Page 53 of Devil’s Highlander (Clan MacAlpin #1)

Only in her wildest dreams had Marjorie imagined this.

Her, at Dunnottar, by Cormac’s side. The grass was green and lush from the spring rains.

Red light streaked the late afternoon sky, casting bands of orange and crimson across the gently rolling waves far below.

The two of them lingered beneath a makeshift trellis, pine boughs laced with flowers arching overhead.

The scent of blue-bells and sea lightened her soul.

“What is it, Ree?”

She glanced up, and her breath hitched, seeing her wildest dream of all: Cormac. Her husband. They’d married, facing Cormac’s sea.

He raised a brow, silently pressing his question.

Joy overcame her, and she felt it as a physical thing radiating from deep inside. “It’s just that I love you.”

“And I, you.” He cupped her chin for a lingering kiss. Reluctantly, he pulled away. When he spoke, his voice was husky with emotion. “Always, I’ve loved you.”

Marjorie beamed. She took in the scene around them. Folk milled about Dunnottar’s grounds, and as the moon began to challenge the sun in the sky, a small bonfire appeared, drawing smiling faces and cups of whiskey like moths to flame. “I still can’t believe it.”

“Believe it.” Cormac’s gaze tracked hers, looking at his siblings gathering around the fire. “I’m sorry your uncle isn’t here to share this,” he added somberly.

She nodded, her voice too tight with emotion to speak.

He took her hand and squeezed it. “ I’m your family now.”

It was a simple notion, but it filled her all the same.

She gave him a loving smile. “And them?” She nodded to the MacAlpins: Bridget, Gregor, Declan.

And though Anya was far away, Aidan’s presence eased the sting of her absence.

Their faces were at once familiar, and yet they were still strangers, too, in many ways.

“I suppose they’re my family, too, now.”

“Them especially. You know they’ve always loved you.

” He laughed low. “Perhaps a bit too much. That day you appeared on the beach, I thought I might have to strangle Gregor. And then there’s Bridget.

I think my distance from you vexed her most of all.

” He sighed, stroking her hand. “I only wish our mothers were here to see it.”

“I think we were still babes when they first wished for this wedding.” She twined her fingers with his. “They were always so close. It’s funny to realize how young they were. I remember overhearing them jesting about me and one of the MacAlpin boys.”

As though on cue, Aidan rose. Thinking nobody watched him, he strolled from the crowd.

A pang of sadness pierced her joy. She wondered if that MacAlpin boy would ever find peace. Aidan had vowed to find the man who’d stolen him, but Marjorie couldn’t help but wish he’d let go of the past and move on. “I wish he’d give up this quest of his.”

Cormac squeezed her hand. “My brother will never give up.”

“What a shock to see him again.” She knew Cormac had always battled guilt, and she looked for it now on his face. Getting his brother back was cause to rejoice, but she knew, for Cormac, seeing proof of Aidan’s misery would mean his guilt redoubled.

Davie scrambled past suddenly, and they both laughed, torn from their reverie. The boy ran straight for Fiona, tangling himself in her skirts.

“Now there’s the real shock.” Cormac eyed Fiona. “Wedding the young physician surgeon . Your maid is an enterprising one indeed.”

She nudged him with her shoulder. “She’s a married woman and no longer my maid.”

“Ah, but such a hasty betrothal.” He nudged her back.

“Mock not, Cormac MacAlpin. I think it’s lovely how Fiona and Arch took Davie into their care.

” She giggled. “Though the whole thing was a wee bit on the hurried side.” She had raised a brow at that, but having abandoned her maidenhead in an Aberdeen Inn, she wasn’t one to throw stones.

“They’re simply getting a fast start on their family,” she reasoned.

They watched Fiona squat down to straighten Davie’s shirt. “Will you miss her?”

“Fiona?” Marjorie smiled, thinking she would miss her. But she’d quickly grown fond of the wee scullion girl who’d been promoted as her replacement—not to mention how touched and amused she was by the soft spot Cormac had already shown the younger girl. “Actually, I’m happy for her.”

Her eyes went back to Cormac’s twin, standing on the periphery. “I wish I were happier for him , though.”

The growing shadows emphasized the darkness on Aidan’s face. No longer was he the happy-go-lucky scamp of their youth. Something dark lurked deep inside him. She wished he’d abandon this insane wish for retribution. She’d convince him, she decided.

She’d help Aidan, her and Cormac both.

Her husband. The thought made her swoon. Grinning broadly, she snuck her hand around and gave a surreptitious tweak to his backside.

“You’re a saucy one.” He laughed. “What was that for?”

She put her hands on her hips, mimicking outrage. “Isn’t it about time for the wedding night?”

“Indeed, and not a moment too soon.” He looked around. Gregor was standing up, calling attention to himself. “We just need to get all of them to leave,” Cormac added in a low voice.

Cormac’s older brother was shouting for a toast, and Marjorie led her husband closer to the fire to listen.

“There are those of us who never thought we’d see this day.

This MacAlpin devil wed.” Gregor was as confident and dashing as ever.

The sun was at his back, and it picked golden strands in his light brown hair.

Turning to Cormac and Marjorie, he raised his cup.

“To my little brother. And to Marjorie, the angel who came between the devil and the deep blue sea.”

Cormac lifted her chin and pressed the sweetest kiss to her, a kiss holding the promise of forever. Joyful tears stung her eyes as she realized that even the wildest of dreams could come true.