Doon

“Maybe he didn’t know he was doing it. Haven’t you ever had a dream that when you woke up, you had no idea where it came from?”

“Like the time I dreamt I was in Greg-the-stage-tech’s bed, naked?”

“Exactly!” I chuckled and wiped the residual tears from under my eyes.

“But as much as I don’t believe in the preordained destiny thing, you have to admit a Calling works a little differently than your normal relationship.”

“Yeah, if it’s mutual, but we have no proof Jamie shared my visions.” Kenna opened her mouth to object, but I cut her off. “And even if he did, does that mean he has to pick me just because I somehow pulled him into my head?”

“No. That’s as stupid as picking Sofia just because his mommy liked her.”

“What did you say?” I spun on my friend, whose eyes had become as big as silver dollars.

“Ah, well it’s no biggie.” Kenna turned to lean heavily on the stone wall, avoiding my probing gaze.

“Who told you that?”

“Duncan might have mentioned that—” Kenna sighed and then rushed on. “That their mother favored Sofia.”

And Jamie loves her. Perfect.

I turned to stare out at the lake, the natural beauty had lost its powers. Sofia being Jamie’s sainted mother’s favorite was just another confirmation that he and I weren’t meant to be together. “What else did Duncan say?”

Before Kenna could answer, Fiona joined us by the battlement wall. “M’ladies, ye are not supposed ta be wandering alone.”

“We’re perfectly fine …” Kenna’s words dropped off as we turned toward Fiona, who tilted her head to the side, gesturing toward the dark outline of a man concealed in the opposite corner of the stone terrace.

“’Tis Gideon,” Fiona stated matter-of-factly.

As the captain of the guard stepped out into the moonlight, I almost didn’t recognize him. Dark purple bruises shadowed his sunken eyes. His normally ruddy complexion appeared pale, almost translucent. “Is something wrong with him?”

“I’m beginning to wonder,” Fiona replied, her brows gathering in concern.

“Well, Gideon can go take a flying leap off a turret! In fact—” Kenna turned toward the skulking shadow.

“Nay, Mackenna.” Fiona’s voice was firm as she grabbed Kenna’s upper arm to stop her. “’Tis clear he is only watching ye. Dinna provoke him.”

Kenna stared angrily at Fiona for a brief moment before her irritation melted from her face and she shrugged. “Sorry, Fiona, I’m just not used to my every move being stalked, and it’s putting me on edge.”

I knew the feeling. It was beginning to see my time in Doon as one big test of patience. Glancing at the shadowy corner, I could no longer see Gideon but knew in my gut he still lingered.

“Gideon has a lot on his mind. We’ve just received reports that black petunias have sprouted around the witches’ cottage.” Fiona wrung her fingers, her eyes darting around the open area of the battlements furtively. The contrast between her current demeanor and her usual ultra-calm manner was a bit disconcerting.

“Didn’t Duncan say nothing has grown there since the witches were destroyed?” I asked.

“Aye. But the black flowers are spreading in waves as if—” She trailed off, swallowing the rest of her words.

“As if what?” Kenna prompted.

“Nothin’ you need to worry about.” A too-bright smile chased away the trepidation on Fiona’s face. “I’ve had the kitchen prepare a tray of hot cocoa and cookies ta be sent to yer rooms. Would ye fancy some girl time?”

I hesitated, debating whether or not to pursue the questions spinning in my head. Black flowers growing where nothing has grown for hundreds of years? As if … As if the witches were back. As if the witches were us. No wonder Jamie treated me with suspicion; on the surface I looked guilty as sin. I would have to find a way to prove my innocence, starting tomorrow. Tonight I needed to take a break from the drama that was or wasn’t going on between me and the future ruler of Doon.

Linking arms with my new friend, I said, “Girl time sounds like heaven to me.” Kenna took Fiona’s other arm and we moved toward a doorway to the side of the Great Hall. I had no interest in returning to the festivities to watch Jamie romance half the kingdom, especially not a certain petite Italian.

CHAPTER 17 Veronica

The girl time and hot chocolate didn’t relax me as I’d hoped. Quietly, I slipped from the oversized bed I shared with Kenna and grabbed the enormous green robe she’d left on the chair. Duncan’s suite sometimes made me feel like I was a dwarf co-existing with giants.

Moving into the sitting room, I slipped my arms into the robe and rolled the sleeves up several times. A profound quiet filled the air as I stared into the glowing embers of the banked fire. The peaceful hush was in such discordance with my restless spirit, it filled me with the insane urge to run screaming through the castle. Well, maybe not the crazy-screaming part. But with nothing to wear besides heavy skirts or a nightdress, I couldn’t even go for a run to calm my nerves.

Hoping a bit of reading would do the trick, I found the leather-bound book Fiona had brought me from the library earlier that day; Doon: An Esteemed Legacy. I ran my fingers over the embossed letters. The MacCrae family crest—two lions back to back, one with an arrow clamped in its teeth, the other holding a sword—filled the center of the cover, and written below in looping script: In Unity There Is Great Power. Hefting the Bible-sized tome to the window seat, I cracked it open and scanned the table of contents by moonlight.

The Miracle

The Centennial

The Gathering

A Calling

Ancient Symbols

A Calling. Perfect!

Maybe I could find some clue as to why the visions that’d rocked my entire world had no effect on the one I shared the visions with. Finding the correct page, I leaned forward and drank in every word.

A Calling is a sacred bond that draws an individual to Doon through dreams or waking visions. The Calling may be between two hearts or one individual who is called to Doon for a preordained purpose. The visions act as a beacon, guiding the called individual to the kingdom of Doon, typically at the time of the Centennial.

It is believed the Calling was established by our divine Protector to sustain our culture.

Skimming over the information about those being called to Doon for a vocational purpose, I ran my finger quickly down the paragraphs to a passage that appeared to jump off the page:

When the Calling is between two individuals, the outsider must choose Doon over their own world in order to complete the union. When this choice is made, the two souls become inextricably intertwined until death.

If I chose to stay in Doon, would Jamie no longer have a choice? His feelings for Sofia would … what? Simply disappear? Taking a deep breath, I continued to read:

However, as with soul mates in the mortal world, individuals can forsake their Calling. The Calling relationship does not supersede free will.

I slammed the book closed, pushed the giant tome away, and shot to my feet. I couldn’t breathe. The room began to shrink around me.

Rushing to the door, I tugged it open just enough to see that the guard on duty was fast asleep. I slipped into the hallway, and pulled the door closed behind me, tiptoeing down the corridor. The flannel robe dragged on the stones and made a subtle whooshing noise I prayed was too soft to detect. After