Page 99 of An Enchanted Spring

“I don’t know if I love Aidan,” Emma blurted out.Liar. You’ve loved him for weeks.

“Do you think that, given time, you could love him?” Bri asked softly.

Someone knocked on the door and called out. Brianagh answered, and looked at Emma.

“I don’t want to stay here,” she blurted out.

Brianagh smiled sadly at her. “I know, Emma. Let’s just take this minute by minute, okay?”

“I really think I might be sick,” Emma answered.

“No, you won’t,” Bri said firmly “You’ll be fine. Just trust that Aidan knows what he’s doing.”

Emma took a few deep breaths.Trust Aidan. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing.

She opened her eyes to find Bri watching her curiously. “You know, Emma, you don’t have to go through with this. But, I think you know that if you don’t, and something happens here…Nick will be hard-pressed to convince the clan to go to war to bring you back. Aidan will fight for you, of course. But one man against many are odds I wouldn’t want.”

“I get it,” Emma snapped, then immediately apologized. “I’m sorry. This is a lot to handle, but you’re right. Minute by minute. Where are we headed?”

“The chapel.” Bri opened the door. “Aidan!”

He stepped into the room, and Emma’s breath caught. He looked resplendent, fresh from his own bath, in a clean léine.

“I need a moment alone with Lady Emma,” he said in a low voice. “We will meet you at the chapel.”

Bri waited for Emma to nod her assent before exiting the chamber.

Aidan smiled at Emma. “You look beautiful.”

She flushed. “Thanks. You look pretty amazing yourself.”

“Em, I know you think you’re being forced into this. I get that you’re between a rock and a hard place. By marrying me, you will have the protection of the clan, no matter what happens to me.”

“Are you planning to go somewhere without me?” she tried to joke.

Serious green eyes regarded her steadily. “Nay. But you’ll be able to go somewhere—or rather, somewhen—without me.” He took a step away from her, closer to the door. “Reilly says he can take you home. To the future.”

“You wouldn’t come with me?” Emma asked, her heart dropping.

Aidan shook his head. “My life is here. I’m not sure when you could return, but if we marry, you’ll have protection for as long as you’re here. You may be here for weeks, or months. Or longer. But you’ll have my name, and my clan, to protect you from those that would take you.”

Emma felt the icy tendrils of dread spiral in her stomach. “So this will be a marriage of convenience only?”

He nodded briskly, all business. “Aye. There’s no need to worry that I’ll force anything upon you. This marriage, much like what we agreed upon in the future, is a business contract.”

Emma felt the blow to her heart, and almost heard as it fully shattered.

She felt the prick of tears, but somehow pushed them back. “Of course. Thanks for reassuring me, Aidan. I feel much better now. When I go back, that leaves you free to marry again?”

He gave her a small smile. “Aye, I suppose. But I’m not the marrying type, so it’s a moot point.”

“Okay, then,” she said, waving toward the door. “Maybe we should, uh, get this thing done?”

“After you,” he said, once again all charm and affability, as he opened the door and gave a swift nod to the guardsmen standing at the ready. He extended his arm, and she took it, her insides hollow and her heart in pieces.

Chapter 19

As the priest droned in Latin, Aidan stood at the head of the chapel, wondering if he had made a strategic error.

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