The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (23 page)
Read The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) Online
Authors: Keira Montclair
This was to be their last night on Grant land before they headed home on the morrow. Jennie had told Aedan more about Loki’s background and how he had ended up joining the family. With Alex and Maddie’s approval, they had requested this special night to include all the guards and their families.
After a filling meal and before the revelry was to start, Alex kissed Maddie’s cheek and then moved to the front of the dais and waited for the crowd to settle. Robbie and Brodie ushered everyone to the side and to the back while Aedan got up and stood beside Alex.
The Grant cleared his throat. Once the crowd’s whispers about the event settled, Alex placed his hands behind his back. “I call Loki Grant forward.”
Loki made his way to the front and stood in front of Alex, just as he had done a long time ago, still looking quite small next to the huge Alexander Grant. While he had grown, his surprise still made him look young and innocent.
“Loki Grant, ‘tis with great pride that I celebrate your efforts in saving my sister, Mistress of the Cameron Clan, from the hands of a mad man. You are a braw warrior and I am proud to have you as a nephew and a valued member of our clan. The Chieftain of the Camerons has something he wishes to say.”
Aedan nodded to his guards, who formed a line behind Loki Grant, then did a short drill with their swords before lining up behind Loki once more.
He removed something from his pocket and held it up for all to see. “I bestow this jeweled brooch as a gift from my clan, the Camerons, unto Loki Grant. It carries our crest, and while we recognize that Loki is part of the Grant clan, he is also an honorary member of the Cameron clan. For those of you who do not know of his heroism, he chose to make himself my wife’s guardian, and in so doing, saved her life.”
He turned to Jennie and handed her the brooch. She walked toward Loki, who was now the same height as she was, though still growing, and pinned it next to his Grant brooch. She hugged him and then stood back, holding her hand up to make an announcement of her own.
“You may have heard the story, but not my version. I was hit over the head, and while I was unconscious, I was bound and gagged and stuffed into a burlap sack. When I awoke, I was in an area I had never seen before, and I listened to two men discuss my fate. They planned to use me as bait for my husband, then leave me to die, bound and gagged, where I would have definitely succumbed to the elements.
“Once the sack was removed, I could see my captors, but I could see no way out. Fortunately for me, Loki had followed my captors and hid in a tree without making a sound. He fell on a man twice his size, killing him in order to save me.”
The group gasped in unison, some nodding at the story they had already heard.
Loki, embarrassed at being the center of attention, fiddled with his fingernails.
“My thanks to you, Loki, for being my guardian. You are a verra special member of my family, and I will treasure you always.” She hugged him before stepping back.
Alex and Cameron stepped down from the dais while the crowd continued to applaud Loki. The minstrels and musicians came in, and all made ready for dancing.
Some time later, when she was alone, Loki found his way over to her.
“Aye, Loki?”
He struggled for words, but finally said, “I want you to know…I want to say…You were correct before. I did have feelings for you, but not anymore. Well, now I have different feelings. I realize our ties as family are much more important, and I also want you to know that I followed you because you are like my sister, not for any other reason.”
Jennie smiled. “I know. We are family, Loki.”
“I like the Cameron. I will miss you, but I think you chose well, and I wish you much happiness.”
She hugged him and said, “My thanks.”
Directly behind him, three young lassies about his age stood gazing at him in awe. Jennie took a step back, trying not to laugh. Loki turned around to face them, a puzzled expression on his face.
The first lass said, “Loki, you are such a strong guard.”
The second lass said, “Loki, you are so handsome.”
The first two lasses ran away, giggling.
The third lass, a girl with reddish-gold curls and a spattering of freckles across her nose, stepped up to him, took a deep breath, and declared, “Loki Grant, you are the handsomest, most braw warrior I have ever seen. Someday, I’m going to marry you.” She leaned toward him, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips against his.
Jennie did not move, not wanting to ruin Loki’s moment.
When the lass ended the kiss, she whispered, “My name is Arabella, and I promise to love you forever.” She twirled around and ran away.
Loki turned to Jennie, blushing a deep red.
“Verra nice, Loki.” Jennie said, her eyebrows raised. “I think she’s quite bonny.”
Loki broke out into the biggest grin she had ever seen.
“I like her. Someday, I’ll make her my wife.”
The End
Dear Reader
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Thank you so much for reading THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE HIGHLANDS. I hope you enjoyed Jennie and Aedan’s story. The only story I have left in this series is Avelina’s. Then I plan to start a new series about the children of the Grants and Ramsays.
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You’ll see how I envision Aedan Cameron and Jennie.
My next novel will be Avelina Ramsay’s story. After that, I will probably return to my Summerhill Series before I start my next series with Loki Grant’s story. Once again, thank you for all your support.
Keep reading!
Keira Montclair
To my wonderful editor, Angela P. I know I put you through the paces. Thank you for always doing your best and for your patience.
Thank you to Jennifer R. for being the fan every author dreams of having. I absolutely love getting your feedback.
Thank you to Olivia A for your undying support.
The Clan Grant Series
#1- RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER-Alex and Maddie
#2- HEALING A HIGHLANDER’S HEART-Brenna and Quade
#3- LOVE LETTERS FROM LARGS- Brodie and Celestina
#4-JOURNEY TO THE HIGHLANDS-Robbie and Caralyn
#5-HIGHLAND SPARKS-Logan and Gwyneth
#6-MY DESPERATE HIGHLANDER-Micheil and Diana
#7-THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE HIGHLANDS-Jennie and Aedan
The Summerhill Series- Contemporary Romance
#1-ONE SUMMERHILL DAY
#2-A FRESH START FOR TWO
Regency
THE DUKE AND THE DRESSMAKER
When I researched this story, I started researching astrology because of Aedan Cameron, but I ended up getting lost reading about books, parchment, inks, paper, and all it took to create such works. Some of it was mind-boggling, some of it creepy. I couldn’t imagine writing on parchment that was made from stretching a sheep’s skin, or having to decide which side to write on, the side with the hair or without it! China is in fact credited with the invention of paper in the third century. It’s amazing to me that the first paper mill in Europe was not built until the 1400s in Portugal. From what I could find, there was no paper in Scotland for the masses in the 1200s. What I wrote is pure fiction.
Of course, being a registered nurse, the entire medical field is fascinating to me. There were many periods of times when cutting open cadavers was frowned upon, so discovering the inner workings of the body was difficult. As I have noted before, there was never a concern about germs and cleanliness. Still, I can’t help but believe that somewhere out there was a woman who liked everything clean, whether history says so or not.
Actually, this book was meant to illustrate true love, and how one person can truly understand the workings of a loved one’s mind. And Aedan did it beautifully for Jennie.
Keira Montclair
Copyright © 2015 Keira Montclair
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