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W hen Emma’s vision adjusted to the dim light inside the great hall, she immediately noticed the sheer size of the room.

The ceiling stretched up at least two floors, with a large window above the front door.

Anchoring one end, an enormous hearth stood empty, save for a small glow of orange in the soot.

Guards were stationed all around the room, standing at attention or, in some cases, sleeping on the floor.

Brianagh spoke quietly with one of the guards closest to the door, and he headed toward the back of the room, through an open doorway.

“Breakfast,” Brianagh said by way of explanation, before heading toward the far corner of the great hall.

“Where are the rushes?” Emma murmured to Aidan, who shrugged.

“Bri hates having hay strewn about. I think you’ll find some modern touches to this castle that you won’t find anywhere else in Ireland. Brianagh is very adamant that the castle remains clean, for hygiene.”

They followed the laird and lady through the great hall, to a staircase tucked in the back. It wound up in a curved fashion, with brackets in the stone that held torches, currently unlit. Twice, Emma nearly slipped on the smooth stone, but Aidan caught her each time.

She became lost as they twisted their way through the hallways of the castle, some seeming to slope higher and others lower. Eventually, Brianagh pulled a key from the large keychain she wore at her waist and unlocked a heavy wooden door. It swung open, and Emma’s eyes widened in delight.

Inside, the room was filled with color. Bright tapestries, unlike any Emma had ever seen, lined the walls.

Two large couches, made with rough-hewn wood and hand-sewn cushions, flanked the fireplace, in which a fire was already burning brightly.

A carved desk, placed against the alcove window, held parchment and ink, neatly laid out on its surface, ready for use.

The desk chair, made of the same wood, was cushioned and more ornate than the desk itself.

Books of all sizes lined the built-in shelves on either side of the desk, creating a warm and inviting environment.

Emma stared in wonder.

“It’s so nice to have another American here!” Brianagh exclaimed. “Call me Bri. I’m married to Nioclas, Aidan’s brother. But you probably know that already.”

Emma smiled at the infectious good cheer in her voice. “Well, yes. I’ve gotten the distinct impression that you’re a big part of this family.”

“Pshhh,” she replied with a roll of her eyes. “They all feel this need to coddle me, but everyone forgets that I’m quite independent. I even started my own business back in the States, did they tell you that?”

“Yes. I’ve just started some publicity work for Colin,” Emma replied. “Well, I was. I don’t know how that’s going to work out, me being here…and not there.” She frowned.

Bri nearly squealed. “Colin! You know him? How is he? Tell me he’s settled down, married. Kids. Something.”

Emma bit her lip. “Not married, no. But his house is magnificent. He bought the adjoining neighbor’s part and renovated it. The library is phenomenal.”

Bri looked at her, interested. “Colin had you in his house?”

“Yes. I stayed there with Aidan and Reilly,” Emma explained. Bri’s eyebrow raised higher. “And Cian, although I barely saw him.”

“He slept outside your room when I couldn’t, love,” Aidan called over from where he’d settled on the couch.

Bri’s expression turned speculative at the endearment.

“Your business is thriving,” Emma rushed to inform her. “Colin’s taking it international. It’s why he hired me.”

“So, you work for Colin.”

“And me,” Aidan said. “It’s so good to see you, Bri.”

Bri smiled, her eyes misting again. “We thought you were dead.”

“Not dead,” he said softly. “Very much alive, some centuries in the future.”

Her gaze swung to Reilly. “In all the times you visited, you never said a word. Not once!”

“You know the rules,” Reilly said solemnly. He stood against the closed door, arms and ankles crossed. He directed his gaze to Nioclas. “I can’t tell you anything that might alter history.”

“And another of the rules is that you only travel when there’s a threat to the MacWilliam/O’Rourke line. So what’s the latest problem?”

Reilly gave a small shake of his head. “We can discuss that later, as it’s not a pressing matter at the moment. MacWilliam and Emma weren’t supposed to come.”

“Why did they, then?” Nick asked.

“Emma’s run into a spot of trouble with a particularly deranged ex-betrothed.”

Aidan quickly explained what happened. “…then I decided it best that we go to Colin’s for added protection. Re illy happened to be there, and we all decided to keep Emma under a tight guard.”

“That must’ve been highly annoying,” Brianagh replied, leaning over and giving Emma a sympathetic pat on the knee. “Three incredibly overbearing men ‘protecting’ you? I would’ve killed them, myself.”

“It wasn’t so bad. It all came from a good place.”

“It always does,” Bri agreed. “What did you say you were doing for Celtic Connections?”

