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Emma’s jaw dropped in surprise at his bluntness.

He continued, “As the generous lady of the castle has most likely explained, I am here to find a wife, so I can begin fully living as a man ought, with something to live and die for.”

Well, at least he was honest about his intentions .

“Sorry, Monaghan, but this lady is unavailable,” a familiar voice, undercut with steel, said cheerfully.

The younger Monaghan frowned. “Are we acquainted?”

Aidan said something in Gaelic, and the man’s entire countenance changed in an instant. He gave a cordial bow to Brianagh, then kissed Emma’s hand.

Shane glanced up at Aidan, gave a smile that Emma could only classify as competitive, and said something back in Gaelic before he headed back to where his father stood and began to talk in earnest.

“Aidan!” Brianagh hissed. She glanced nervously at Emma. “You better explain what you just did to her!”

Emma looked at him questioningly, but all he said was, “I saved you from a night of fools.”

“Thanks,” Emma replied with feeling. “I mean, I would love to dance, absolutely. But those men looked at me like…”

“A cup of water after a long drought?” Bri supplied helpfully.

Emma kept a placid expression on her face, aware that Shane Monaghan was staring at her again, and wished the floor would open up and swallow her. “Yes. I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

“Well, most people from your time haven’t,” Aidan pointed out. She rolled her eyes.

“Let’s go find Nioclas,” Brianagh said, worry in her tone. She glared at Aidan. “I don’t know if he can fix what you’ve done.” She dragged Emma away, and Aidan turned to clasp hands with someone, not bothering to say goodbye. He winked at Emma.

“He told Monaghan you’re handfasted to him,” Bri almost growled. “Unbelievable. That’s like dangling a piece of fresh meat in front of a starved dog.”

“Did you just call me fresh meat?” Emma wondered aloud.

“Sorry. But the metaphor fits. Shane is a very competitive man. Aidan’s just thrown down the gauntlet in the ultimate game of Win the Fair Maiden . ”

Emma’s face paled. “What?”

“Remember how I said handfasting leads to ransoms?”

“I’m going to be kidnapped?” she exclaimed.

“Hopefully not. But Monaghan was quite clear in his reply to your newly-betrothed.”

“What did he say to Aidan?”

Brianagh’s mouth settled into a grim line. “The same sentiment as: To the victor go the spoils.”

They reached Nioclas, who was chatting with yet another man dressed in different colors, and Emma realized that the different colors symbolized the different clans. It also explained why her dress matched Brianagh’s, as well as Nioclas and Aidan’s léines. She was dressed in MacWilliam colors.

Brianagh said something, but Nioclas gave a shake of his head and turned back to the man. Brianagh’s arm tightened around Emma’s, and she dragged her off in another direction.

“The kitchens,” Brianagh said through clenched teeth. “We need to regroup.”

The kitchen was bustling, but all the women stopped to curtsy as they entered. Bri led Emma to a small round table in the corner of the kitchen. “This is a disaster. I can’t believe he would do this.”

“I think he was trying to save me from unwelcome attention,” Emma interjected, feeling the need to defend Aidan’s actions.

“I think you understand the term pissing contest ,” Bri replied, her eyes narrowing to slits. “I won’t allow Aidan to ruin this match.”

“Should I return to my chamber?” Emma asked, wishing she were anywhere else. She didn’t want to mess up a medieval matchmaking soiree, especially as she understood what it felt like to be the second-best woman in a man’s life.

She couldn’t do that to another person.

“No. If you go there, he’ll seek you out.”

“Aidan?”

“No. Monaghan .”

Emma shook her head. “He just met me. Make him select from his list.”

Brianagh slammed her hands on the table in frustration, then sighed heavily.

“He will want what isn’t his. I seated him with Brigit of the Muskerry clan, his first choice.

But you watch. He’ll give his attentions to you tonight, offer you his first dance—which you’ve already accepted by way of his father—and declare a meeting in the lists tomorrow to show his future bride what he has to offer.

He’ll give his favor to you, and Brigit won’t accept him after that.

And I, for one, wouldn’t blame the poor girl.

I bet Monghan thinks we brought you here as one of the possible choices.

He’ll want to ally with our clan, though challenging the laird’s brother doesn’t seem the smartest thing to do. ”

Emma chewed her lip as Bri fretted. “There’s got to be another way to save this match. Especially as I’m not staying.”

Nioclas poked his head in the door. “Ah, there you are. Monaghan just asked me for use of the lists tomorrow. He said he’s excited to announce his choice once he’s shown his warrior prowess.”

Brianagh dropped her head onto the table in despair .

Emma explained the situation, and Nioclas’s face darkened. “My brother is the biggest kind of arse,” he growled. “Apologies, Lady Emma. What he’s set you up for is either a kidnapping or a marriage.”

