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“True, real people aren’t inside the television, but⁠—”

“And ye are here in front of me, flesh and blood, nae there in a bed with another man. I daena ken what those lights mean but they arna real, we shouldna worry on them much.”

“And you aren’t mad that it’s exposed us to being found by Lady Mairead?”

“We are found, mo reul-iuil, because the future has been lookin’ for us. Twould have happened soon enough. My ribs are healed. Lady Mairead has been bargained with, Samuel is comin’ next. We have tae rescue Quentin and then we will do what comes after.”

“None of this is what I thought you’d say.”

“I am tryin’ nae tae be a barbarian. I want tae kill him, but ye winna let me. Will ye?”

I shook my head. “You’d go to prison. Or me.”

“Aye. I daena like the sound of that, so instead I am bein’ reasonable on it.”

I dropped my head back on the chair and let out a long breath in relief. “I feel so much better now that you know. But I’m still embarrassed. I’m naked for the whole world to see.”

“I think when Braden loved ye he wanted the video tae keep ye close. You are verra beautiful, Kaitlyn. When I am away from ye, I am verra glad tae have a photo. I canna forget ye, but a photo helps tae keep ye clear in my eyes, as it is in my heart.”

I smiled. “Thank you, I don’t think it’s quite the same, but thank you for telling me I’m beautiful. That goes a long way this morning when I’m all overwhelmed.”

“Ye are also a terrible arse.”

I went incredulous. “A what? What the hell does that...?”

His face screwed up. “I daena ken if I said it right, it means ye are good, by speakin’ the opposite. Ye ken it, you and Hayley say it often tae each other?”

“A terrible arse — you mean a bad ass?” I giggled.

“Tis nae the same?”

“Nope, but that’s cool. You meant bad ass and I’ll take it. I’m a beautiful terrible arse. I’ve been called far worse.”

Magnus kissed the back of my hand as he yawned. “I need tae sleep.”

“Me too, can we cuddle through it?”

“Aye.”

20 - KAITLYN

We woke up groggy past lunch time, discussed the matter, decided that we would leave tomorrow, but today we would go downtown to a restaurant to eat. I couldn’t remember the last time we ate out together, so I was pretty psyched. It was a blustery fall day, so I pulled out the fall day clothes: a pair of jeans that were curvy on me, a long sleeve shirt with a scoop neck for cleavage. A jacket and a scarf in a tartan plaid. It was Magnus’s and fun when I wrapped it around my neck to see how his eyes lit up. “I like ye in the tartan, Kaitlyn, it reminds me of my past home.”

“It reminds me of your past home too. And we’ll be back there tomorrow.”

Jim met us in the garage. “Hold up, Magnus, there’s a car outside. It’s parked. A rental.”

Magnus said, “Stay here, Kaitlyn.”

Jim drew his weapon and they both left me standing quietly, heart-racing, in the garage. A minute later I heard my maiden name, “I’m here to see Katie Sheffield, she...”

I peeked out of the door.

Braden was standing in my front yard.

“Braden, what the fuck are you doing here?” I crossed the driveway.

“Katie?”