of his wife Rosaline beside him.
Alexandra stole a glance at her brother and found, to her immense relief, no trace of resentment in his eyes—only acceptance.
She turned her gaze toward Nicholas, who looked back at her with warmth and unwavering steadiness.
“I’ve never been happier in all me life,” he murmured, leaning just close enough for her to hear.
She smiled, cheeks warm, as his hand brushed against hers under the table. In that moment, the noise of the hall faded, and all that existed was the bond between them.
Suddenly, Nicholas stood. The bench scraped against the floor as he rose, and the hall gradually quieted as eyes turned toward him. He lifted his goblet, his voice clear and commanding as he addressed the gathering. Even the children stilled, sensing the importance of the moment.
“Good kin, hear me,” he began, his voice rich and strong. “We’ve endured hardship, bloodshed, and division—but we’ve come through stronger, together. And now, I stand before ye to tell ye that Lady Alexandra Sinclair has agreed to become me wife.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, quickly rising to gasps and then cheers.
Nicholas raised his hand to calm the excitement, his expression proud and sincere.
“This union does more than bind two hearts—it binds two clans. O'Donnell and Sinclair, side by side. A future forged in peace, nae in war. With this union, we grow stronger, wiser, and more united than we’ve ever been. Our honored guests, Laird Sinclair and his wife are now our kin. Stand if ye will."
Caelan stood with his wife Rosaline at his side and nodded at the cheers that rang out in the hall.
"It's an honor. Ye can count on the Sinclair clan to come to yer aid," Caelan said.
