Page 86 of The Winter Laird
“How’s the patient?” she asked, sitting beside him.
James didn’t open his eyes. “If he lives, it’ll be a miracle. He should have a blood transfusion, I think, but Reilly said no.”
“I agree with Reilly,” Brianagh replied softly. “James, I need you to take a look at something.” Pulling the sleeve of her shirt up, she showed him her wound. “I can’t raise my arm very high, and it aches something fierce.”
“Jesus, Brianagh,” James exclaimed. “This is, what? Four inches long?”
“And pretty deep,” she admitted, wincing as he inspected it.
“How old is it?” He led her to the kitchen and pulled down supplies from one of the cabinets.
“A few days…”
“Do I even want to know?” he asked, squirting some antiseptic on her.
She bit her lip against the sting.
“Whoa! What happened?” Reilly asked, walking into the kitchen as James scrubbed his hands at the sink. Reilly’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me. Burke.”
“And his sword,” Bri confirmed. “He was making a point.”
“I’ll kill him myself,” Reilly growled.
“I’m rather hoping Nioclas got to him first,” she said. “Colin pulled me away, and I don’t know what happened. I have to get back to him as soon as possible.”
Reilly and James exchanged a look.
“What?” she demanded, instantly suspicious. “What do you know that I don’t? He’s not dead,” she added forcefully.
A heartbeat passed, then another. “Bri…” Reilly finally spoke, his eyes troubled. “We don’t think youcanget back.”
Brianagh narrowed her eyes. “Come again?”
James prepped a syringe, then stuck her arm with it. She didn’t even flinch.
Reilly sat down at the table with her and massaged his temples. “We can’t just time-travel whenever the mood suits us,” he explained. “It has to be in protection of the line. Your line. Colin was able to go back because you would’ve died had he not pulled you out. Butyouwere the one who pulled him and Aidan forward.”
“Really?” she whispered, the color draining from her face.
“Aye,” he said seriously. “You must be protected at all costs, Bri. You’re important. Your child, and your child’s children, will be important to history in ways you can’t even imagine.”
“Nioclas will protect me.” Bri took a fortifying breath. “He will. I just have to get back to him!”
Reilly swallowed visibly. “Nay, Bri…he won’t.”
“He will!” she cried indignantly. “He promised. He never breaks his promises!”
Colin entered the kitchen from the garden, looking cautious. “Whoa! What the hell happened to your arm?”
“Colin, you have to take me back to Nioclas,” Brianagh said, her voice catching. “You have to. Please, Colin—”
“I can’t bend time myself,” Colin said quietly. “I’m just sent where I’m needed, to protect the line.”
Reilly left the room as James prepared the stitches.
Brianagh’s desperation turned to anger. She turned to James. “James, can you…?”
“Nope. It seems that only one descendant in each generation has the time-travel gene. I, thankfully, am not that descendant.” He began to stitch her numb arm. “Colin’s the lucky man.”
