Page 38 of The Rightful Highland King (The Last Celtic King #4)

"I'm nae king," Ansel replied, shaking his head.

"I'm just a man who has acted on behalf of a monster.

But I had nae option but tae kill me father, because I understood the truth at last. This war would have never ended.

If it wasnae you, then another would have risen against him.

And all the while, me father would kill, and steal, and take, until this country had no breath left, and the grass could no longer grow.

The only way tae atone for me crimes is tae put a stop tae me father's cruelty forever.

And now that I've done that, Yer Majesty, I throw meself upon yer mercy. "

Maeve raised her fingers to her lips, looking shaken.

There were tears in her eyes, and Ansel wondered if she was thinking of her own father.

He regretted what he'd done to James O'Sullivan, not because the man hadn't deserved to die, but because he'd robbed this woman and her sisters of their right to see it to the end.

"I accept yer surrender," Cailean said at last. "Yer men will nae be harmed.

Those who have committed the worst crimes and those who continue tae resist will face trials under fair justice.

This war is over." He turned to the rebels and shouted the words with a kingly confidence that Edric had never possessed. "This war is over!"

A tumultuous cheer rose up both from the rebel army, and a second later, the same cheer was echoed by most of those gathered behind Ansel. Some of the rebels ran forward, and Ruadh and some of Ansel's soldiers did the same, obviously eager to combine their people at last.

But Cailean held up a hand, and silence fell once more. Everyone stopped where they were.

Ansel smiled sadly. He knew what came next.

"I swore tae me allies that nae Ashkirks would leave this castle alive," he told Ansel quietly.

There was a tinge of real regret in his voice.

"I thank ye for protectin' me sister, and for puttin' an end tae this bloodshed.

I thank ye for yer newfound commitment to our country.

I think, in another life, we could have been friends. "

"But this isnae another life," Ansel agreed. "It is this one. I am an Ashkirk, and ye are a McNair. There's only one way this was ever gonnae end."

Cailean nodded gravely. He drew his sword. "Stand back, Neala. Ansel, get tae yer feet. I willnae kill a man on his knees."

"Nay!" Neala shouted. She ran between the two men, throwing her arms out to her sides. "Ye cannae kill him. I willnae allow it."

"Neala," Ansel said gently, "It's all right."

" Nay, " Neala insisted fiercely. "Cailean, he is a good man , just like I've told ye time and again.

He ended this war without ye havin' tae kill.

He saved me, over and over again. He turned against his own father to protect this country.

And I… Cailean, I love him. Every part of me heart and soul loves him, and I cannae live in a world where me own brother destroys the person I adore. "

Ansel's heart clenched at that, and he felt a tear run down his cheek. He didn't try to wipe it away. There was no point in pretending now. If Neala's declaration of love was the last thing he ever heard, then he would die a happy man. He got to his feet but did not speak.

Cailean's expression twisted, uncertain and pained. "If I'm a king, I must keep me promises tae me allies. Ye must understand that. It doesnae matter what I want, or what ye want—it's about what our country needs."

"And our country needs Ansel dead?" Neala demanded.

"Our country needs a king who is true to his word after more than two decades of darkness," Cailean replied. "Move out of the way, sister. Dinnae make this worse."

Ansel touched Neala's shoulder. "It's all right," he told her again softly. "He's right. If the McNair name is tae truly rise again, then there can be nae more Ashkirks left walkin' this land. Ye must let me go."

Neala started to cry, clutching at his arm. He'd only seen her break down like this one other time, back when she'd discovered her mother's diaries. "Please," she whispered. "I dinnae want tae live without ye."

"Ye must," Ansel replied seriously. "Because ye're the sun itself, and this country needs yer light."

He gently shook her off, then stepped forward to stand right in front of Cailean. He took a deep breath and said, "Let's make it quick."

Cailean nodded and raised his sword.

"Wait," Maeve said quickly. "Wait."

Both men stopped and looked at her. Maeve had moved to comfort Neala and had her arms around her sister-in-law, but her eyes were on Cailean.

"Maeve, I made a promise," Cailean insisted. "Ye did too."

"I did," Maeve agreed. "We did. We agreed that nae Ashkirk would leave this castle. But what if Ansel lives, and still nae Ashkirk does?"

Ansel frowned, tilting his head as he tried to understand her meaning. "What are ye sayin'?" he asked.

"Neala, ye love this man?" Maeve asked.

"I do," Neala replied. "More than almost anythin'. I ken ye understand how that feels."

Maeve nodded. "And ye," she said, nodding to Ansel. "Ye love her?"

"Aye," Ansel replied slowly.

Cailean's eyebrows arched. He and Maeve seemed to have a silent conversation, and though he pursed his lips, he nodded. "Are ye sure?" he asked.

"Ye've fought so long tae end the fightin'," Maeve replied. "This way, ye regain yer family's legacy without havin' tae cause more death. Ye can lead us tae the new world nae with blood, but with love."

