Page 86 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

Freya threw her head back and laughed. “I daenae think I could do it without laughing, Skye. I’m sorry.”

Sometimes it was better to leave things be, and this was one of those times.

“Let’s just talk about something else,” Skye muttered.

Freya nodded, but the knowing smile never faded from her lips.

Finally, the day they had all been waiting for came.

The courtyard was already alive with music and firelight when the thud of hooves on gravel drew every head toward the gates.

Skye’s heart lurched before she’d even turned to look, some part of her already knowing who it was.

Dougal.

He dismounted in one fluid motion, travel-worn but unmistakably himself.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the air between them thick with everything left unsaid over the past week. Then Lily broke the spell, barreling across the courtyard in her best dress, ribbons trailing loose from her braids.

Dougal caught her easily, cradling her against his chest despite the dust still clinging to his cloak. “There’s me lass.” His voicewas rough with something that wasn’t quite relief or exhaustion, but a mix of both. “Look at ye, all dressed up and bonnie.”

“I have a new dress! And Blossom has a ribbon! And the goat too, though he tried to eat his.”

“Did he now?” Dougal’s mouth curved, the first genuine smile Skye had seen cross his face since he’d ridden out. “I’m nae surprised in the least.”

Kenna reached them next, her hands smoothing over his shoulders as though checking for injuries, the way she likely had every time he’d ridden home from battle since he was a boy. “Ye look tired, son.”

“Iamtired. But it’s done, Maither. Or near enough to done.”

“We’ll speak of it later.” Kenna’s eyes flicked briefly toward Skye, a meaningful look in them, before she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “For now, welcome home. Ye’ve a cèilidh to attend and a daughter who’s talked of naught else but yer return for three days straight.”

“Have ye now, little one?”

Lily nodded solemnly against his shoulder. “I told everyone of yer promise. And ye kept it.”

“I always keep me promises to ye.”

Kenna excused herself then, murmuring something about the honey cakes. However, Skye suspected it was more courtesy than necessity, for she was left standing there while Dougal set Lily down to dash off toward the musicians.

“Ye’re back,” she said quietly, unable to think of anything more clever to say.

“Aye.” His eyes settled on hers, making her breath catch despite herself. “I missed ye more than I care to admit, lass.”

“I missed ye too.” The words slipped free before she could stop them. “The castle felt… quieter without ye in it.”

“Quieter.” Something shifted in his expression as he stepped closer. “Is that all it was?”

“Nay,” she admitted, her cheeks warming. “It wasnae only that.”

“Good.” His voice dropped low, for her ears only. “Because I’ve thought of little else but ye the entire ride home. There are things I mean to tell ye, once the night settles and we’ve a moment alone.”

Before she could ask what he meant, a hush fell over the courtyard, every head turning toward the gates as a second rider approached.

“Dougal, what is he doing here?” Skye asked, unable to keep the venom from her voice.

Angus had barely dismounted before he said it, loud enough for the whole courtyard to hear. "The world may as well ken it now. She's me granddaughter, and Dougal's daughter in every way that matters, and any man who thinks to use that truth against her will answer to both of us." A murmur rippled through the gathered guests, but no one dared meet his eye, or Dougal's, long enough to argue.

Dougal sighed. “As ye can see, he didnae hurt her, Skye. It was someone else.”