Page 105 of Warrior's Redemption

He hit the hallway at a run, yelling for Patrick as he reached the main level.

“What in the name of the holy saints ails you, Laird Malcolm?” Janet’s head popped out of a doorway he’d just passed.

“Dani,” he began, his heart pounding in his chest. “Lady Danielle. She’s no in her chambers and I canna find her.”

“Come to think of it . . .” The old woman shook a finger in the air as if it helped her think. “Wee Joanie mentioned having seen yer lady in the back halls. Headed outside, Joanie seemed to think.”

Outside.

Malcolm grabbed the old maid, kissing her forehead while she sputtered her protests, and then he ran for the back exit.

Once he stood in the silent night, he paused, trying to guess where she might have gone. What had she said just before he’d walked out the door? She’d declared her love, and there was something else, something odd he’d attributed to the strange things she was prone to saying. Something about how she would love him always.

No matter what. No matter when.

He heard the words in his memory with a whole new sense of understanding.

In spite of his claim that he’d send the MacKilyn away, she’d had faith in him that he’d do the right thing, the thing that was best for all of his people, rather than think only of himself. She was planning to return to her own time because she understood him better than he understood himself. What a fool he was. She’d all but outlined her plan to him, right down to the . . .

“Rowan tree,” he muttered aloud, already running. Pray Odin he wasn’t too late.

A glow hung over the bathhouse, as if someone had lit a thousand candles behind a curtain of green silk.

“Dani!” he yelled, pushing himself to run even harder until at last he reached the wall, vaulting up and over rather than, rounding the building to where the entrance would be.

She stood by the rowan tree, one hand clutching its trunk, the other shielding her eyes. Not three feet in front of her a sphere of blinding green light pulsed and seethed, seemingly alive with a million flashing colors.

“Dani!” he called again. “Don’t do it, love. You belong here with me.”

She turned, surprise evident in her expression. Surprise that melted into resolve. “I can’t stay here, Malcolm. Not anymore.”

“Because you dinna love me enough to stay? Because yer no willing to risk what is to come?” He had to know.

“You’re such an idiot,” she yelled over the increasing hum of the pulsing sphere. “I can’t be here and watch you with someone else because I love you too much. My being here would be bad for everyone.” She took a step toward the sphere.

“If you go into that light, I’ll follow you. I swear it. I’ll no let you leave me.” He meant it. He wouldn’t lose her. He searched desperately for anything to change her mind. “I’ll follow because you’ve promised to picnic me another date in the spring.”

“I have to go. I can’t stand to see you with another woman and you can’t risk your people’s safety by refusing to marry. Just like you can’t go with me because your people need you. You know that all as well as I do.”

“Here’s something else I ken, love. The MacKilyn has no interest in me as husband to his daughter. He wanted only safe lodging for himself and his traveling party while they rest before continuing on their journey to Perth.”

She reached out, once again clutching the tree. “Are you telling me the truth?”

“I am.” He shouted now to be heard. “What’s more, he told me he’d no want anyone from the House of MacDowylt to marry into his family. Doesn’t want us corrupting his bloodline.”

Behind Dani, the circle shimmered, increasing in size until it burst.

Malcolm ran forward, throwing his body over hers, pinning her to the ground to protect her from the shards of light that fell like sizzling rain all around them.

When the light show at last ended, he lifted his head, capturing her eyes with his. “Looks as though yer Magic vessel has deserted you. Yer mine now, love, stranded here with me for the rest of our days.”

“It didn’t desert me,” she assured, her fingers tracking softly over his cheek. “I sent it away. There’s nothing more I want in life than to be with you. I told you that before and I meant it.”

Malcolm rolled over onto his knees and helped Dani to sit up, unwilling to release her hand even as he remembered what had originally sent him to find her.

He reached into his pouch and pulled out the delicate jewel. “This belongs to you.”

Before he could place it on her hand, she pulled away from him, offering her other hand instead.

“I wore it on my right hand when it was a gift from my aunt. But as a gift from you, I’ll wear it on my left. A symbol of our love for one another.”

He slipped the ring on her finger and helped her to stand, pulling her close for a long kiss before they headed back to the warmth of the keep. Their keep. The home they would have together with her as his wife.

He had no illusions. Their trials weren’t over, and wouldn’t be until Torquil was dealt with and Christiana was safe. Still, Dani had helped him discover the most important lesson of all—to believe in himself. With his SoulMate at his side, he could accomplish anything. In her love he had found his true redemption.