Several moons later

“The MacLeods are starting to move onto your land. Without permission.” Brodrick leaned against the cool stone keep, next to Kane. He’d been out here for the last hour, watching the blonde beauty effortlessly lead a black beast in circles.

“Aye,” he said absently, distracted by the sight of his woman. God, she had flourished in the past two moons. Ever since she had shared her news with him, the depression had gradually left her. This was the first time in weeks she had laughed and played in the sun, the first time she had actually enjoyed herself, and he didn’t want it to end.

“Let them? Kane. They could start a revolt.”

“Aye.”

“Yer not even paying attention.”

“Aye.”

“Kane.”

“Aye.”

“Listen for a moment, would you?” Brodrick elbowed him in the gut, giving Kane no choice but to look at his long-time friend. “Do ye’ no’ think this could be a problem?”

“Nay. I donna. I heard ye’ the first time ye’ mentioned it. Can ye’ shut yer mouth and let me enjoy my wife?”

“Yer not even the slightest worried.”

“Nay, damnit. They have no one to take over the clan that has a backbone. Of course they’d give their fealty to me.”

“Aye, but Saeran killed their heir. What if they want revenge? Could ye’ stop staring at her for a second to think about the important things?”

Kane turned and gave Brodrick a hard look. “I’m going to say this once, and then the matter is dropped. She’s finally enjoying herself, and I’d like to witness it without all this bullshite. From what I understand, the man was horrible. No one liked his son, or Alasdair himself. I told Connor to greet all of them when they come. They are welcome. They donna have a chieftain, Brodrick. Not even a feasible one willing to step up! They’re going to go to the next strongest clan. Let them be. Now, let me watch my woman.”

He turned back to watching Saeran, who was laughing as brightly as the sun, while Brodrick huffed. “Fine, but when ye’ have yer daughters being courted by MacLeods… Some weak grandsons yer going to have.”

After another huff, he turned on his heel, stomping away. Kane knew he wasn’t that angry over the merging of clans. Nay, he was more upset that Kane had been spending all of his time with Saeran, and not having their manly “my wife is a chit” talk, like he had expected.

Honestly, there was nothing for Kane to complain about when it came to Saeran. Aye, she’d had some problems lately. After their wedding ceremony a fortnight ago, she had retreated into herself. He had rarely seen her lately. She was in mourning over her sister, which was understandable, but she was also beginning to find joy in life again. Her news, and what it had meant for the clan, had brought her back to the realm of the living and he couldn’t be more grateful.

“Kane!” she shouted, drawing his attention. He smiled, pushing himself away from the stone wall. “Come, look at what I’ve taught him to do!”

As he came closer, he noticed that she was…that she was mounting the horse. She was mounting the damn beast that had hurt her those many moons ago, and there wasn’t an ounce of fear in her.

“Saeran,” he bellowed, fear striking him. “Saeran, donna—”

“Watch!”

Oh, he was watching all right. Watching with his jaw to the floor, fear for her life flooding him. The horse was antsy under her, pawing at the ground with a black hoof. He burst into a dead run as the horse began to rear.

He swore he was going to faint, until he got a look at his wife’s face. The pure, radiating joy as she held onto the horse’s mane gripped his heart like a vice, wrenching it.

“Saeran, I swear to God—”

“He’s not going to hurt me,” she said, laughing. “Watch him!”

As if knowing he had an audience now, the horse reared completely, front hooves in the air, the back ones planted firmly in the ground.

Then there was Saeran.

His squealing, laughing, and ecstatic wife, with one arm in the air, the other holding herself to the beast. Black and blonde mixed in silken waves—and then they were racing. Kane’s heart seemed to stop in his chest as the beast carried her away from him. It was only the sound of her carefree laughter that kept him on his feet.

She was riding one of the most dangerous animals in the Highlands, when only seven moons ago, she hadn’t been able to mount him, and she looked gorgeous while doing it. Pride for his woman soared through his chest, and didn’t cease until she was back in front of him, riding astride the beast while moving in perfect harmony.

“You told me to train him, did you not?” She gave him the cheekiest grin he’d ever seen from her. He ruefully shook his head. He reached for her waist, letting her lush body slide against his own as he set her on the ground. The beast pranced in happy circles.

Kane pulled her flush against him, wrapping his arms around her waist. Lord, but to see the brightness of her was like an aphrodisiac. He could get lost in her if he let himself. Kane leaned forward, brushing his cheek against her own.

“Just a warning for ye’, lass.” He pressed his lips to her temple. A pleased sigh left her lips.

“Aye?”

“If ye’ ever do anything as dangerous again as that, I’ll be spankin’ ye’ till morning.”

She leaned back, giving him a sultry smile and trailing a finger down his shoulder. He felt his cock harden instantly.

“What if I told you that I’ve been riding him since last week? Does that mean you’ll have me locked up in your room for a week?”

He growled, threading his hand in her hair. She willingly tilted her head back, pressing her breasts into his chest. The arousal worsened.

“For a full moon,” he whispered. He took her lips with his own and groaned. Her delicate arms came up, wrapping around his neck, securing herself against him. He growled with approval, dragging her closer.

He swiped his tongue over her lower lip, urging her to open wider, to let him take her mouth completely. She complied with a small, airy moan, and then he lost it, just like he always did whenever he tasted her.

“Kane?”

He ignored the voice of his squire, kissing his wife until she was breathless.

“Kane, honestly?” A hand tugged at his shoulder and he pulled away from Saeran with a snarl. Her lips were swollen, cheeks flushed. Pleased. Aye, he was pleased—or he would be, if he hadn’t been interrupted.

He turned and landed a glare on Connor. The lad’s cheeks were just as red as Saeran’s. “I…ah. The king is here. King James. He…wanted to speak to you.”

