Back on the airship, which is what their pilot had called it over his radio, they had been met by Berg who walked to their quarters with them. After taking turns in the shower, they had now retreated to their separate bedrooms.

Angus lay in his bed, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He knew Erin was sleeping because he’d showered last and checked on her before he lay down. She was no doubt making up for her loss of sleep the night before, but he brooded with only his lonely, twitching cock for company.

Finally, he couldn’t handle it anymore. He went to her room and crawled onto the empty side of her bed.

“Angus? No. I’m too tired.”

“Hush. I came to sleep,” he said. “I figure I won half a bet this morning. So ya don’t get the tongue lashing I wagered, but I shouldn’t have to sleep alone either. I’m still dealing with what the original matchmakers said and I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

Erin rolled over and put her arm across his chest. “Okay. If ya start snoring though, I’m going to run ya back to yer room.”

Angus turned and kissed the top of her hair. It was freshly washed and smelled like flowers. “Thank ya for not turning me away, Erin.”

“Ya sure are a charming Johnny when ya want to be,” Erin said with a snort, throwing a long leg across his until she was nearly wrapped around him.

Angus groaned softly at the heavenly weight of her legs against his. “And I’m lonely enough to tolerate yer sarcasm without offering a rebuttal.”

Her soft chuckle brought a smile to his face.

“Am I really replaceable to ya, Erin O’Shea?” Angus asked with sincerity.

But he got no answer. Erin slept soundlessly beside him.

Closing his eyes, Angus turned until he could hold Erin in his arms. It was the first time he’d held a woman for comfort in a very long time. He found himself staring at her, and thinking that Angus 1 had been a lucky man for having had Erin 1 at his side all those years. What would it be like if he stayed with his Erin until both their hair turned just as silver as the originals?

The thing he couldn’t reconcile was that his now dead wife had also suited him. Was there any crime against Erin in that? He was never going to be a man who hadn’t been in love before and married well. He was proud of that part of his life, even if it was over.

Erin wanted what he’d had the first time in love. He understood that plainly. But all he was good for was a second chance. He was well on his way to loving Erin, probably had been for years, though his grief over Mary hadn’t allowed him to properly see it.

But he knew his Erin had reasons—and good ones—to doubt his new feelings for her. If they hadn’t been abducted, he—not his alternate—would have been personally turning to dust beside the first woman he’d cared about. He’d accused Erin of being unreasonable, but how could he make any reasonable argument? The fact was he couldn’t.

He fell asleep pressed against the front of Erin.

And woke up alone.

* * *

Angus was moping over his tea when the knock came at the door. Shaking his head, he went to open it. “Morning, Nate. Ya are starting to spook me out with how ya always know when I’m here alone.”

Nate chuckled. “Can I join you for a cup of… uh… tea?”

“Sure. Get yer sneaky arse in here. I’ll make ya a cuppa.” Angus trudged to the kitchen and trudged back to the table. Nate was already sitting at it. He was drumming his fingers.

“Spit it out,” Angus ordered.

“Spit what out?” Nate asked, confused.

Angus motioned with his hand. “That burning question on yer tongue.”

Nate lifted his cup and took a sip. “You know, I never used to drink stimulants in the morning. I had this idea that my body needed to get by without them. Now I’m having one nearly every day. Mostly because I’m spending my nights thinking about two of the strangest people I’ve ever met instead of sleeping.”

“Are ya talking about Darcone and his beady eyes? Or Toorg and Berg with their limited vocabulary?”

“Toorg and Berg are clones of two best friends on the planet of their originals. Toorg is really Toorg 4 and Berg is really Berg 6. When the real Toorg volunteered to give AAS one of his clones, he insisted on a Berg clone coming too so the clones wouldn’t be totally alone. The original Berg was happy with the idea and here they both are serving as guards. And to answer your snide remark about their limitations… clones are intentionally programmed in vitro to be brilliant at some things and not so brilliant at others.”

“Are ya saying Toorg and Berg were made to sound like three year olds?”

Nate nodded. “Each was made expressly to supply body parts for the original version when he needed them to extend his life. In the meantime, each clone is given a specific purpose to fill so they are useful and keep their bodies in good form.”

“Ya talk like they’re nothing. They’re still men aren’t they?” Angus asked.

“Mostly,” Nate admitted. “But they can’t reproduce. On Toorg 4’s home planet a copy would never be allowed to create another copy. When the original Toorg dies, all his clones are euthanized immediately.”

“Are ya trying to fool me with big words, Nate? Use some plainer language,” Angus ordered.

“All Toorg clones have to die at the same time. Our contract with that planet stipulates that we have to kill the clone when the original dies.”

Angus shook his head. “How can ya say that with such calm and still think Universe 6 is the most barbaric one?”

Nate shook his head. “Toorg and Berg are not from New Earth. They are aliens and not human. There are protocols we have to follow to make our alliance with each alien culture work.”

Angus set his mug down. “That’s a politician’s concerns… or a military man’s. Ya are not just a doctor, are ya?”

Nate studied his mug. “My great grandfather was the one who got people to accept the help of Darcone’s species. His son—my grandfather—served as one of the Guardians until he died. My father, though not a Guardian, is two hundred and seventy-four and still oversees the agents who man the portal and police the comings and goings of the aliens.”

Angus leaned on the table. “I see where ya are headed. Ya are the youngest of the clan responsible for saving this whole universe.”

Nate drew in a breath as he nodded. “I really am a healer, just like I told you, but that was because I had the innate skills for it. I wanted to learn healing and my family let me. But I’m also in charge of the day to day operation of the Alien Abduction Service. Mine is a combination job. However, a lot of people—humans and aliens—report to me and tell me everything that happens on my airship. This is especially true when it comes to taking care of the new matchmakers.”