Cailean sighed, but he nodded again. "Well," he grumbled so that only those directly around him could hear, "I didnae think me first act as king would be this. We'll need witnesses."

Maeve moved to Cailean and kissed his cheek. She turned to the rebels and beckoned a few people forward. Ansel didn't recognize them all, but one of them was Malcolm Darach's son, and another, holding the hand of a handsome young man with golden curls, was none other than Nessa O'Sullivan.

"Nice tae see ye're alive," Ansel told her, unable to stop himself. Nessa smiled slightly, much to his surprise. It suited her.

A few other people approached at Maeve's beckoning, this time from Ansel's side—Ruadh, along with two other of Ansel's men. Once they'd arrived, Maeve gently took Neala's hand and led her to Ansel.

"Wait," Nessa said. She pulled a ribbon from her hair and handed it to Cailean, who nodded in thanks.

Ansel stared at Neala's hand in his, knowing that now he was holding her once more, he'd never be able to let go. He looked up and met her eyes, then used his free hand to wipe some of the tears from her cheeks.

"Will ye take this man as yer husband, Neala?" Cailean asked. "Will ye guide him and teach him, and help him learn? Will ye help him work tae earn forgiveness from our people?"

"I will," Neala replied. "I want nothin' more."

Ansel's stomach fluttered. He understood what was happening, but it was so wonderful that he couldn't bring himself to believe it.

"And ye, Ansel, will ye take me sister as yer wife?" Cailean asked. "Will ye forsake the name of Ashkirk forever before these witnesses and swear yerself tae bein' better? Will ye give us yer loyalty and understand ye've a lot of work ahead?"

At first, Ansel couldn't get the words out.

But he met Neala's eyes, and calmness flooded through him.

This was it. This was right. "I will. I…

I cannae think of anythin' that would honor me more.

I place me whole life before her, me whole bloodline before ye all, and I can scarcely believe that ye accept me.

I'll work for the rest of me life tae earn it if I have tae. "

Cailean nodded, and Neala smiled at him with tears in her eyes, but Ansel could see that others looked less convinced.

He let go of Neala's hand for a moment and stepped forward, making sure he was in view of as many people as possible and raising his voice so he could be clearly heard.

"I forsake the Ashkirk name now and forever and commit meself tae the legacy of the McNairs," Ansel announced clearly.

He knelt before Cailean. "I am yer humble servant, and if the need should ever arise again, I will fight for ye and die for ye before I let harm befall me king or this country.

I will commit me existence tae protectin' nae only me life, but the lives of all of the people of McNair and of Scotland. "

Maeve actually smiled. She gave Cailean a look, and he nodded.

"I accept yer pledge," Cailean told him quietly. Then, louder, he said, "As the rightful king, I accept this man's pledge. Who would protest it?"

"He's still an Ashkirk!" someone shouted angrily.

Neala shook her head. "Nae for much longer." She moved to Ansel's side and offered her hand to help him back to his feet. He took it, wondering what he'd ever done to deserve her love, and stood.

"He is me subject now, just as all of ye are," Cailean announced. "The rebellion was founded on second chances. This man has slain the False King—his own father—in our name. Hasn't he earned it?"

Ansel squeezed Neala's hand, and looked at Cailean once more. "If I ever betray ye, may me life be forfeit." Then he looked into Neala's eyes, those beautiful dark eyes, and added more quietly, "And if I'm ever nae the husband ye deserve…"

"Ye're more than ye think ye are, Ansel," Neala whispered.

He shook his head. "Nay. Nae yet. But with the grace of yer brother and with yer love, perhaps I one day will be."

"Any other objections?" Cailean asked. Nobody spoke.

With a final nod, Cailean stepped forward and wrapped the ribbon around their joined hands, binding them together. "Then, Neala McNair and Ansel McNair, I welcome ye tae the new Scotland. May this first marriage of a new age be a sign of the love tae come in our world."

"Hurry and kiss the bride so we can all go home, eh?" said the golden-haired man.

Ansel didn't need telling twice.

That night, when they set up camp on their way back to McNair Castle, Ansel lay by Neala's side and stared at the roof of his tent.

His head was spinning from the events of the day, but having her in his arms was keeping him tied to earth.

He had left many of his men behind to bury his father and the other dead and to spread news of the True King's victory, and many of the rebel army had dispersed back toward their own clans, but Ansel himself was traveling back to what would be his new home.

"Are ye all right?" Neala asked softly, leaning against his bare chest and wrapping her arm around his stomach.

"When I woke this mornin' I was sure I was gonnae die," Ansel replied, gently stroking her hair as he spoke. "I kent I would save ye nae matter what it took, but I was sure me death was comin', either from the hands of me father or from the rebellion."

"And now?" Neala asked him.

"Now?" Ansel replied. "With ye here at me side and a name I can be proud of? Oh, Neala. For the first time in my life, I think I may get tae live."