Page 107 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander

“Och, I dinnae think that’s goin’ to work, sweetie,” Morgana said, her heart yearning for more time with Ryder.

“Just look,” Poppy pressed, rather pleased with herself.

Morgana and Feya turned the corner. The sitting room, with its posh white couches and the small piano in the corner, had been transformed. There were pillows and blankets sprawled everywhere. It reminded Morgana of a book she had read—Arabian Nights.

“Woah, now that is a sittin’ room,” Feya said.

“Then come join us,” Poppy insisted as she took both her sisters by the hand and led them into the room.

Morgana caught Feya glancing over her shoulder at her mysterious shadow. Laird Dougal nodded and took a step back, before retreating down the hallway.

“Ye’ll have to tell me about that one of these days, Feya,” Morgana whispered. “And dinnae tell me it’s nothin’.”

“Aye,” Feya muttered. “One of these days, I will tell ye. But I think tonight is all about them.”

Morgana glanced at her siblings. Each smile beamed brighter than the sun. Her heart swelled with pride as it dawned on her that she had done exactly what she set out to do.

Her family was safe now. No one dared touch them under the protection of Laird McKenzie, and even more with Laird Dougal. For the first time, the future wasn’t so daunting.

“Nay, nae just them, but all of us. It should be about family.”

EPILOGUE

The light from the torches flickered and danced along the path before Morgana and Ryder, causing their shadows to merge and shift into one dark shadow stretching across the land.

Morgana couldn’t help but smile as she realized that was precisely how she saw herself with him. They had come together, faced trials and tribulations that they never thought they could prevail over. And yet there they were, strolling down the main street of Lochcairn in the twilight.

“I really love the way this town looks this time of year,” Feya said with a sigh that reached Morgana’s ears.

Morgana glanced at Ryder. His eyes narrowed as he shook his head. The warning in his gaze made her want to laugh. She pressed her lips into a tight line and squeezed his arm a bit harder.

“Aye, there is somethin’ about the evenin’ that makes this place feel different,” Tormod chimed in, then pointed to the stall of smoked meat. “And what is that smell?”

“That’s the best smoked lamb leg ye’ll ever taste,” Ryder answered. “And I promise ye, ye’ll never grow weary of eatin’ it.”

“Ye speak as if ye’ve lived off the stuff before,” Feya said over her shoulder.

She flashed a wink at Morgana, before turning her attention back to the street.

“Aye,” Ryder uttered, his tone dropping just enough for Morgana to grow concerned.

When she looked at him, he shook his head as if to tell her that all was well.

But if there was one thing Morgana had learned over the past few weeks, it was the fact that Ryder was skilled at everything but lying. It was the line around his left eyebrow that gave him away.

But she wasn’t about to press the issue as they all turned the corner.

“Ye forget, Ryder had been banished for a spell,” she spoke up as she rubbed her hand over his chest. Her heart skipped every time she felt his heart thumping against the palm of her hand.

Ryder paused and stared at the small cottage on the edge of Lochcairn.

“And ye were just a villager in the right place at the right time…” Feya trailed off. “What’s goin’ on? Is everythin’ all right?”

Morgana pressed her lips into a tight line, trying to hold back the glee swelling within her.

“Are we nae goin’ back to the castle?” Tormod asked, looking to Feya for an answer.

They shared the same puzzled look before moving back to Morgana and Ryder.