Angus shrugged. “Can’t say as I’m surprised by anything ya’ve said. I knew ya had to be some kind of man in charge. People defer to ya left and right.”

Nate leaned his head to the side as he studied the irreverent Angus from Universe 6. “I come to see you each day because I’m tasked with yours and Erin’s acclimation here. It’s my job to make sure you and Erin are happy in Universe 1 and able to help us. Erin is not happy, Angus. This means I’m not happy. What happened between you and Erin last night?”

“Nothing happened,” Angus said tightly, surprised at the directness in Nate’s question and his resentment of it. “She was dead tired from yesterday. Seeing the castle was quite the shocker. Did ya know yer original Angus put bagpipe music all up and down his front lawn? Ya can’t take a step on his walkway or grass without it playing.”

“You’re stalling, Angus,” Nate accused.

“I don’t see how what’s between me and Erin is any of yer fecking business, but if ya have to know, I slept with her in my arms. Best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. When I woke up this morning, she was gone. I’ve stayed in here and not gone to find her because I’m in a pisser of a mood. She keeps running from me and that’s not like her. She’s changed a lot since coming here.”

Nate blew out a breath and hung his head. “I went by to see her this morning and she was staring out her office window watching the birds go by. I had to speak to her several times before I could get her attention. Then when I did, all I got was ‘fine’ and ‘nothing’s wrong, Nate’ for answers.”

“Ya certainly are a worrier if a person being quiet causes ya such alarm,” Angus observed.

Nate chuckled at the observation. “I guess I am. It comes with being in charge of a ship carrying fifty dangerous aliens and fifty fairly helpless women.”

“Well, ya are doing a fine job as far as I can tell. Ya just need to learn to bask in yer success a little more.”

Nate nodded. “Thanks… I guess. Did you and Erin like the castle?”

Angus shrugged. “I can’t speak for Erin, but the private quarters were the finest luxury I ever saw. However, I can’t imagine what Angus 1 was thinking putting all those bloody weapons on the walls and building that giant furniture. Though it did occur to me the aliens would feel right at home there. They’re the only ones it would fit.”

Nate laughed. “The original Angus was a bit of an eccentric, but he had a way about him. You’re a lot like that yourself. I like your sense of humor better, if it matters to you.”

Angus stood and gathered up their now empty mugs. “I’m a stranger in a strange land. I’d like to count you as a friend. And you will be, unless ya do me wrong.”

“Will you please try to work things out with Erin as fast as you can?” Nate asked.

“Erin told me ya haven’t been able to keep a woman. I bet yer impatience had quite a lot to do with that. Let me tell ya something true—Erin O’Shea will not let herself be rushed. Plus, I’m having a bit of a quandary outside the challenge of her contrary nature. I loved my first wife, Nate. Erin wishes Mary had never existed. In Erin’s mind, I’m cheating on her with a dead woman.”

“Are you?” Nate asked.

Angus shrugged. “See… that’s my problem. I don’t know.”

“Angus, don’t make me go find Erin a better version of you because I just might do it. She’s the one who’s keen to be here and the only one I’ve definitely decided to keep. There are several versions of you left who have never met their version of Erin. A long shot is looking good today.”

“I’m falling for my Erin O’Shea at long last, but I know from nine years of making matches that love will not be rushed. My problem isn’t something yer fancy bracelet or yer cooking box can fix. Erin and I will either work it out or we won’t. When we get there either way, we’ll let ya know, if yer spies don’t first.”

Nate rubbed a tired hand over his face. “They’re not spies, Angus. They’re just people who work for me.”

“So ya say, but I wonder what their story about it is. I only know my own opinion and it dropped a bit with yer revelation. I would advise ya to tell Erin the whole truth of who ya are before someone else does.”

“Like you?” Nate asked.

Angus chuckled. “No, not me. Erin tends to kill the messenger, so no, she won’t be hearing it from me unless I’m forced into revealing it. However, I won’t be lying if she sincerely wants to know. Best not tell her about Toorg and Berg. She’s partial to them and wouldn’t think the best of ya for being so cold-hearted about their deaths.”

“I’m not being cold-hearted,” Nate declared.

“Would ya kill them to keep yer alien contract from breaking?”

“Well yes, but…”

Angus held up a hand, shook his head, and looked away. “There are no buts in this case. Ya either believe they deserve the same chance at life as everyone does or ya believe they don’t. There’s no middle ground. Maybe my Universe 6 reasoning isn’t as advanced as that of men here in Universe 1, but seems like killing an innocent man who didn’t ask for his fate makes us no better than the ones who attacked yer planet all those years ago.”

Nate’s frustrated grunt was loud. “So what would you do in that circumstance?”

Angus met his overseer’s gaze head on. “I’d fecking say no. But that’s me and I’m not the one in charge. The decision that really matters is yers.”

Nate frowned. “Well, let’s hope Toorg’s and Berg’s originals outlive us both then.”

Shrugging Angus fell back into his chair. “Sometimes all a man can do is hope. Can I change the subject?”

“Please do,” Nate said, trying not to let his exasperation show.

“I was going to talk to Erin first, but seeing how that’s not happening, I might as well run my idea by you. I think I know something that will speed up the matchmaking process.”

“That would go a long way toward making me happier with you,” Nate said, grinning when Angus glared. “I’m just saying.”

“I hear Erin O’Shea’s sarcasm in yer answer.”

Nate laughed. “Because I’m fresh from getting a dose this morning. Tell me about yer idea, Angus.”

Smiling, Angus nodded and leaned forward.