Page 108 of An Enchanted Spring

“Then I’ll do whatever it takes to lead them to the light,” Colin quipped with a smile. It faded as he looked back at Emma. “I wish I could do more. She is a sweet soul. And Aidan deserves better than to live a life of solitude.”

“Ever the matchmaker,” Reilly murmured.

Colin chuckled humorlessly. “I truly thought they were perfect for each other. Theyareperfect for each other. They’re soul mates.”

Reilly paused. “Aye, they are, aren’t they?”

Colin frowned. “I’m going to see if I can get her to come in. The wind is really picking up out there.” He headed out the front door.

Reilly, however, left through a time gate.

Chapter 22

Swords clashed, and Aidan threw himself into the fray, not caring if he was maimed or killed, though the latter was preferable. Steel met steel in a clash so intense his hand ached.

He did recognize that he needed to feel something—anything. A piece of him died the day Reilly carried Emma away. He doubted he would ever fully recover, but to fulfill his duty, he had to ensure the MacWilliam clan was safe from outside threats.

Nioclas swore. “Aidan, get yourself out of there and let my guards train! I don’t want them worrying about killing you, with your mind in places it ought not to be!”

Aidan shrugged. “If they kill me, it’s just practice, Nick. Accidents happen. I wouldn’t hold it against them.”

“Don’t let my wife hear you speak as such,” Nioclas warned. “She’ll string you up by your toes until you take the words back. Come, let’s walk.”

“I’ve no need of exercise.” Aidan sheathed his sword.

“Let me rephrase. I order you to walk with me.”

Aidan rolled his eyes. “Aye, I’ll go. But only if you drop the laird act.”

“We’re going back into the forest.”

Aidan braced himself. “For what purpose?”

“Your heart is broken,” Nioclas announced.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I didn’t think you were ready before,” Nioclas explained. “But now, ’tis time to have speech.”

Aidan swore under his breath but followed his laird out of the castle walls.

“This reminds me of how you acted when you were ten-and-three, and didn’t want to clean out the stables,” Nioclas chortled as they walked. “You were so angry at me. Thought you knew everything.”

Aidan smiled at the memory. “You never lost your patience with me.”

“I never did,” he agreed.

“I owe you everything, Nick. I don’t think I ever thanked you for saving me. From our sire, or from myself.”

Nioclas’s eyes looked suspiciously wet. He started coughing and muttering about the inordinate amount of dust in the air.

“If you had the chance to go back, would you?” Nioclas asked, wiping his eye under the guise of scratching it.

“Moot point.”

“’Tis more than your heart that’s broken, Aidan. It’s your soul. I have tried to put myself in your shoes, and I must admit, the pain I imagined was too much for me to bear. I cannot fathom how you’re managing.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Aidan said hollowly, “so I make do.”

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