Page 74 of Ruining a Highland Healer

He studied her face, searching for any hint of hesitation. “Are ye alright with that?”

Valora straightened her shoulders, shaking off some thought Torrin could not discern. “I survived Laird Keith. I can survive me faither.”

With a sigh, Torrin brushed a stray strand of golden hair from her cheek. “I ken yer heart. It willnae rest until ye see her with yer own eyes.”

“An’ ye’d come with me?” she asked, voice soft and a little hesitant.

Torrin smiled, quiet and fierce. There was nothing for her to be hesitant about, not when it came to him. “Wherever ye lead, I follow.”

Valora leaned into him with a grateful, relieved sigh, and Torrin wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her close. This was it, he thought. This was what made all of it worth it—the strife, the battles, the agony. It had all culminated into this moment of joy and he wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

Behind them, Col cleared his throat. “Well, if ye need me help, ye ken where tae find me,” he offered. “By the sound o’ it, it willnae be a pleasant meetin’.”

“Thank ye, Col,” said Torrin, looking at his cousin over his shoulder. “But I think it will be fine. Laird MacNeacail has nye choice but tae accept us.”

He was the one who had sold Valora to Torrin, after all. He was the one who had deemed him the best match for her, and so he had no good reason to keep them away. If anything, with Laird Keith gone, perhaps her father would want to establish a good relationship with Clan Gunn—a relationship that would go past simple alliance and exchanged pleasantries.

Later, as the fires burned low and the castle drifted into slumber, Torrin and Valora stood atop the same roof where they had watched the stars in silence. This time, she leaned against his chest, his cloak wrapped around her shoulders.

“I never thought I’d find a home,” she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head. “Ye didnae find it. We are building it… taegether.”

They stood there a long while, the sea whispering below, the stars bright above. And for the first time in his life, Torrin knew real peace.

But there’s more…