Page 64 of An Enchanted Spring

She searched his gaze, then gave a tiny, silent nod.

They stood together silently and a moment later, the rising sun’s rays crept into the room. Reilly placed a hand on Cian and Aidan, and Aidan drew Emma to him quickly, sweeping her tightly into his arms. The cave flooded with the full lightof the sun. Emma gripped Aidan’s neck, and he tightened his hold on her as the world around them exploded into shards of light.

Chapter 12

Emma awoke with a screaming headache. She carefully raised her hands and felt her head. No bumps, but just the light touch made her wince.

“Drink this,” Aidan said in her ear, wrapping her hands around something rough. “It’s white willow bark tea. It should help the pain.”

She sipped and made a face. “It’s too bitter.”

“Drink it,” he encouraged her, bringing it to her lips again. “It will help.”

She choked down the brew. Darkness surrounded them, but the moon was bright. A cold wind teased the leaves of the trees above her, and she shivered.

Aidan wrapped a piece of heavy wool around her shoulders and fastened it across her collarbone. She glanced down at the cloak, then up at him.

His eyes shone light green in the blue glow of the moon.

“How do you feel, other than your headache?” he asked, smoothing her hair.

“Dizzy,” she replied, closing her eyes again. “Weird.”

He made her follow his finger with her eyes andperformed a few other tests before declaring she probably hadn’t suffered a concussion.

“I’ll keep an eye on you anyway,” he said.

She felt her head beginning to clear, although her brain was still foggy. “What happened? Did you drop me?” The last was an accusation, and she frowned before wincing again.

Her headreallyhurt.

“Nay.”

She sat up straighter.“What happened to my clothes?”

He continued to gently rub the back of her neck. “I vow, I changed you swiftly and out of sight of the others.”

“Wait, what? Is this…oh my God. Why am I dressed in medieval clothing?”

The dress was dark—she thought it might be a deep blue. The silver braided rope, which circled her ribcage just under her breasts, shone in the moonlight, and the overlay was a sheet of silver gauze.

“Have I been unconscious all day?” she asked suddenly, noting the moon high in the sky above them.

“Nay. Only for a few minutes. We simply came into the night instead of the day.”

She paused. “That doesn’t make any sense, Aidan. Where are we?”

He paused. “More like when.”

Emma blinked. “I’m not following you at all.”

“We’re in Ireland, but the year is 1465.”

“You fell hard,” she declared promptly. “It’s messed with your brain. What happened in the cave back there? Was it a bomb?”

“Nay, Emmaline. It wasn’t a bomb. Reilly brought us back to my home.”

Though the man looked all right, Emma had serious doubts. His brain must’ve been rattled hard by the explosion. Emma gave him a concerned look. “Where is Reilly?”

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