Page 21 of The Winter Laird

“Except for me to marry a stranger and have a boatload of ankle biters,” she cut in angrily.

“Your brothers will not be there, though they are in the castle.”

“I have brothers?”

“Aye. They, alongside your father, the MacWilliam, and I, helped rescue you.” Reilly led her down the hall, then down another. As they walked, he told her of the battle and of her brothers.

Reilly stopped outside a door that looked like all other doors, but this one gave Brianagh a terrifying sense of déjà vu.

“Chin up,” Reilly murmured. “I will bring you in, but if asked to leave, I must. This isn’t part of my journey, but I won’t be far, Bri.”

“Reilly, I’m not the woman in this legacy,” Bri said desperately. “You’re bringing me to people who think I’m their long-lost daughter, and I’m not. I’m just a woman from Boston, looking to get back.”

Reilly put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulders in support. “Bri, I’ve known you your entire life. I’ve known you because the woman behind this door placed you into my hands when you were a babe. I held you and carried you and kept you safe.”

“This isn’t fair,” she said, fighting the sting of tears. “You claim that you gave me a life, and now you’ve taken it away, as if you own me.”

“I don’t own you, Bri. The Fates do. You must understand, if I didn’t do my part, I would be erasing thousands of people from history. Your descendants. Family.”

Her mind balked at the enormity of that, and she grabbed his arm. “One more question.”

He smiled down at her, his eyes twinkling. “Unsurprising.”

“When are you from?”

The amusement fled his eyes, and he gave her a self-deprecating smile. “Brianagh, there isn’t enough time in the day for me to answer that. Let’s just say that I’m from all time.” He knocked on the door. “Good luck. I won’t be far.”

“Come in, lass. O’Malley, make yourself useful in the lists.”

Reilly winked at her, then walked down the hallway. She stepped into the room and closed the door. The soft sound of a latch echoed.

“Brianagh.” A woman stood, clasping her hands in front of her. Bri studied the woman’s face; they had the same blue eyes. The sunlight filtered through the window at the far end of the room brightly enough so Brianagh could see they were both brunettes, but that’s where the physical similarities ended.

“Yes,” she said cautiously. Despite Reilly’s insistence that all these people were here to protect her, she couldn’t fully believe it. Aside from the fact that they didn’t know her from a hole in the wall, he claimed they were trying to marry her off—as if they could do such a thing.

Ridiculous.

“I’m Kathryne. Your mother. And this is Kiernan, my husband, your sire. I am grateful you’ve returned to us.” She walked over to Bri and clasped her hands in her own, searching her face. “You are well?”

Well, this was awkward. Bri bit her lip. “Um, yes. I’m well. I’d feel more comfortable if Reilly returned, though.”

“I understand. He is the only one who knows you, aye?” Kathryne continued. “This must be so sudden for you. Come, eat. I know you were held below the stables. Were you fed?”

Brianagh shook her head, sitting down on a proffered stool. “I did eat last night after I returned.”

“Well, at least Nick’s servants are doing something to earn their keep.” One of the men grinned at her, his green eyes flashing with good humor. “Aidan MacWilliam,” he said with a bow. “Brother to the laird over there. Known throughout the land as the better-looking one, as well.”

She reflexively smiled at Aidan.

Her eyes fell on the commanding figure who halted his pacing and openly stared at her.

A shiver of awareness passed through her. Bri felt naked under his intense gaze. His eyes raked her from top to bottom, appraising her, then slowly reassessed. His leisurely perusal heated her in unfamiliar ways; she felt the blush begin on her neck, and a flash of irritation that she reacted at all. His eyes met hers, and she sucked in a breath as desire lanced through her.

Wholly inappropriate!she chided herself. Then, as she remembered him in a particularly compromising position during one of her more recent dreams, she blushed even more furiously.

Get a grip!

She couldn’t help but sneak another look at his perfectly carved face, though.

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