Page 71 of Lost with a Scot
“I’d die for ye a thousand times, lass,” he vowed. “It’s all right, Anna. We survived. We willna have any more dreams to fear now.”
“You don’t think so?” She still seemed unsure. It was understandable. They’d both had this nightmare countless times over the years.
“I think those dreams were a way of preparing us,” he said. “I think it was meant to test our mettle, prepare us for when this day came and we’d have to fight to be with each other. It’s over now.”
Anna’s eyes suddenly widened. “But it’s not over, is it? Aiden, we have to go back. Alexei—”
“He’s fine, my heart. When I left him, he was free. My brothers, Godric, and his friends were battling the guards.”
She let out a long breath as her eyes misted. “I am so weary of death, of fighting. I hope it’s truly over.” She got to her feet and shook her skirts free of dirt and leaves.
“It is,” Aiden promised.
Using the last of his strength, he pushed up against the well and braced one hand on it. He slowly turned and then peered down into the water. It had been black and fathomless when he was beneath its surface, but now it reflected the purpling skies above. Anna joined him by the edge and looked down into the well with him.
“It all seems so very strange,” she said, her tone soft and a little wistful. “All these years we’ve wanted to avoid this moment, but in truth we’ve been running toward it.”
“Toward each other,” Aiden said. “And I’d do it all over again if it meant we’d be together.” That was what life was for. Every pain, every anguish, every lonely night and dawn of heartbreak were to fight toward the singular moments where the suffering ended and there was only joy and love. He realized now that joy had never truly been that far out of reach.
He remembered something his mother once said. “We fight on toward the dawn of new days and the hope of blessings those days bring.”
He was a man blessed, and always had been. He had family, friends, and now the love of a woman he didn’t deserve, but he would try to earn her love every day until he died.
Anna linked her arm with his and pressed her cheek against his shoulder as she spoke to the enchanted well. “Thank you for granting my wish.”
Aiden almost asked her what she’d wished for, but he was weary and his stomach hurt. He needed a doctor, and the walk to the Winter Palace would be too long.
“Can ye help me bind this wound?” he asked.
Anna examined the wound with anxious eyes, but her hands were steady as she ripped a long strip of cloth from her petticoats and circled his waist with it. Then she cinched it tight to stanch the bleeding.
“I think that will hold until we can reach the palace. We could try to find the coach Fain left on the road... Oh, look!” Anna pointed, her face full of surprise and delight. He saw across the clearing that the horse he had ridden here was grazing contentedly, eyeing them cautiously.
Aiden clicked his teeth, and the horse snorted and lifted its head before trotting over to them.
“Good lad,” he praised and gave the horse a pat on the neck, then he clicked his teeth again and the horse nickered softly. Aiden helped Anna up before climbing up behind her. Then they headed back toward the road that would take them to the Winter Palace.
* * *
Anna heldher breath as they reached the village. Scores of townsfolk filled the road, and many were crying, but she noticed there were smiles and hugs and laughter among the tears.
My people are free.
She knew that many of her uncle’s men were out there, spread over the countryside, but they could be caught and dealt with soon enough. If her brother and William had the upper hand, they could round up those men or drive them out of Ruritania.
“Princess! Thank God you’re alive!” William’s joyous shout caught her attention as her brother’s dear friend came beside their horse when they entered the courtyard.
“Hello, Will.” He caught her waist and helped her down. “Where’s my brother?”
Grinning, William pointed out Alexei standing with members of the League from London. “There.”
Ashton and his friends had formed a circle, standing with crossed arms as they listened to whatever Alexei was saying. She saw with a pang of bittersweetness that her twin had changed over the last two months. He seemed more like a king and now carried the weight of their country’s needs upon his shoulders.
But ruling Ruritania was not a right one should be born with, no matter what others might think. It was an honor to be given only to a man who would put the needs of all others above himself. Yuri had never understood that, but Alexei did.
Her brother’s gaze drifted, and he halted whatever he’d been saying as he spotted her.
“Anna!” He bolted toward her and caught her in his arms. She buried her face against his chest, crying in relief. When she looked up at her brother, she saw he was crying too.