“Public relations.”

“Ah. Well, Emma, you’re amongst friends here.

No need to spin this into something positive for the sake of saving face.

I’ve known Reilly and Colin my whole life.

Add in a MacWilliam who’s decided you need his protection…

let’s just say I’m impressed you’re not babbling because you’ve lost your mind. ”

Emma blinked at her frankness, then burst out laughing. “Wow. You really do have them pinned, don’t you?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Bri concurred.

A knock sounded, and Reilly allowed a line of chambermaids to enter and place trays of food around the room.

Bri added to Emma, “You’ll see that food trumps most anything.”

“Most?” Aidan asked innocently with a pointed look at Bri’s protruding stomach.

“MacWilliam,” Reilly warned, his voice harsh.

To Emma, Bri smirked and patted her pregnant belly.

“Reilly can’t handle my married status, even when he’s the one who dropped me in Nioclas’s lap.

” Bri blew Reilly a kiss and said to him, “Someday you’ll see that I’m all grown up, Ry.

Since that’s not likely to happen today, come eat some food and sit with me. I’ve missed you greatly.”

“How many children does this make, Nick? ”

Aidan’s question made Nioclas smile. “This will be our fourth. We have Rian, Austin, Claire, and now this little one.”

“Do you have names chosen?”

Brianagh smiled. “We’ve only agreed on a boy’s name. Aidan James.”

Aidan’s eyes misted, and he carefully gathered Brianagh into his arms. “You do me a great honor.”

“Stop or I’ll cry,” she sniffed, squeezing him tightly. “We thought it fitting.”

During breakfast, Emma noted how relaxed Bri made everyone feel.

Her warmth radiated from her, a warmth stronger even than what Emma experienced at Colin’s home.

Reilly adored her, although his were brotherly affections.

Aidan conversed easily with her, as though they hadn’t spent years apart, and Nioclas was quiet, watching his wife with something close to worship in his eyes.

The wistful feeling that crept into Emma’s heart was unexpected, and she was stunned to realize it was envy. She’d never seen such a close family before, and she found that, for the first time in a long time, she wanted to feel that kind of connection with others.

Badly.

The three of them brought Bri and Nioclas up to speed as to the events that led them there as they feasted on a breakfast unlike any other Emma had experienced.

The fare was delicious—another surprise.

From all her research, Emma believed medieval palates were not so sophisticated as to use many flavors.

But she tasted a light saffron flavor in her eggs, and wondered at how many other modern marvels Brianagh incorporated into her medieval life.

When the plates cleared, Aidan turned to Nioclas and got down to business. “I’m not sure how long Emma will need to stay.”

Emma froze. Don’t you mean we ? she wanted to ask, but held her tongue. Maybe that was unintentional .

Unless, of course, Aidan planned to remain in the past.

While gaping at the great hall, the trek through a very-much-used castle, and sitting across from Nioclas MacWilliam, who definitely had a strong resemblance to his brother and whose English was very good but not nearly as good as his medieval Gaelic, Emma knew she’d somehow done exactly as Aidan said; she time-traveled to the past.

Everything was too real to be her imagination or a bad dream—the fire, which was definitely peat, needed to be stoked every so often, and a chambermaid scurried in to do so.

The benches, as she’d already noted, were made from stone, and were cold, though the cushions did help with the chill.

Even the parchment on the desk in the corner sat in a slightly haphazard pile, as though someone recently used the quill in the ink pot for jotting down a letter.

A muffled clang sounded, and Nioclas rolled his eyes. “Monaghan. The man is not graceful.”

“Monaghan?” Aidan asked in surprise. “But his lands are on the other side of the country! What does he want from you?”

“Not me,” Nioclas replied. “My wife.”

“ A wife,” Brianagh corrected. “I’ve promised to help him find one.”

Reilly snorted. “Don’t tell me you’ve made a name for yourself as a matchmaker here as well.”

“She certainly has,” Nioclas responded proudly. “She’s quite sought after. Monaghan is here for his son.”

“It keeps me busy,” Bri said modestly. “And we haven’t seen war since you left, Aidan. It’s been very peaceful.”

“Even so, Em will need a guard.” Aidan swallowed the last of his breakfast. “We’re going with the noblewoman story.”

“You say it like it’s something that happens all the time,” Emma said uncomfortably .

Reilly pushed his now-empty plate away. “More often than you know, lass.”

Bri nodded. “It’s a good plan.” She smiled at Emma. “You’re my cousin, and I’m so glad to see you.”