Emma stood, knocking her stool out from under her knees. “I can’t marry Monaghan. I’m not even staying here for very long.”

Nioclas gave her a steady look. “I wonder how you plan to return, my lady?”

She paused. “Reilly?”

“Perhaps,” Nioclas said slowly.

Emma tried to ignore the uncertainty in his voice.

“Lady Brianagh informs me that we’re handfasted,” Emma said conversationally, as Aidan placed a piece of bread on their shared trencher.

“Don’t worry. We won’t actually marry.”

Her heart dropped at his words.

Why not? she found herself thinking. Am I so unlovable, then? Instead, she took a large gulp of wine before adding, “Right. Of course not.”

His mouth settled into a grim line.

“Your brother informs me that I’m now at risk of kidnapping. From Shane Monaghan.”

He raised an eyebrow as he placed more food on the trencher. “Shane? You’re on a first-name basis with the man now?”

“He introduced himself as such, so I suppose we are.”

He shrugged. “He won’t kidnap you.”

“Why not?”

“You’re not worth the risk. Besides, guards sleep outside your door. You’re safe enough. ”

Not worth the risk. As irrational as it was, the words stung. She blinked back an unwelcome prick of tears. “Oh.”

Ridiculous, for her to overreact in such a way. She blinked furiously to clear the moisture —no doubt from some bit of dust— from her eyes.

“Aidan,” Nioclas exclaimed, clearly surprised at his bother’s harsh words. “Lady Emma, pay him no heed. I’ve doubled your guards for the duration of your stay, so you are quite safe. From everyone ,” he added with a scowl at Aidan.

“Thank you, my laird.”

Bri gave Emma a sympathetic glance, and Emma looked away. Aidan was in a fine temper for some reason, and though he’d made her no promises, he had kissed her a time or two as though he meant it.

There was the Universe again, telling her to steer clear.

She should’ve known not to look into his affections too deeply.

They’d been through a lot together, but perhaps he lost interest. He did seem to play the role of the white knight who rescued maidens in distress, and with Ben hundreds of years away, she wasn’t in distress anymore.

Or maybe he was reminded of those simple things Brianagh had gone on about, and he realized he wanted something real.

And maybe she wasn’t real relationship material.

“Well, handfasted or not, your first dance of the evening is with the young Monaghan,” Bri declared.

“Like hell it is,” Aidan snapped.

Emma felt her own patience break. “As you just stated, we’re not really getting married. So it shouldn’t matter to you who I dance with.”

He refused to make eye contact with her. “Fine. Do as you want. I don’t care. I’m just trying to save Bri’s reputation as a matchmaker.”

“Don’t bring me into it,” Bri objected. “You’re the one who issued the challenge to Monaghan. ”

Emma straightened. “Right. I refuse to be in the middle of some testosterone-fueled brouhaha.”

“Brouhaha?” Reilly asked, interested.

Emma’s eyes narrowed. “ Yes , brouhaha.” She turned her attention back to Aidan. “Let’s take a moment to remember that I am not your wife, or your handfasted…whatever—”

“Betrothed,” Reilly supplied.

“Handfasted betrothed,” Emma continued, “or someone to toy with, or your anyone , so I suggest you cut the BS immediately. I don’t want to add kidnapped to my stupidly long list of bad things that almost happen to me.”

Reilly leaned over his plate so he could see her around Aidan’s silent form. “Your appearance here has caused quite a stir, my lady. You’re not only beautiful, but you’re incredibly clever.”

“I’ve barely spoken two words to anyone. How could they know if I’m clever or not?”

“I’ve been sure to tell all who would listen about your keen mind and quick wit.”

Aidan visibly stiffened.

“And many men have made their interest known to Laird MacWilliam. Perhaps you should speak with him about your recourse. Most of the men here would find you more than worth the risk.”

“Shut it, O’Malley,” Aidan growled.

“It pains you that I speak the truth.” Reilly wagged his eyebrows at Emma. “But that cannot be what keeps me silent. The choice would be yours, Lady Emma, if you were to stay here with MacWilliam and his boorish self, or return to your homeland, with whatever challenges it presents.”

“Wait. You’re not going back?” she asked Aidan.

“I haven’t a choice,” he replied curtly, refusing to look at her.

She blinked. She looked at Reilly. “He doesn’t have a choice? ”

Reilly shrugged, then returned his attention to his trencher.

“You’re not staying here,” Aidan said abruptly.

“That’s up to Lady Emma,” Reilly replied without inflection.

A vein in Aidan’s neck began to throb. It seemed as though whatever temporary truce the two men had was null and void.