Page 33 of Taken by the Highland Villain (Breaking the Highland Rules #2)

One Week Later

Jude stared at himself in the mirror, his stomach knotting as he looked over his reflection. The man who stared back at him was a man he’d thought, six months ago, that he’d never see again.

His jaw was clean-shaven, his dark hair combed, trimmed, and neatly braided back. His back was straight, his shoulders relaxed, and his eyes clear, rather than bloodshot with pain and whiskey.

He was dressed in a new outfit Valerie had made for him—the same kilt and shirt he’d worn what seemed like a lifetime ago, the night of the dance they’d shared. But he wore a new, specially sewn sash and a delicately embroidered belt that had been made by Valerie and her sister, Megan.

Megan.

Thinking the name brought a wry smile to his face.

Valerie’s younger sister had wasted no time after he and Valerie had emerged from her bedroom after stopping her wedding to Nathan Cullen.

She had also minced no words as she informed him that, should he hurt her sister again, she would not hesitate to put an arrow in a painful and delicate place—unless she decided to take a knife to his bollocks instead.

Her sister Lily had been much gentler but no less stern. Jude had come out of that discussion with the impression that any foolishness on his part might result in unpleasant mixtures being slipped into every drink he tried to swallow for the next several days.

Brigid, on the other hand, had simply smiled at him over the head of her newborn daughter. “I dinnae need to threaten ye. Conall’s protective enough of all of us that he’ll handle that, if necessary.”

After one meeting with Laird MacKane to discuss the marriage contract and a new alliance, Jude believed every word the cheerful young woman had said to him. Laird MacKane was a stern, gruff man whose gaze only ever seemed to soften in the presence of his wife or her sisters.

The door opened behind him, and Jude abandoned his thoughts to turn and greet Craig. “How is everything?”

“It is nearly ready.” Craig smiled and reached out to pull him into a strong forearm grip and a firm clap on the shoulder. “And ye? Are ye ready for yer wedding?”

“Aye. I think I am.” Jude smiled back, chuckling lightly.

A fortnight ago, he’d sworn he would never, ever marry. It was almost funny to think of how much of a fool he’d been, and how much it had taken to finally break through his stubborn idiocy.

“Good. Yer bride is waiting.”

“As is yer lady.” Jude felt his grin widen at the soft, almost disbelieving sparkle in his second-in-command’s eyes.

Lady Ailsa was now a widow, and though the fate of Clan MacAllister was undecided, along with the fate of Clan MacOlley, she and Craig could at last be together openly and without fear of vengeance.

A moment later, Craig regained his composure and clapped him on the shoulder once more. “Come, My Laird.”

Together, the two descended not to the Great Hall, but to a small receiving room.

Jude and Valerie had both agreed that neither of them wished to have their wedding in the same room where her wedding to Nathan Cullen had almost occurred.

The pipers and the priest were both in place when he arrived. So were Valerie’s younger sisters, Lady Ailsa, Laird MacKane and his brother Oliver, and Moira, who was beaming as she cradled Oliver’s young son in her arms.

Jude took his place near the priest, with Craig at his side. After a moment, the bagpipe music changed. The door opened, revealing Valerie, walking slowly toward him on her eldest sister’s arm.

It was all he could do to keep from swallowing his tongue or falling to his knees.

Valerie had taken the week to make herself a new dress.

It was a few shades lighter than the blue-green silk he was so fond of, and adorned in knotwork of MacFinn and MacKane colors intertwined.

A sash made of MacKane tartan was draped across her shoulder, and Jude felt a rush of warmth and pride, knowing it would be replaced with a sash made of MacFinn tartan at the appropriate time.

She was radiant, glorious, like the goddess of springtime come to earth. And she was about to become his wife.

Valerie and Lily stopped a few feet away, and the priest—a different priest from the one who had presided over the previous ceremony—cleared his throat. “Who comes to be wed today?”

“I, Jude Reid, Laird of Clan MacFinn, come this day to be wed.”

