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A ilis and Lachlan strayed from the evening’s festivities, seeking solace in the castle’s outskirts. The moonlit path guided their steps as they walked through the quiet night.

Ailis glanced at Lachlan, his presence comforting yet thrilling her heart like a caged bird yearning for freedom.

“Ye seem deep in thought,” Lachlan remarked.

“I’m considering me choices,” Ailis admitted. “The heart desires, but duty often commands otherwise.”

“Dinnae let duty silence yer heart,” Lachlan encouraged, his fingers gently grazing hers.

Their connection was disrupted by Ian Sinclair’s arrival, presenting Ailis with wildflowers. “For ye, fair Ailis,” he offered with his thick Highland dialect.

“Thank ye, Ian,” Ailis responded, concealing her discomfort. As Ian spewed compliments and promises, his bouquet became symbolic of the choice that loomed before her.

Ailis clutched the vibrant petals Ian had gifted her, feeling their weight of expectation.

She finally addressed him, “Yer attentions are flattering, but they cannot change what is within me heart. These blooms are lovely, but another has claimed me affection. Seek out someone whose heart is free to return yer feelings.” She tried to keep her voice calm and kind, so as not to hurt his feelings.

Ian was simply not the man she wanted to spend her life with.

She didn’t even want to spend five minutes with him.

Ian’s expression briefly faltered before masking it with a smile. “Aye, fair Ailis, if that be yer wish.”

Ailis turned away from Ian and walked toward the loch with Lachlan. His presence filled her with warmth.

“Come, let us wander yonder,” Lachlan suggested, offering his arm, which Ailis accepted, her spirits lifting.

“I’m glad to be done talking to Ian. I’ve been dreading that task for a long time. I wanted to agree to his courtship because Father likes to keep his enemies close, but I knew from the beginning that I would not marry him.” She shuddered delicately.

“Ye did the right thing, telling him there was no chance. I canna bring meself to believe his affection was genuine, but I still think he deserves to know the truth. Of course, that means they’ll send someone else to court ye if they can.

” He shook his head. “I wish we knew what they truly wanted from ye. An alliance, certainly, but why? There are other clans with beautiful daughters to marry. Why are they so focused on the McAfee sisters?”

She shook her head. “I dinna know. I think maybe they want to take advantage of the friendship our fathers have had all this time, but it dinna sound like that friendship will last.”

They walked to the edge of the forest, their steps matching the steady rhythm of their hearts. A shared glance conveyed more than words could express.

Soon, they discovered a hidden glen bathed in silver light. Laughter spilled as they stepped into the clearing, echoing through the hills.

“Look at this place,” Ailis exclaimed. “It feels like we’ve stumbled into a fairytale.”

“Aye,” Lachlan agreed, spinning her playfully. “And ye are the most enchanting vision within it.”

In this secluded glen, Ailis momentarily forgot the tension between personal desires and political responsibilities. She cherished every second with Lachlan before reality would call her back.

Their laughter mingled with the rustle of leaves as they twirled in the moonlit glade, Ailis feeling the weight of her worries momentarily lift. She glanced up at Lachlan, his eyes filled with mischief and genuine affection.

“Lachlan, do ye ever feel like we are but players in a grand story, our fates intertwined by forces beyond our control?” Ailis pondered.

“Aye, lass,” Lachlan replied thoughtfully, pulling her closer. “But perhaps we can write our own tale of the twists of destiny.”

Ailis smiled at his words, feeling a surge of hope in her heart. “And what would our story entail, Lachlan?”

Lachlan’s gaze turned tender as he spoke, “It would be one of love and courage, where we face our doubts and fears together. A tale of two souls bound by an unbreakable bond, defying the odds stacked against them. Our story would be filled with adventures under the shimmering moonlight, laughter that dances in the wind, and moments of quiet understanding that speak louder than any other words.”

Ailis listened to him, her heart swelling with emotion. She reached out to gently touch his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin under her fingertips. “I would like nothing more than to embark on such a journey with ye, Lachlan. To write our story together, one page at a time.”

Lachlan’s eyes softened at her touch, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Then let us seize this moment, Ailis. Let us embrace the uncertainty of tomorrow and revel in the joy of today. For our story is just beginning, and I cannot wait to see where our hearts will lead us.”