That stopped him in his tracks.

“Where?” Saeran demanded.

“In the courtyard—”

Saeran breezed past him, running to the courtyard. Kane followed after her without a word, leaving poor Connor trying to catch up to him. By the time he had made it through the throng of people crowding to view the king, he didn’t have time to stop her fist from driving into the king’s face.

The silence in the courtyard was terrible. As the king’s guards began to circle her, swords drawn, Kane became lightheaded. His bonny lass was going to forever get herself into trouble, wasn’t she? he thought numbly, watching as the king’s head slowly righted itself. That imperial gaze stayed on Saeran, but she didn’t fidget or apologize. She met him gaze for gaze, until he finally lowered his.

There was a collective sigh in the courtyard.

“I deserved that,” he murmured, lifting a hand to rub his jaw.

“You’re lucky you have guards here, or you would have a lot worse done to you than an aching jaw,” she said fiercely. God, lass, would ye’ shut yer mouth before ye’ get yerself killed?

The people in the courtyard tensed.

“Lower your weapons,” he commanded, giving Saeran a warning glance. They lowered.

“What are you doing here?” There was nothing but hate in her voice. The king’s eyes narrowed on her.

“I came to see how my cousins were fairing,” he replied smoothly, smiling at her. “I haven’t heard from anyone in so long, you know.” He gave Kane a glare, one that said this was all his fault. “Where is Blaine? I sent for her, but no one has returned my calling.

“I wonder why?” Saeran snapped, practically spitting the words.

He frowned. Kane came forward, putting an arm around his wife’s shoulders, a hand over her mouth. She didn’t even fight him over it. Good lass. She didn’t have a death wish, then.

King James looked between the two of them, obviously noticing the way Saeran’s body curled into his, the way she let him keep his hand on her, his protective stance. A look came over his face.

“Were you not betrothed to Blaine? I received a message.”

Saeran trembled against him. She yanked his hand away and spat, “Blaine is dead.”

King James froze. “Blaine is…dead?”

“Seven months ago. Grayham killed her and her unborn child.”

“I…I had no idea.”

Kane pressed his lips, curling his arm around his wife’s waist to hold her still. He could feel the rage boiling under her skin and knew that if he didn’t do something to hold her back, she’d find herself at the gallows.

“I bet you didn’t,” she snapped. “If Your Highness is done here, we are too full to allow guests.” One of the greatest disrespects to a king and Saeran didn’t care. Going by the look on James’s face, he understood full well that he was being kicked off the land.

Kane was surprised when none of the guards made a move against her, but even more surprised when the king willingly urged his party out.

“We will need to speak privately about this—”

“There is nothing to speak on. Blaine is dead. Grayham is dead. Alasdair is dead. The MacLeod clan has agreed unanimously to join the Shaw clan and there is finally peace. My husband and I are content without your interference.”

James looked at Kane as if he couldn’t believe he was letting Saeran speak to him like that.

He shrugged. Truthfully, he was as angry with the bastard as she was. Not only had the King ruined his family, but he’d been as deceitful as a rat. The sooner the pompous ass was off his lands, the happier he would be.

Fortunately, he left without another word. Saeran’s furious, crystalline eyes met his. “We will never allow anyone of our lineage to be named James. Ever.”

“Aye, my love,” he murmured.

“And if he ever comes back here, he is to know he is not welcome.”

“Aye, my love.”

“And if he ever tries to send for us, I want you to send him a pile of horse manure in return. In fact, I want you to send him a large pile of Patrick’s manure with a note letting him know that the shite on his lap is that of the prized beast he sent you.”

“Aye, my love,” he said, chuckling. Saeran tucked her head under his chin, putting her arms around his waist. The people in the courtyard gradually left, disappointed with the loss of drama.

“I just want the day to be over,” she whispered.

“Is our little bairn making you hungry?” At the mention of their unborn child, some of the earlier light returned to her eyes, and he couldn’t help but smile in response. They had figured out a few months ago that Saeran’s infertility had been another one of Blaine’s lies. It had become evident when two full moons passed without her monthly bleeding, when the vomiting had woken her up every morning, and when certain smells sent her into a dizzy-spell.

Saeran patted her stomach, letting her fingers caress the soft swelling, and smiled up at him. “Aye, I think he is, but his mother isn’t hungry for just food…”

Kane laughed, picking her up in a swift movement, and began walking to the entrance of their home. They had no clue whether it was a girl or boy, and wouldn’t until it arrived, but Saeran had told him that calling the bairn an “it” was impersonal and rude.

“My bonny wife, I do love you… But what if we are having a girl?”

“Well, I will be happy with either,” she conceded. “Although I would much like a lad to name Alan.”

“Aye,” he murmured, thinking of the surprisingly kind-hearted man who had passed away several weeks ago. When Saeran had met him that first time, it had been because of a herb the village had him on. In his final months, he had been taken off the medicine and had a chance to be lucid. He really had been an amazing man, for the short amount of time they knew him. “He would have liked that too, love.”

“I agree. Do you think Connor will take care of Patrick for me? I don’t think I’ll be riding him much after that,” she said ruefully, smiling up at him innocently.

He stopped in the middle of carrying her. “What’s wrong? Are ye’ in pain? Where do ye’ hurt, lass? Should I call the healer—”

“No, no… Don’t do anything of the sort.” The innocence in her eyes turned to mischievousness. “I do believe I need a full-body inspection from my husband, though, just to make sure that all is well.”

Kane gave her a dubious look.

She leaned up, kissing him on the jaw and whispering, “I just want my highlander’s touch all over me.”

Kane couldn’t get to their room quickly enough.