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Sage shifted nervously. He was wearing the traditional outfit of the clan, and he couldn’t help but think of how different it was than his old Navy uniform.
Fallon raised his eyebrow. “Having second thoughts?”
“Fuck no,” Sage said.
Fallon let out a hearty laugh.
“I mean, no, definitely not. Just...thinking about this place.” Sage glanced around the great hall of the castle. “Never seen anything like it.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
It was getting hot now that the clan was gathering in the hall. Sage adjusted his collar.
Fallon cleared his throat. “About Maelíosa....” He trailed off, shaking his head. There was a glint in his eye. “She’s resisted mating for so long. I was starting to think she’d never take a mate.”
Sage raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Aye, she was very against the idea for a long time.” He sighed good-naturedly. “But I like to think that now, she’s really started to grow up.”
A stab of nervousness shot through his chest at Fallon’s admission. Fuck, I’d take storming a beach over this. At least that was straightforward... He didn’t want to second-guess his mate, and it was too late to back out now, anyway. Sage wasn’t sure what had made Maelíosa change her mind, but he was grateful that she’d chosen to mate with him in order to bypass the application and courtship period.
“And I am well aware that Maelíosa is a handful,” Fallon continued. “She can be obstinate, headstrong, and sarcastic.”
He thought about Maelíosa’s banter with Kieran. “Yeah, I gathered that.”
Fallon chuckled. “I hate to say it about me own daughter, but I swear to God she was a ballbuster. A good number of the male púca in our clan would never consider her for a mate. She was promised to one, and he wouldn’t have her stubborn arse...though it’s just as well. I never cared for the lad.”
Sage tried not to show his shock. Everything Fallon was telling him—well, maybe aside from the headstrong and sarcastic part—was a surprise.
“I’ve seen a good side of her, I guess,” Sage joked. “She’s a nice girl. I’m so damn grateful to her. Haven’t the faintest idea where I’d be if it wasn’t for her offer.”
Fallon nodded. “Welcome to the family. We’re a bit of a strange lot; definitely a lot to take in. And I know you’ve barely had time to acquaint yourself here, but I hope that in time you’ll feel comfortable and consider this your home.”
Sage grinned. “I’m sure I will.”
He watched in awe as the great hall continued to fill with people. He stretched up and looked over the heads of the newcomers. Never in a million years had he thought he’d marry. Certainly not after his experience with Carina’s mom, if you could call her that. There wasn’t a motherly bone in her body. And now here he was mating with a púca.
Sage laughed out loud at the absurdity of his predicament, then started coughing to cover it up. His midsection ached, and he was already tired from being on his feet so much, but overall he felt better than he had in months. Years, even, if you counted how worn out he’d been after the Navy.
“The ceremony is about to start,” Fallon said in a low voice. “Maelíosa will be coming out with Niall. She’ll walk up to us, and then we’ll begin.”
Sage nodded. He felt a rush of anxiety for a moment as he realized this was it—this was his second chance. At everything. Life, love...maybe even a chance to give Carina a real mother.
A small band of musicians took up their instruments and began to play a lovely, lilting tune as Sage turned toward the front of the room. He spotted Carina, all decked out in a dress fitting for the Realm, with golden sleeves and a bodice, scattering flower petals on a red carpet that had been rolled out across the stone floor. Behind her came Niall, and on his arm was the most beautiful woman Sage had ever seen. His mouth went dry as he took in Maelíosa’s athletic figure, practically poured into a beautiful golden gown. Her dark eyes were sparkling, and there was a hint of a smile on her face. Sage couldn’t resist grinning. Darcy, Fallon’s youngest daughter, trailed behind, carrying the golden lace train of Maelíosa’s gown.
It seemed like an eternity passed before Maelíosa was standing in front of him. Niall passed Maelíosa’s hand to his, and leaned in to give his sister a kiss on the cheek before stepping down to the side.
The hall was quiet.
Fallon reached down and took Maelíosa’s right hand and Sage’s left hand, binding them together with a scarlet ribbon. Maelíosa’s hand was soft and incredibly warm. Their fingers laced together with comfortable ease. Sage stared down at the ribbon, momentarily spellbound. Another wave of anxiety churned in his gut, but it passed as he took a deep breath and focused on her hand. The way it fit in his felt natural and right. He centered his attention on his mate, and everything else fell away: family, the clan gathered in the hall. It was only them, bound together for better or worse. I’ll be yours completely.
