Page 57 of To Win a Highlander’s Heart

John frowned. “Only yesterday Lieutenant Collins revealed that he had captured you when you left and that he’d forced you to become a spy against your own people for him.”

“I escaped.”

John’s lips pulled up in a momentary smile. “Of course you did. You would never willingly work with the English to bring harm to this country or her people.”

“I stayed with the English at first, because they threatened to label you as a traitor if I didn’t. But after my reports sent the chief of Clan MacTavish to gaol, and after I misinterpreted the English outside Scorrybreac to mean that you had sided with Lieutenant Collins, I went where no one would find me.”

“You had to escape. I understand that,” John said gravely. “When we failed to find you, that was the second time I realised none of this would have come to pass if I had only held on to my temper. I was just so angry.”

“You thought my negligence hurt you, your wife, and your child.”

John shook his head. “Then the moment you returned to us, you saw something was wrong with Brea that none of us could resolve. You healed her. You saved her leg, and quite possibly her life. That was the third time I chastised myself for my foolishness. Had you been with us, you might have spared Brea from the pain she’s had to endure her whole life.”

A wave of sorrow moved though Isolde. “I am sorry I hurt Brea. Ewen ruined my aim in an effort to cheat in the contest you’d set up for the two of us.”

John looked away. “The moment before your arrows came at myself and Sarah, I thought I saw Ewen move closer to you, but I refused to believe my own eyes. Now I wish I had.”

“Nevertheless, my arrows caused you all much pain.”

Her brother’s eyes glittered with tears. “I caused you pain as well by banishing you. Will you ever forgive me?”

Isolde took her brother’s hands in hers and held them tight. She held his gaze, hoping he could see there was no blame in her expression, only forgiveness. “John, if it wasn’t for you, and all of what happened to us, I would never have become the warrior I am today. Living alone in the wilderness honed my skills. It also brought me Orrick MacLeod. If you agree to come to Dunvegan, I ask that you give me away at my wedding to Orrick tonight.”

“It would be my privilege to walk you down the aisle, and aye. I most heartily agree to this arrangement.”

She laughed, feeling a deep sense of rightness. “I want to be involved in your and Sarah’s lives from now on. And, if you will allow it, I would love to train my niece how to use a weapon to defend herself.”

John joined in her laughter. “As your brother, I did not see the advantages of such a thing for a female. Now, as a parent, I long for my child to know how to keep herself safe. So, aye, I whole-heartedly support you training her when she is old enough.”

A smile still on his lips, he embraced her once more, then released her. “We had best finish our tasks here because we have a wedding to attend by nightfall.”

Isolde drew a breath and let joy flood her spirit. A wedding. Her wedding. But it was more than that. She was no longer alone in this life, she was surrounded by family, both Nicolsons and MacLeods, and she was accepted for who she was—a female warrior who would protect her family and the people of Scotland in the years ahead.

Who could ask for anything more?

*

Aria stood beside Alastair, Tormod, and Orrick. Her family. People who accepted her for who she was at the moment. Would they still feel the same when she told them about their brother? After all, she was also a part of the fairy world who had taken the babe from them.

Clutching her hands before her, Aria cleared her throat. “Before another moment passes, there is something I need to tell you all.”

Alastair drew closer. “We are listening.”

“When I first came to this realm, my heart was filled with vengeance. I wanted revenge against your father for not taking me in years ago.”

“That is only natural,” Tormod said. “Our father was unfair to you. Our mother told us of how you suffered in the fairy world because of your heritage.”

“I am not the only one who suffers,” Aria said.

Orrick frowned as he studied her face. “What do you mean?”

Aria drew a steadying breath as she fisted her hands, hoping they would not hate her for her next words. “Your brother, Keiran is alive and living in Fairyland.”

“Keiran’s alive?” they all echoed in unison.

“Is he all right?” Alastair asked, concern etched into the lines of his face.

Aria nodded. “He was stolen from his crib in retribution by the fairy king when he discovered my mother had brought me to the human realm and intended to leave me there. He has been raised by the king as his own son.” She omitted the part of the story where Keiran had been designated as her bridegroom.