Chapter Four
His response to her question startled even Alastar himself. It startled him because of its simplistic truth. She thought she was getting the upper hand by agreeing to what she thought was a farce of a handfast, if only to keep everyone else from bothering her for an entire year, but what he was receiving was far more precious: an entire year alone with Aislin. An entire year to convince her that he could be the husband she needed… wanted. He had a year to convince her that he was a man who would never dare try to change her nature or take away her freedoms, because those were the innate qualities he valued most about her. To him, this handfast was very real… but, he would keep that to himself.
By the gasp that escaped her soft pink lips, increasing breath, and the hand she placed on her chest, he knew his response had startled her as well. “Alastar,” she said carefully, “you are full of sweet words, but I have heard stories of your conquests with women. I will not be one of them.”
His past haunted him and he supposed it always would. He had finally found the one woman he wanted to build a life with and she couldn’t trust him with her heart. “Just give me a chance to show you how good we can be together, Lin.”
She frowned and shook her head. “Nay. This will end in one year and one day, Alastar. I will not do this until you accept that.”
He would never accept that. He would spend the next year convincing her they were right for one another, but again, he would keep that to himself. He was done with words. She looked up to his height, her moss green eyes staring at him, her mouth parted and breathless. He had to kiss her. Bending down slightly, he took her lips with his softly, lingering as his breath mingled with hers. Her body softened against him and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She smelled sweet like honey and tasted even better.
A small groan escaped her lips when she got on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck. Just as he successfully slipped his tongue in between her lips, her cursed brother interrupted them again.
“You better have decided to handfast, or you're dead, Al. Get your hands off my sister! This is why you both need to—”
Aislin pulled away from Alastar and rolled her eyes at Eoin, whapping him on the shoulder as if nothing he said even mattered, as if his threats to kill Alastar were empty. “Calm down, Eoin. We will handfast,” she sighed.
Alastar felt his heart soar at her agreement to handfast, then only a moment later, he felt his heart sink as she sighed in resignation. Truly, he never believed he would become handfast, never believed he could want to handfast with a lass as much as he did at this moment. By the gods, he never believed the woman of his choosing would simply roll her eyes and sigh. Nay, it was not ideal, but she saw the merits of this union as keenly as he did, even if he had much more in mind than a temporary arrangement.
“Good. We need to tell the family, Lin.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but Alastar squeezed her hand reassuringly. Eoin was right. It would not do to drag their feet or put this off. The sooner they handfast, the sooner he could have Aislin to himself and begin his courtship. “Come, Lin. I need to ask your father for permission to wed with you.”
“But—”
“I can’t have all the men in your family wanting to gut me, Lin. I need to do this right. I will ask him for permission and, if you wish to have your freedom, it would be in your best interest to act like you want this as well… unless you have changed your mind. I will not force this on you.” He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for her to crush his soul with rejection.
“I do want this,” she whispered and when he opened his eyes again, it was as if someone had punched him in the gut and knocked all the wind out of his lungs. Her eyes were bright and a small smile graced her lips, cheeks flushing.
Eoin grumbled and grabbed Aislin by the hand. “Let’s go.”
***
Her father had been glaring at him for what felt like an eternity. “Why?” he finally groused.
“Why?” Alastar asked, looking at Aislin for some support, but she just pursed her lips and stayed silent.
“Have you taken her innocence?” Garreth, her enormous and extremely intimidating father, said in a deathly low voice.
“What?” Aislin finally snapped to attention. “Papa!”
“Really, Garreth?” Ceara, his beautiful wife who looked like Aislin only perhaps twenty summers older, whapped him on the shoulder. “As if he would admit it even if he had.”
“He has not!” Aislin stood quickly and began to pace. “I do not see what is so concerning here. You are both always telling me I need to find a respectable lad. You both pushed me to apologize to him and invite him over and—”
“Invite him for a meal, lass! Not into your bed!” her papa roared.
Alastar stood up and grabbed Aislin’s hand. She stopped pacing and looked up at him with her imploring green eyes. “Aislin is still innocent, King Garreth.” He knew the man had been king of his own small tuath before coming to live in the larger village of Ráth Mór under King Tuathal, but calling him by his formal title could only help soothe the man over… or so he hoped. Garreth sent him a death glare that would have made a lesser man back down. Alastar finally had the woman of his dreams agreeing to handfast with him, albeit temporarily, and he would not back down now.
“Tis very sudden,” Garreth narrowed his gaze at Alastar, and then looked at Eoin. “You know something of this, son?”
Alastar smirked as Garreth’s ire fell onto Eoin. After all, it was Eoin who had forced the subject, even with knowledge of the cursed wager that Alastar had still yet to call off. Although, if Eoin turned on Alastar now and told his father how he had found them alone in the forest with his tongue down Garreth’s daughter’s throat, he may not live to see another day. Suddenly, Alastar stiffened, realizing his fate was in Eoin’s hands.
“Well, I think ‘tis wonderful,” Treasa added as she cradled Neassa and rocked her hips. “Alastar will be a fine husband. I have known him longer than any of you, so if you cannot trust his word, trust mine.” She smiled at him and Alastar sent her a wink in response. He and Treasa had been through a lot in the past and even in the darkest of days, he had always tried to be her companion and ally. He was pleased to hear she felt the same.
“Papa…” Aislin finally stepped forward and put a hand on Garreth’s large shoulder. His blond hair was going gray at the temples, but the man was a solid wall of muscle and his keen hazel eyes focused on his daughter. “I am ready for this. It may seem sudden to you, but for us,” she looked over at Alastar and swallowed hard before speaking again, “it has always been inevitable. He has promised to allow me to keep my freedom. He respects me for who I am, not who he hopes I will be. He is kind, hard-working, a strong warrior, and already well-known to our family. He is well respected by our king. As you said, ‘tis time for me to find a husband. I choose Alastar.” She crossed her arms and stared down her father in the way only a daughter of a great man could. If anybody else looked at Garreth as she was now, including Eoin, Alastar was certain the man would box his ears, or worse.
“You have my blessing, Lin,” her mother said with a smile, running her fingers affectionately through Aislin’s bright red waves, so similar in color to her own.
Garreth stood and looked down at his daughter with a very powerful emotion flashing in his eyes and a surprising grin across his lips. “You are a lass grown. ‘Tis hard for an old man to accept that his wee lassie is a woman. I know how proud you are, Lin, and I know you would never go into something like this lightly. I give you my blessing.”
Alastar let out a long breath, feeling his heart pounding against his ribs. He had no idea how much he wanted this until he had almost been rejected. Looking at Aislin, he had to resist a frown. She tried to look pleased, but Alastar could see her smile did not reach her eyes. It stung. Her father gave her a strong embrace and then turned to him, putting out an arm. Wrapping his hand around the man’s wrist, they clasped forearms and exchanged manly grunts.
Treasa handed Neassa over to the arms of Eoin and clapped her hands wildly with excitement. “Och, Alastar! You will be my brother! What a strange twist of fate!” She jumped at him, and he laughed as her blonde curls bounced across his face and her hazel eyes glittered. “Now,” she said becoming serious again. “We have a wedding to plan.”
“What?” Aislin croaked and looked on with horror at the twinkle in her sister-by-marriage’s eyes. “Nay! It must be small… and private.”
“Of course, Lin. Only our family. I swear it,” Treasa said with a smirk.