Page 37 of The Rightful Highland King (The Last Celtic King #4)

Darren caught Nessa's arm as they made the final approach to Blackthorn Castle.

They were exhausted and bloodied after facing and defeating yet another ambush on the final push toward their destination, and many of the injured rebels were staying behind, taking the refuge offered by the terrified villagers who lived around the castle.

"Ye should stay here," Darren told her. "Ye're nae warrior."

"Me sister is goin'," Nessa replied defiantly. "I should be there too."

Darren shook his head emphatically. "Maeve is goin' because she's trained as a fighter, and because she's the queen.

This is her fight. But it isnae yers, Nessa.

There's nae shame in nae kennin' how tae wield a weapon.

We fight so that our own bairns and grandbairns may never have tae.

Think of yer other sister; Breana stayed home though she longed tae be at Eoin's side, because the wee one growin' in her belly needs her tae stay alive. "

"There's nae bairn in me belly," Nessa replied dismissively. "Come on. We need tae be at the front with Cailean and Maeve."

He scowled. "Nessa, will ye listen tae me? Dinnae ye understand that we cannae lose ye? Maeve will be distracted if ye're around, wantin' tae protect ye. And I… if somethin' happened tae ye and I could have prevented it, I'll go mad. Stay here. Please."

Nessa blinked at him in surprise. "I… Darren, I ken ye care about me. But this is bigger than me. If I can be of any use, then I need tae be there, and ye ken it. Maeve will be fine. She kens how important this is."

"But—" Darren started.

She raised her finger to his lips, hushing him. "Stop. It isnae like ye tae be so serious." She smiled slightly at him. "I've been a part of this as long as I've been alive. It's only right I should be a part of its end."

Darren's eyes widened, and he glanced at her finger for a moment before looking directly into her face. He seemed, for the first time since she'd known him, at a loss for words.

"Besides," she said in an impish tone that wasn't quite her own. She'd borrowed it from him. "Who else is gonnae make sure those two dinnae do anythin' stupid?"

He stared a moment longer, then laughed. It was a warm, beautiful sound, and it made Nessa feel as though the snow around her was melting as the flowers grew. She hadn't known she could ever make anyone laugh like that, and she hoped that she'd get to do it over and over again.

Then Darren took her face between his hands and kissed her.

Nessa leaned into the kiss as she had what felt like a thousand times before, then gasped as she heard wolf whistles and laughter around them.

She pulled back and saw several of their friends and other rebels watching and grinning.

Maeve was close by, a look on her face halfway between amusement and concern as she watched.

"Darren!" Nessa hissed, "What are ye doin'? I thought this was supposed tae be a secret."

Darren chuckled. "Och, it's never been a secret and ye ken it. They've all kent we're together for months. And if I cannae tell ye I love ye before we rush off intae battle and maybe get ourselves killed, when can I?"

Nessa sharply looked up into his face, her pulse quickening. Surely she had misheard. "What did ye say?"

He winked. "Want me tae repeat it? I'm fairly certain everyone else heard."

She glanced around them. Everyone in their small vicinity was watching, and even Maeve had a glimmer in her eye. But then the reality of what they were doing here crashed down, and she shook her head. "Darren, it isnae the time for this."

Darren nodded. "Ye're right. Forgive me, we dinnae need tae talk about it now."

As if the spell was broken, the other rebels returned to their tasks, preparing to head out to the final battle.

Maeve went to find Cailean, though not without one final look toward Nessa.

Still feeling a blush on her cheeks, Nessa turned back to her pack when she and Darren were alone again and secured her things inside it.

"So, will ye stay here?" Darren asked once more.

"Nay," Nessa said. She paused, then added, " Especially nae now."

She glanced back at Darren and saw him give her a rueful grin, which she couldn't help but respond to with a smile of her own.

"I thought ye'd say that," he admitted. "So instead, I'll ask another question. When this is all over, will ye marry me?"

The part of Nessa that was broken thought it was a cruel joke.

That small portion of her that had so much healing still to do wanted to scream at him for mocking her and storm off, retreating into the safety of her coldness.

