Page 63 of An Enchanted Spring

Emma looked out the window at the forest at the edge of the parking lot. “It’s a big promise to make, Aidan.”

“It’s more than a promise, Emmaline. I vow it.”

She nodded once. “I trust you.”

“And the others,” Aidan replied, regretfully letting go of her hand. He grabbed the satchel and opened his door. Reilly opened hers, and Aidan added, “We all vow it.”

Reilly helped her out of the SUV and handed her a smaller satchel of her own. “Don’t doubt it for a moment.”

“Aye, lass, you’ve my life for yours as well,” Cian added, securing his sword to his back.

Emma looked overwhelmed, and Aidan walked around the car. He took her hand and saw fear and trust mingling in her eyes.

“Thank youseems so inadequate,” she said with difficulty. She tightened her fingers around his. “But it’s all I have. So thanks. And I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Reilly slapped Aidan on the back. “Well done, lad. Glad you told her.”

Aidan cringed a little, but didn’t correct Reilly’s assumption.

Trees surrounded them on all sides; while Dowth itself was in the middle of an open clearing, they’d parked far enough away that the police wouldn’t ticket Reilly’s car for an overnight stay.

Or multiple nights’ stay.

“I thought your house was about an hour’s drive away?” Emma asked, furrowing her brow.

Reilly groaned. “Damn it, MacWilliam! Youdidn’ttell her!”

“She’ll see for herself,” Aidan answered.

There was a rustle in the trees, and he tensed. He made eye contact with Reilly, and they picked up their pace.

They burst into the clearing, and Aidan didn’t pause. He charged toward the rise in the grass before them, stopping short in front of a long, thin crack in the stone. He didn’t let go of Emma’s hand and moved out of the way for Reilly.

“You’ll have to hold tight to her,” Reilly said.

Not a problem, Aidan thought. Her eyes were wide, and he knew she could feel the tension around the three men.

“I’m confused,” Emma began.

Reilly placed his hands on either side of the crack and said, in a voice not his own, “De réir an cumhacht ag an gods, ordaímse duit a oscailt le haghaidh dom, an Protector.”

By the power of the gods, I command you to open for me, the Protector.

The wall silently opened wide, and began to close almost immediately. They all made it inside, Aidan dragging a shell-shocked Emma, and then hurried down a nearly black, suffocating, tight corridor. Suddenly, the narrow passageway opened up, and they strode into the small round chamber, hidden from the rest of the structure. A tiny window, covered by the long grass outside it, was the only source of light. Reilly reached through and pushed down the foliage so they could see the horizon.

Emma looked at Reilly, then Aidan, then Cian. “How did you do that?”

Reilly rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Honestly, lad, just tell her the truth before I do.”

“You live in a dirt mound, opened by some voice command control thing?” Emma guessed. “I mean, I’ve heard the term ‘going off the grid,’ but I didn’t think you were that type…”

“There’s more,” Aidan said, his voice quiet. “This isn’t my home. It’s more like a portal to my home.”

“Jesus, Aidan, how much money do you have?” she exclaimed, then clapped a hand over her mouth as she turned scarlet. “I’m sorry. That was rude. What I meant to say was: Wow, Aidan, that’s really impressive. It seems awfully expensive to build underground portals throughout Ireland, just to get to your home undetected.”

Reilly snickered, but Cian remained on alert, glancing out the little window. “The sun’s rising,” he said solemnly.

“I’ll explain soon,” Aidan promised. He looked deep into her eyes. “Trust me.”

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