Page 24 of To Wed a Witch (Reluctant Brides #3)

T he winter morning light filtered through the window of the laird's chamber, casting shadows across the rumpled bed linens. Sìne lay contentedly in Bhaltair's arms, her head resting on his chest as his fingers traced lazy patterns along her bare shoulder.

"Six years," she murmured against his skin, still breathless from their lovemaking. "Can ye believe it's been that long?"

"Feels like yesterday," Bhaltair replied, his voice warm with satisfaction as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "And yet I cannot remember what life was like before ye."

Sìne lifted her head to look at him, taking in the beloved features that had become dearer to her with each passing year. There were small lines around his eyes now, put there by laughter and the joys of fatherhood, and she traced them gently with her fingertip.

"Another year of blessings," she said softly. "Four healthy bairns, a thriving clan, and peace. Sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming."

"If ye are, then I'm dreaming too," he murmured, capturing her hand and bringing it to his lips. "Though I suspect our peace is about to end. I can hear noises from the nursery."

No sooner had he spoken then the distant sound of children's voices could be heard from down the corridor, along with the patient voice of their nursemaid trying to maintain order.

"We should wash and dress," Sìne said reluctantly, though she made no move to leave his embrace. "Our guests will be arriving soon, and my father will expect the children’s every whim met."

Bhaltair chuckled. "Yer da spoils them. Who would have thought he would turn to mush at the sight of wee Eòghann and Lil?"

"He's always had a soft heart beneath that gruff exterior," Sìne defended, though she was smiling.

They reluctantly left the warmth of their bed to wash and dress for the busy day ahead, helping each other clean away the evidence of their morning's passion with gentle, intimate gestures. Sìne donned her finest woolen winter gown, while Bhaltair dressed in his formal plaid and leather jerkin.

"Ye look beautiful," he said, coming up behind her as she finished braiding her hair. His hands settled on her waist as he nuzzled her neck. "How did I ever get so lucky?"

"Ye had no choice," she teased, leaning back against him.

"Ah, but I did. If I were really set against ye, no amount of coin would have enticed me. Ye were the best decision I ever made," he murmured against her ear, making her shiver.

She turned in his arms, reaching up to straighten his crest badge. "And running to ye was the best decision I ever made."

Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. But before it could deepen, the chamber door burst open with a tremendous crash.

"Ma! Da!"

Six-year-old Aidyn flew into the room like a small whirlwind. Close behind her came four-year-old Fraser, his eyes bright with excitement.

"The MacNeils are here, and Grandma and Lionel just arrived!" Aidyn announced breathlessly. "We saw them from the window! There are so many horses."

"Can we go down now? Can we?" Fraser added, bouncing on his toes. "I want to show everyone my new wooden horse!"

"Hold!” Bhaltair said. "Are ye forgetting something this morn?" he asked raising a brow.

Aidyn and Fraser immediately grinned and ran to Bhaltair, both giving him a kiss and hug good morning. Then they greeted Sìne with the same.

In the doorway, their nursemaid Margaret appeared, looking somewhat harried.

In her arms she carried two-year-old Lil, while young Eòghann clung to her skirts.

Both twins had been bathed and dressed in their finest clothes, though Eòghann’s hair stuck up at odd angles despite obvious attempts to tame it.

"I'm sorry," Margaret said apologetically. "They heard the noise in the courtyard, and I could nae stop them."

"'Tis alright, Margaret," Sìne assured her, moving to scoop up Eòghann. The little boy immediately wrapped his arms around her neck, babbling excitedly about "horsies."

"Mama, can we go see them now?" Aidyn asked, tugging at Sìne's skirt. "Please? We've been good all morning, haven't we, Fraser?"

"Aye," Fraser agreed solemnly, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

Before either parent could answer, another figure appeared in the doorway. Sìne's father, Laird MacKay, despite being past sixty, still cut an imposing figure in his formal plaid. But his stern expression melted completely when he saw his grandchildren.

"And where might my wee warriors be going in such a hurry?" he asked, his gruff voice gentle as he addressed the children.

"Grand-da!" Aidyn launched herself at him. "Can ye take us down to meet our guests?"

"Well now," Laird MacKay said, catching his granddaughter easily. "I suppose I could escort ye. That is, if yer parents dinnae mind."

"An excellent idea," Bhaltair said. "But mind ye dinnae let my mother and Lionel spoil them with too many sweets!"

"Aye, we'll make sure they're properly fed," Laird MacKay assured them, though his eyes twinkled with the same excitement as the children's. "Come along then, my brave ones. Let's go see what adventures the wee MacNeil bairns have had."

Aidyn and Fraser cheered, racing toward the door while their grandfather followed at a more sedate pace, shaking his head at their energy.

"That leaves us with these two," Sìne said, hitching Eòghann higher on her hip as the little boy continued his excited babbling.

Bhaltair moved to take Lil from Margaret's arms, the tiny girl immediately reaching for her father with delighted giggles. He kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank ye, Margaret," he said to the nursemaid. "We'll take them down ourselves."

"Very good, laird," Margaret replied with obvious relief.

As the nursemaid disappeared back down the corridor, Sìne and Bhaltair stood for a moment in their chamber doorway, each holding one of their youngest children.

"Ready for another day of mayhem?" Bhaltair asked, shifting Lil to his other arm as she tried to grab his crest badge.

"With ye?" Sìne smiled, reaching over to squeeze his free hand. "Always. Though I do wonder sometimes how we manage to keep our bairns from tearing the Keep down."

"Terribly, from what I can tell," Bhaltair replied with a grin. "But they seem happy enough."

"They are that." Sìne agreed. She pressed a kiss to Lil's cheek as Bhaltair kissed Eòghann’s forehead and ruffled his hair. "And so are we."

"Aye," Bhaltair said softly, clasping her hand tighter as they walked to the hall. "So are we."

The sounds of the bustling Keep preparing for Hogmanay grew louder as they descended the stairs.

They could hear Ada's voice directing the kitchens. Bhaltair’s mother and his stepfather Lionel’s voices could also be heard mingled with the MacNeil’s.

Then there were the laughter and chatter of young children and the general happy sounds that had become part of their lives.

Sìne paused for a moment, looking down at the joyful pandemonium below, "I'm so glad I wed a fierce Highland laird," she said.

"And I," Bhaltair replied with a grin, "am so glad I wed a witch."

Hand in hand, children in their arms, they descended into the warmth of their home, their clan, and the life they had built together with love.

***

The End