But the rest of her, the Nessa who had found her sisters, the one who had learned what it was to love and be loved, had a heart that brimmed over with so much love and joy that it spilled over, and it was time she let that stronger part take over for good.

She stood and turned to face him, trying to keep her wild grin under control. "Of course I will, ye idiot," she replied. "Now go make sure our king doesnae die."

Darren wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her into his arms and spinning in place, kissing her fiercely before placing her back on her feet. He winked again, then kissed her forehead and her cheek before hurrying off to find Cailean.

Nessa stared after him, her heart racing, her soul singing, and her self whole at last. She stood for just a moment longer, then turned back to her pack, hefting it over her shoulder.

It was time.

Ansel held Neala's hand as they walked together through the main doors of Blackthorn Castle and into the sun that shone down upon the still snow.

The watchmen on the towers had warned them that the rebels were close, and Neala and Ansel had decided they'd make their way out to meet them together.

Ansel knew that he was probably walking toward his end, and he'd asked Neala to wait behind, but he had also known she'd never agree to it.

Besides, as she'd so carefully reasoned, her presence would at least make Cailean stop and listen.

The rebel army stopped, and Ansel saw many of them pointing and gaping at the white flags that flew from the turrets.

It only took a few moments after that for two figures—Cailean and Maeve—to separate from the group and move forward toward them.

Ansel and Neala moved too, walking to meet them in the middle.

Ansel knew his men had exited the castle and were standing behind him, and the rebel army stood behind their king and queen.

However, the two couples met in the middle with nobody else to intervene.

Ansel had been careful about ordering his guards to do this, and he was glad that Cailean had done the same.

There was to be no more death than there had to be.

"Neala," Cailean breathed as soon as the four of them met. Neala let go of Ansel's hand and ran into her brother's embrace, and for a second, nobody else moved or spoke.

Maeve watched Ansel carefully, distrust written all over her pretty face. She had her hand resting on the pommel of her elegant, thin sword, and it was clear she was ready for a fight. "Why the white flags?" she demanded. "Is this a trap?"

"It's nae trap," Neala replied, letting go of Cailean. "Ye must listen."

Cailean frowned and looked at Ansel. "What have ye done?" he demanded.

Ansel met his eye, then sank down to one knee, bowing his head. "Edric Ashkirk is dead," he said softly. "I am the ruler of Blackthorn Castle, and I surrender it to ye, Cailean McNair. And with it, this country. I return tae ye what me father took from yers. This war is over."

He looked up again when there was no answer. Cailean and Maeve looked at each other with matching expressions of astonishment, but nobody said anything.

Neala moved back to Ansel's side. "It's true.

He's dead. Ansel killed him, I saw it meself," she said, her words coming out all in a rush.

"He saved me, Cailean— again . His father was ready tae execute me, and Ansel stopped him.

The Ashkirks split in two, brother against brother, and Ansel led the fight in yer name. This is a real surrender."

Cailean shook his head slowly, not in disbelief, but as though he was trying to think. "I dinnae understand," he said eventually. He looked down at Ansel, who was still kneeling. "Why would ye do this?"

Ansel sighed. "I've kent for many, many years that I've been on the wrong side of history.

I've tried me best tae lessen the crimes of me father while also servin' him, but the truth is I never did enough.

Meetin' Neala… it changed me, and I resisted at first. She showed me a part of meself that I've spent me life denyin', a part that always made me shrink back in fear.

A part that wanted tae live for love, nae just for the whims of a tyrant because I felt I had nae choice. "

"Ye could have come tae us," Maeve replied, folding her arms. "Ye had chances. Many chances."

He didn't argue. "I was weak. Perhaps I still am.

When I freed those Sparrows, I told meself I was only doin' it for Neala.

When I watched as me father murdered me brave, wonderful cousin, I told meself that all I could do was forget what it was tae feel.

But Neala has been a part of me soul since the moment we met.

When she came tae find me again, when I realized that I love her with all of me bein', I kent it couldnae go on. I had nae choice but tae save her."

"Ye could have saved her without all of this," Cailean replied slowly. "Ye could have spared her life and taken her away, or kept her as yer wife while ye ruled as king."