Page 98 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin
"Aye, me lady."
As the messengers departed, Lachlan turned to her with approval in his eyes. "Well handled. But we need more than just Ross defectin'. We need?—"
A new commotion arose outside, this one different—celebratory shouts mixed with concern. Frederick moved to the window and cursed.
"What is it?" Erica demanded.
"Riders approachin' from the north. Flyin' MacKenzie colors... but they're escortin' someone under a flag of parley." His expression darkened. "And from what I can see... it's nae good news they're bringin'."
Erica felt her heart sink. MacKenzie was supposed to be neutral in this conflict. If they were involved now...
"The political web just got a lot more tangled," Lachlan said grimly.
Erica settled into her chair as Lachlan spread the correspondence across her father's desk. Frederick and Ewan flanked him, their expressions ranging from satisfaction to outright amazement.
"I've never seen clans fold that quickly," Frederick said, shaking his head. "Lairds practically groveled. They were trippin' over themselves to pledge support."
"It wasnae the battle victories that did it," Ewan observed, sorting through the formal submissions. "It was the moment they realized what standin' against McLaren actually meant."
Lachlan's finger traced across a map of clan territories. "The moment ye mentioned Kinnaird's resources, ye could see the calculations happenin' behind their eyes. None of them wanted to face what Graham is about to face—complete isolation."
"Speakin' of Graham," Erica interjected, "have we heard anythin'?"
"Riders came in an hour ago," Ewan replied. "Graham's laird is requestin' terms for surrender. Seems bein' abandoned by every potential ally has a way of clarifyin' one's position."
Erica leaned back, still hardly believing it. "Three days ago we were preparin' for siege. Now..."
"Now McLaren is the strongest political force in the region," Lachlan finished. "Backed by alliances that would have taken yer father years to build. Leo wouldnae have even done anythin’ this close."
"If he could have built them at all," Ewan added. "Kinnaird's reputation did more in one day than a dozen battles could have accomplished. Neither the lairds nor Boyd realized Laird Galloway would release the full extent of his resources."
"Which brings us to the question," Frederick said carefully, "of what happens next. These clans will honor their agreements as long as they fear the consequences of breakin' them. But fear alone doesnae build lastin' peace."
Lachlan nodded grimly. "We'll need to give them reasons to stay loyal beyond just avoidin' destruction. Trade agreements, marriage alliances, shared interests."
"That's work for the comin' months," Erica said. "For now, it's enough that McLaren lands are secure and our people can sleep without fear."
"More than secure," Ewan said with satisfaction. "Any clan thinkin' of future aggression will have to consider that they're not just facin' McLaren anymore—they're facin' a coalition."
Later that evening, Erica found herself alone with Lachlan on the battlements, looking out over her lands. The torches below cast dancing shadows across the courtyard where, just days before, her people had prepared for what might have been their final stand.
"It feels almost too easy," she said quietly. "Like it should have cost more."
"It did cost," Lachlan replied, his voice thoughtful. "Just nae in the way ye expected. Ye've bound yerself to alliances that will shape every decision ye make goin' forward. And ye've shown every clan in Scotland that McLaren is under Kinnaird's protection."
"Do ye regret that? The bindin', I mean."
He was quiet for a long moment, studying her face in the flickering torchlight. "Nay. But it changes things between our clans permanently. There's nae goin' back to the way it was before."
"I wouldnae want to go back," Erica said, surprising herself with the honesty of it. "These past days... workin' together, fightin' together... it felt right."
"Aye, it did."
The silence stretched between them, comfortable but charged with unspoken possibilities.
"What happens when we reach Kinnaird?" she asked finally.
"Ye'll see how well the council has managed things in our absence, and we'll brief them on these new alliances." He paused. "And ye'll finally get to be a wife, and lady of two clans and also hopefully soon, the mother of heirs for each clan."
