Page 64 of The Empire and the Wolf King (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #21)

CHAPTER 63 - ARCHIE

BALLOCH CASTLE - JUNE 1, 1710

I t was night and the cousins and Ben and I had headlamps on and we were racing through the upper halls, tryin’ tae catch up tae my cousin, when I passed Lady Mairead walking to her chamber with her new husband. He stepped aside and she cleared her throat as if expecting me to stop.

I called to Ben, “Go ahead!” and leaned over to catch my breath.

“Good evening, Grandson, how are ye?” She put up her hand to block my light. “Turn off your lamp, please.”

“Sorry.” I clicked it off. “I’m fine, Grandmother, racing the cousins and Ben.”

“Good, ye hae a fine spirit.”

I straightened up and said, “You got married?”

“Aye, Wilfrey is a wonderful man. And I daena ken if ye hae been told, but I married him because ye told me tae.”

“I did? Weird.”

“Aye, tis verra weird. As has been explained, I met ye when ye were aulder, ye were verra heroic and sacrificed yerself tae save yer family.”

I grinned and joked, “It’s what I do.”

She narrowed her eyes.

I stopped smiling. “I had a dream that I called myself a Wolf King?—”

“Ye did. Ye howled at the sky and ye lived in exile and ye gathered men around ye tae battle for yer kingdom. Ye died raising yer sword alongside William Wallace.”

“Cool.”

Grandmother grinned. “Aye, verra cool, I am impressed at what ye accomplished. They sing songs tae yer heroics. I join in the song whenever I hear it, I want ye tae ken.”

I nodded, then said, “Thanks, Grandmother, I don’t remember any of it but... why did I tell you to get married?”

“Because ye thought I was lonely and so ye were looking after me. I consider that a great trait in ye, and so I did as ye asked. Therefore I consider our alliance a success. We hae each done our parts tae save the family. Ye lived up tae the name the Wolf King, well done.”

I said, “Yes, Grandmother, well done.”

She said, “Ye may run off and join yer games once more.”

I threw my arms around her middle, giving her a fast hug and ran off, over my shoulder, calling, “Arhoooooo!”

And Lady Mairead called back, “Arhooo!”