It wasn’t until that moment that Sage was struck with the realization that he wanted this, wanted her, and it had nothing to do with saving himself or his daughter. Maybe it was crazy to feel this way about someone he barely knew. Sage didn’t care. This was the first day of his new life, and he’d spend the rest of it figuring her out.
“You may now speak the sacred words.” Fallon’s voice was grave and serious.
“I, Sage, take thee, Maelíosa, as my wedded wife, till death do us part, and thereto I plight three my troth. Deo mo ghrá.”
Fallon turned to Maelíosa and nodded ever so slightly. When she began to speak, her voice was lilting and soft. “I, Maelíosa, take thee, Sage, as my wedded husband, till death do us part, and thereto I plight three my troth. Deo mo ghrá.”
Fallon nodded to Maelíosa. “He is your mate, and now a member of our clan. Cherish do maité.”
Sage looked at his new mate, his new wife... Maelíosa. He grinned, then reached forward and wrapped his arms around her, dipping her low in a passionate kiss. Maelíosa’s soft lips pressed against his in a demanding kiss that made his loins stir. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. There was a loud cheer from the crowd. Oh yeah. She’s mine.
* * *
MAELÍOSA COULDN’T STOP herself from smiling so widely her cheeks ached. Her lips were still smarting from the passionate kiss, and her belly was a tangle of arousal and nerves. She leaned close to Sage. “Grand of that to be so short, I don’t think I could have said much more!”
Sage threw his head back and laughed. “Just glad I didn’t fuck things up.”
Maelíosa blushed, then straightened up. Felicity and Niall were walking toward them, and Niall had his arms open for another wide hug.
“Never thought I’d see you in a dress,” Niall said as he pulled his twin in for a hug and kiss.
Maelíosa rolled her eyes.
“Congrats!” Felicity cried, her eyes shining with real happiness. She leaned in for a hug and pulled her sister-in-law close. “I think it’s bloody marvellous that you’ve found someone. Niall and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
“Just wait until the wee ones come,” Niall said. There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked exhausted. “Then you might be a bit regretful!”
Felicity gently cuffed him on the shoulder and laughed. “He’s kidding. The wee ones are marvellous.”
Maelíosa blushed. “No more talk of wee ones right now. We’ve just mated!”
She hadn’t even shagged him and her family was already talking about babes. She shook her head.
Sage cleared his throat. “Right, we’re still getting to know each other.”
Felicity and Niall exchanged a secretive look before wishing Sage and Maelíosa the best and moving on. Next came Fallon and Cyn, arm in arm, both looking pleased.
“Daughter,” Fallon said. There was a touch of pride in his voice. He straightened up tall, looking every inch the proud chieftain. “I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am. And Sage, welcome again, to our clan, and to our family.”
Fallon pulled Maelíosa into a tight hug and shook hands heartily with Sage.
“I’m so happy for you,” Cyn beamed. She was wearing a fitted dress that looked incredible on her curvy body. She grinned at Sage. “Welcome, Yank. I know Maelíosa won’t put up with any bollocks from you, so don’t even try.”
“Wasn’t planning on it,” Sage said. He turned to Maelíosa with a grin that made her heart flutter.
Cyn and Maelíosa hugged, then Maelíosa watched as her stepmother and her father walked off, arm in arm.
“Did it bother you?” Sage leaned in. “When your father remarried?”
Maelíosa met his grey eyes—even when he was just talking to her, he was so intense!
“A little,” she admitted. “But not now. They’re so happy together.”
Sage nodded. Tomas and Mara were approaching. Mara smiled brightly and pulled Maelíosa into a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” Mara whispered into Maelíosa’s ear. “And you look so beautiful.”
Tomas stepped forward and took one of Maelíosa’s hands in his own. “Aileen would be so proud. She’d probably be in disbelief, but also proud.”
Maelíosa laughed. No one had expected her to mate. Hell, she’d never seriously thought her father would make good on all his threats about finding a mate. None of the humans who’d walked in The Stables had caught her attention...not until Sage.
“I’m sure,” she said. The thought of her mother looking down on her sent pinpricks of tears to her eyes, and she blinked. She couldn’t help but smile, too.
“And I know your father is so pleased.” Tomas leaned in and kissed Maelíosa on the cheek. “You’re a beautiful woman, and he’s lucky to have you.”
It wasn’t weird hearing that from Tomas, because he’d been her brother’s oldest and closest friend, and only had eyes for Mara.
Sage chuckled. “That I am.”