“I, Valerie Blackwood of Clan MacKane, come this day to be wed.”

The priest nodded. “And who comes to present and stand witness for these two, as a testament to their willingness to join in holy matrimony?”

Craig stepped forward. “I, Craig MacCann of Clan MacFinn, come this day to stand as witness for my friend, Jude Reid.”

Lily stepped forward next. “I, Lily Blackwood of Clan MacKane, come this day to stand as witness for my sister, Valerie Blackwood.”

She placed Valerie’s hand in Jude’s, and he turned to face his bride. Tears shimmered in her eyes, offset by the brilliant smile on her lips.

There were no protests, though he half expected one, and not a word as the priest recited a blessing, then made a short declaration about the sanctity of marriage. Jude listened halfheartedly, his attention focused on Valerie, until he heard the words he’d been waiting for.

“Ye may now say yer vows.”

Jude cleared his throat. “When ye came into my life, it was like the sun was finally shinin’ again.

I didnae ken aught about ye, but soon, ye became everythin’ good in my life.

Ye dragged me out of the dark and the shadows of grief so I can live my life again.

Ye bring me peace, and because of ye, I can finally follow my heart again, because I ken ye’ll keep it safe.

Ye are a marvel, Valerie Blackwood, with more than just those sewing needles ye wield so well.

Ye’ve given me my life back, and now, I swear to give that life, along with my heart, my soul, my dreams, and everything I am, back to ye.

I swear to love ye, cherish ye, support ye and care for ye, nay matter what darkness may come, for as long as we’re both still alive. ”

A tear slid down her cheek, and he gently wiped it away.

Valerie’s smile widened, then she took a deep breath and spoke.

“I came to ye seekin’ shelter and respite, kenning only that I wanted to escape.

Ye gave me that escape, and so much more—more than I ever dreamed of.

My maither once told me that I should never surrender my independence to any man, but now, with ye, I see how surrender is also freedom, and how giving oneself can make one so much richer.

“Ye’re the rock, the stability, the safe harbor I never kenned I needed, the warmth I never kenned I was missing.

Ye gave me a new outlook on life, and now, I swear to give that life, along with my heart, my soul, my dreams, and everything I am, back to ye.

I swear to love ye, cherish ye, support ye and care for ye, nay matter what darkness may come, for as long as we’re both still alive. ”

Muted cheers sounded on both sides. Jude paid them no mind, all his attention focused on Valerie as the priest recited another blessing, and another short sermon on marriage, and vows, and the importance of keeping their promises to each other.

Then, the MacKane sash was removed, and Craig and Lily draped the new MacFinn sash across Valerie’s shoulders.

And, finally, the priest said the words he’d been waiting to hear since the moment he left his rooms. “Ye may now kiss the bride.”

Jude didn’t hesitate. He leaned forward and took Valerie’s lips in a deep kiss, indulging fully in the sweet taste of her. Valerie sighed happily against his mouth, parting her lips to give him full access as she leaned into his arms and wound her own around his neck.

Jude could happily have remained in that position for hours, but a discreet prod to his back forced him to pull away and turn around.

His man-at-arms gave him a small, knowing smile. “I ken ye’re happy, My Laird, but there’s a wedding feast awaitin’ us.”

Jude growled playfully at his friend, but Valerie was smiling, so he smiled in turn as he took her arm, and the two of them pivoted to face their guests as the priest called out, “I give ye, Laird and Lady MacFinn!”

That was their signal to start down the aisle, to greet the guests and accept their congratulations, but Jude couldn’t help hesitating, turning to Valerie with a smile. “Ye ken I love ye, aye?”

Valerie’s smile was like the first sunlight of spring after a long, cold winter. “And I love ye.”

The warmth in her voice matches the sunlight in her smile… Is there any doubt that Valerie is the sunshine in my world?

Heart light, Jude led his bride forward to receive the congratulations of their friends and family as the last shadows of grief melted away.

He was finally where he belonged.

The End?