Page 53 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

Their leaders were dead. What use was fighting anymore?

He gaped at the woman who had called herself Mia's mother, trying to find the resemblance between them. It was there, but it did not make sense.

Archie tried again to get off the ground but failed, the pain coursing too strongly through his body.

He watched as Clyde moved to Bram's side with tears in his eyes. Archie was not glad the Laird had died. He may have loathed him, but the man had people who loved him. There would be no celebration in that.

“Yer death is avenged, brother,” he heard Clyde say. “By the hands of the woman ye loved. May yer soul rest in peace.” Clyde bowed after his little prayer and turned to Mia for comfort.

Archie let her go to him, nodding at her.

Looking around the battlefield, he noticed MacLean's body on the ground. He had died in the fighting—for him, hehad no pity. Dallas's body was nearby, but Archie couldn't look at him. He had hated his brother, but death brought no glory.

When Clyde moved to speak with the remainder of his men, Mia raced back to Archie’s side.

“Archie!” she breathed, her entire body sagging with relief as she threw her arms around him.

“Mia.” He breathed in her scent and held her close. It hurt to hold her, but he did not care.

“Ye gave me such a scare.” She gripped onto him tighter. “How could ye have gone and gotten yerself captured?”

Archie could see so much relief in her eyes. He loved this woman. He did not doubt it anymore. Even with all the violence around them, she anchored him to everything that was good in the world.

“I dinnae ken what I would have done if anything had happened to ye,” she said.

They stared into each other's eyes, and Archie pulled her back in.

“I love ye, Mia,” he breathed into her hair. “I love ye and I am never letting ye go.”

“I love ye, too,” she smiled, her eyes glistening with tears of relief and joy.

Amidst all the commotion, pain, tears and mourning around them, Archibald felt lighter just by being by her side. He took her hands in his, interlacing their fingers as he carefully said his next words.

“I ken this is not the time. I ken there is so much death around us… but I swear to ye, I will never leave yer side again. Do ye hear me?” he asked, kissing her fingers.

“I hear ye, Archie. I hear ye and I ken.” She cupped his face in her hands. “Nae more fighting. Nae more secrets. Nae more lessons. It’s just ye and me.”

“For as long as ye’ll have me.”

“Forever?”

“Forever. As soon as I see a Prince to France.”

EPILOGUE

One month later…

The day looked brighter to Mia. In truth, every day for the past month had been brighter than the last. She snuck another peek at the man who had just become her husband as he was chatting sweetly with Maeve.

She had walked her down the aisle, each step bringing her closer to a dream she never thought would come true. Even though Mia was still slowly learning to call Maevemotheragain, their relationship had blossomed into something even more beautiful than she remembered.

Her life was getting better. Fuller. Every day.

She stared at her husband, bound to her by the laws of Scotland under God, and she could not help but feel gratitude washing over her. Would she ever stop feeling this way? So happy she could burst?

Archie was sporting the Macnab clan tartan with its amazing red, burgundy and forest green colors, a pure white shirt, and an overcoat. His fingers were intertwined with hers as they took their exit from the altar, with all their guests cheering loudly, some throwing freshly picked flowers at them.

“I am so glad to have ye as my wife, Mia Macnab,” Archie said as though he had just read her thoughts.

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