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“When Minister Donahue was talking about it, he said there has tae be a trial. Even if I am king, I canna keep ye from it because there are rules — I realized I winna be able tae protect ye. The government wants ye tae stand trial. I daena think I can stop them from acting on it. And while I am in the arena would be when they would take ye.”

“I don’t care. Let them arrest me. I killed the king. You’ll fight in the arena and you’ll be the next king and then you’ll pardon me. And if you die in the arena, I’ll know. And it will be bleak and awful and possibly the end for me, but I would know, Magnus.”

“I want tae protect ye⁠—”

“See, that’s your big burly man-muscles talking. I killed a man⁠—”

“It very nearly destroyed ye.”

“But it didn’t. I put on my bodice, too tight by the way, and I went to the 18th century and I freaking stitched up my sister-in-law’s hooha after watching a baby come through it and guess what? I want to have a baby now. I’m the bravest fucking girl in the world. Maybe in all time. I have shared a meal with Lady Mairead and just now I said I felt sorry for her. You are not giving me enough credit for how fucking awesome I am. I’m a terrible terrible terrible arse.” I grinned. “And I’m not leaving. You’ll have to change your mind and you’ll have to tell Tyler that you changed your mind on it. You two can commiserate with each other about how hard it is to manage me.”

Magnus shook his head and sort of smiled. “Och, tis hard tae be married tae a terrible arse.”

“Well you married me. Of your own volition without any input from anyone else. That’s what you’ll have to live with forever.” I folded my arms across my chest. “There are worse things.”

“Okay, I winna send ye away.”

“Good. Thank you.”

“And I daena ken if Bella will be in the arena or watching on a screen. I canna worry about it. I have tae fight.”

“You know what, I said that in anger. I don’t give a shit where she is. I’m ten-to-one a better woman. And you know it.” I chuckled. “I can see it in your eyes.”

“Aye, mo reul-iuil, ye are.” He shook his head. “But ye will be arrested.”

“Yep, and when you win, you’ll rescue me. You better win.”

“Ye ken I will win, Kaitlyn, this is nae the end of us.”

I plopped down on the bed beside him.

He put his hand on my thigh. “And when I win I will be crowned king and I will pardon ye and ye will live here as my queen.”

“We will vacation in Florida. Do you think Zach would come here to cook for us?”

“He would have tae or the whole plan is awful.”

“Agreed.”

Magnus and I both laid back on the bed. Shoulder to shoulder heads turned toward each other. “And we will make many princes⁠—”

I half-smiled. “Or princesses.”

“Or princesses, tae carry on my bloodline.”

“I don’t really care about that part. Bella’s baby can have the throne after you. I want our baby to have a normal life with Mommy and Me playgroups and riding a bike through the neighborhood and friends...”

“Aye, me as well, Kaitlyn. Tis wondrous that our bairn could live his whole life without drawin’ a sword. Or fightin’ a battle at the castle walls. I wish that for my son, the chance tae ken peace.”

We turned toward each other. I wriggled up to him chest to chest and wrapped around him.

He added, “I like tae think on a future with ye.”

“Me too.” I kissed his collarbone. “I’m sorry I created a scene in front of Tyler.”

“Aye. I shouldna have been so forceful on it with ye, but I daena ken his purpose, what he is about bein’ here. He has become involved and I have tae trust him because of it, but he may still be an adversary. We daena ken the truth of him. Tyler Wilson has caused me a great deal of worry and I am sorry I spoke tae ye so harshly.”

I hiked my skirt covered leg up to his waist and pressed against him. “Thank you for apologizing. I’m sorry that I argued in front of him, it was bad form.”