Page 47 of Scot of Desire
“I wouldnae put it like that.”
“Then how exactly would ye put it!?” Tad snapped.
“Time tae dae something, Ilyssa.” Catreena pushed her forward.
Ilyssa ran between the two men, shoving herself in front of Bran and pushing her brother back.
“I love him, Tad,” she said as hurriedly as she could. Tad’s eyes widened on her.
“What?”
“I’m in love with him,” she said again, her voice quieter this time.
“And I love her too,” Bran declared, his voice as firm as her own. “Granted, this isnae the way I wished tae ask fer yer blessing tae marry her.” He cast an uneasy glance toward the barracks where Gilroy now laid dead and Cillian was unconscious. “But I’ll ask ye nevertheless.”
“Ye want tae marry her?” Tad asked, looking between the two of them.
“Please, Tad.” Ilyssa reached for Bran’s hand behind her, winding their fingers together.
“Ah, finally!” Tad suddenly declared and turned to face Catreena. “Cat, ye owe me some coin now.”
“Oh, I ken.” She sighed heavily.
“What?” Ilyssa looked between them, bewildered.
“I told Cat years ago ye two would someday marry. Fortunately fer our little wager, ye realized it before this side of Christmas, or I would have been down a few coins.”
“Could ye two nae have waited until Christmas?” Catreena said with a heavy sigh. “Well, I’m happy fer ye, even if I did lose the bet.”
As Catreena and Tad argued over exactly how much was agreed in their wager, Ilyssa turned to face Bran.
“How many of our siblings kenned we were in love before we ourselves realized it?” she asked under her breath. He chuckled and stepped toward her.
“Who kens.” He bent down to her. “But I intend tae make up fer lost time now.” His lips met hers in a kiss.
“Argh, I dinnae want tae see that,” Tad called from behind them, but neither Ilyssa nor Bran showed any sign of pulling away.
EPILOGUE
One Month Later
“Please, raise yer goblets tae me sister on her new husband. Bran and Ilyssa.” Tad raised his goblet in the air.
The whole great hall erupted in cheers and toasts as goblets were clattered together.
Ilyssa laughed at the sheer delight in the room as she turned to face Bran beside her. The ceremony had been a beautiful thing, but Ilyssa was happier here now that they were celebrating as the pipers struck up with fresh music and people toasted their names.
Bran bent down toward her and whispered in her ear.
“Nae long now until we can celebrate alone.”
She smiled up at him, impatient for that moment.
Since they had returned home from the Grant clan, after Cillian’s arrest by the king’s forces, she and Bran had not been allowed a minute alone together. She had a feeling Tad was taking his responsibilities as a protective elder brother a little too seriously. Now, she was impatient to explore Bran’s body as she had done in the Grant clan. He winked at her, and she giggled, wriggling in her seat for the want.
“Well, our marriage seems tae have made everyone happy, doesnae it?” Bran asked, nodding away from the table and down at the dancers.
Laird Alec and his wife were dancing sweetly together, and he was being especially gentle as Kira was carrying a child, not that she had yet begun to show. However, Alec seemed to want to wrap her up in cotton wool.
