Page 27 of The Cruel Highlander (From Enemies to Marriage #3)

EPILOGUE

Valorie stood in the garden outside of their castle and admired the scene in front of her. Everyone was here today. Her parents stood with Kenneth, laughing loudly together over by the rose bushes. Her father was looking very dapper today, in his clan’s plaid. He had made a full recovery from his wounds and was doing better than ever.

When Valorie caught Kenneth’s eye, he waved to her with a big grin. He had become an even better friend since everything had happened.

Both of Aiden’s sisters, their husbands, and their mother were here as well. They were all trying to wrangle their broods of children. The little things were running about the garden and the castle itself, and one of them always seemed to be missing.

Margaret, accompanied by one of her brothers, beamed at Valorie from the other side of the garden. Valorie briefly hoped that it would be Margaret’s day soon; she deserved all the love that Valorie had found. Margaret’s brother, however, was the one guest who looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here, but Valorie didn’t care.

Everything was perfect. It was the wedding of her dreams.

Valorie glanced to the side at her new husband standing next to her; he was giving her the look he only ever wore for her. She pulled him in for another kiss as husband and wife, and she couldn’t imagine anything better.

Valorie once again admired the new ring on her finger and the matching one on Aiden’s. The piece of metal, with no beginning and no end, marked the eternal vows they made in front of the priest and their family and friends.

After everything that happened with Tavish and then by the waterfall, Valorie and Aiden’s betrothal became a whole lot more real. She officially made her home in Aiden’s chambers, and they were turning the other suite into a studio for Aiden and a reading room for Valorie. Aiden had since found a love of painting with Valorie as his muse, and Valorie just wanted to be in whatever room Aiden was in.

They were practically inseparable now. Aiden kept his promises, and Valorie was at nearly every council meeting (she was honestly getting a bit bored of those), and Aiden consulted with her on all things clan related.

When they weren’t running the clan, they practiced archery or sword fighting although Aiden would never truly strike at Valorie, so she ended up winning every spar.

And when they wanted to get away, they took the horses and Willow back to their spot at the waterfall. It had become their favorite place to relax and enjoy each other. They spent many hours just lying in the sun or splashing around in the water.

They had a trip planned for next year sometime, and Valorie was finally going to get to see some of the world she had always dreamed of with Aiden by her side.

Aiden pulled Valorie towards him and kissed the top of her head, his arm now looped around her waist.

“Have I told ye how beautiful ye look today, Valorie?” Aiden asked against her hair.

“Aye, only about a dozen times,” Valorie replied with a laugh.

“Hmm, not nearly enough then,” Aiden commented, “Let me rectify that; ye look absolutely stunnin’ Val, I’m the luckiest man alive to get to call myself yer husband.”

Valorie turned in Aiden’s arms and gazed up at him — to think she once thought he was harsh looking. There was nothing harsh or cold in Aiden’s face now; he looked at her with love and warmth, the same way Valorie imagined she looked back at him.

“And I’m the luckiest woman,” Valorie said with a smile.

Valorie’s parents were approaching them now, but they seemed to be bickering a little. Valorie watched as her father handed something to her mother, shaking his head but still wearing the proud look he had on all day today. Valorie’s mother was flashing her scheming smile.

“What was that about?” Valorie asked when her parents stood before them.

“Yer faither bet me that ye’d find a way to leave Aiden as well; I told him he was wrong, of course,” Valorie’s mother confessed.

Aiden released a full belly laugh, and Valorie lightly swatted him for encouraging them. Valorie just scoffed in response; her mouth open in shock.

Until she looked over again at her new husband…

“I could never leave this one,” Valorie said, pulling Aiden in for a passionate kiss.

The End?