As he spoke, a shooting star streaked across the night sky, illuminating their faces. Ailis felt a surge of hope and excitement at Lachlan’s words, the shooting star a sign from the heavens above. She gazed into his eyes, feeling a sense of peace and belonging wash over her.

“Lachlan, I have never felt more alive than in this moment with ye,” Ailis confessed. She felt shy sharing that truth with him, but it felt right at that moment.

“I feel the same with ye. It’s as if we’re meant to be together.”

He lowered his head and kissed her softly, hoping she would understand that his intentions were good and true.

Their kiss deepened, a silent promise passing between them. Ailis’s doubts and fears faded away in that moment, replaced by the certainty of their connection. Lachlan’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as if trying to shield her from any lingering doubts.

As they finally parted, Ailis glanced up at Lachlan, her heart brimming with newfound courage. “Ye make me ache for ye, Lachlan.”

Lachlan held Ailis’s gaze, his eyes reflecting the moon’s gentle glow. “And ye fill me every thought, Ailis,” he murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of desire and tenderness. Their hearts beat in unison, a silent symphony of emotions that bound them together in that enchanted glen.

A soft breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming heather.

It was as if the world around Ailis and Lachlan had faded into the background, leaving only them in a cocoon of shared affection.

She was grateful for this moment of intimacy, for the chance to explore her emotions freely without the weight of expectations.

Hand in hand, they walked back to the castle under the watchful gaze of the moon. The night seemed brighter, filled with possibilities as they embraced the beginning of their shared story.

*

Ailis held the reins of her gelding while Cameron rode beside her.

“Ye handle yer mount with grace,” Cameron called over the wind.

“Thank ye,” she replied, glancing at him. Yet Ailis’s thoughts lingered on another.

Ailis and Cameron rode side by side through McAfee land. Ailis was awed by the beauty of the world around her, even as she struggled with feeling inadequate. How could she take care of her duties while also following her heart? Was such a thing even possible?

“Ye appear troubled,” Cameron observed, matching her pace. “Mayhap I can offer counsel.”

Ailis hesitated. “It is naught but the musings of a lass caught between heart and duty.”

“But what if the heart’s choice could also fulfill one’s duty?”

“Can such a thing truly exist?” she pondered aloud.

“Perhaps.” Cameron leaned closer, lowering his voice. “But know this—Lachlan McClain was seen just yestereve, lips pressed to those of another lass.”

The news hit her like a cold blade. She withdrew, searching for deceit in Cameron’s gaze, only finding earnestness.

“Are ye certain of this?” Ailis asked. It was unbelievable to her that Lachlan would betray her that way.

“Me own eyes bore witness,” he confirmed gently.

Tension coiled within her, but she held onto her resolve, refusing to let suspicion cloud her judgment without proof.

“Thank ye for telling me,” she replied, her mind searching for ways that Lachlan could have been seen kissing another and still be innocent of betrayal. She cared for the man and had always found him to be honest, and the idea that he wasn’t was painful to think about.

“Any man would be blessed to have yer favor, Ailis,” Cameron stated earnestly, resting a comforting hand upon hers.

Smiling faintly, she remained focused on the rolling hills before them. They continued their ride through the rugged heart of the Highlands in silence.

*

Later, Ailis walked alone, her heart burdened by doubt as she approached the spot where she was to meet with Lachlan. The heather brushed against her skirts, a quiet solace in her turmoil.

Upon cresting the final hill, she found Lachlan McClain waiting beside a prepared meal in a secluded glen. The breathtaking vista seemed to invite release from earthly concerns.

“Ye’ve discovered me secret spot,” Lachlan chirped, his smile familiar yet roguish. “I hoped it might offer ye peace.”

“Thank ye,” Ailis responded, settling beside him despite the tension of unspoken questions.

As they shared their meal, silence laden with anticipation persisted.

Ailis finally spoke, her voice trembling.

“Lachlan, there are rumors that ye were seen with another lass… sharing a kiss. With what I ken of ye, I have a hard time believing that to be true, but I feel I should ask, and ye should know what is being said.”

His expression somber, Lachlan met her gaze. “On me honor, Ailis, those tales are untrue. Me affection lies only with ye.” He shook his head. “The person with whom ye spoke lied to ye.”

Searching for sincerity in his eyes, she fought against lingering doubts. “Ye must think me foolish.”

“Never,” he replied fervently. “Ye seek the truth, and I’ll prove me faithfulness.” His hand bridged the gap between them with a gentle touch.