He smiled a sad, sweet smile. “I said, he’s an idiot and he has no idea what an amazing daughter he has.” He said the words simply and with such sincerity that they washed over me like absolution. I closed my eyes, but the tears flowed hot over my cheeks anyway. How was it possible he knew the exact right thing to say? The words I’d secretly longed to hear, but hadn’t realized it until they came out of his mouth?
I smiled at him through my tears. “You have no clue how perfect you are, do you?”
“Well … ah.” He scratched his head and looked away, his cheeks turning pink.
I couldn’t believe it—I’d made Jamie MacCrae blush. Absurdly pleased with myself, I moved out of his arms and danced away from him. He laughed softly before sitting to finish the last of his meal.
Unfortunately, this happiness couldn’t last.
I stiffened my back and began to clear away the dishes. “I think it’s time we head back to the castle. You have the Coronation to prepare for, right?”
“That I have,” he stated as he stretched his arms over his head and then hooked his elbow around the chair spindle, fixing his dark eyes on my face. “I do have one request of you, before we head back.”
I nodded my head, indicating he should continue, afraid to trust my voice.
“Since I believe we can both agree that I saved yer life last night …” His smile was confident and a little bit wicked. “I would ask something of you in return.”
My stomach clenched into knots. He had rescued me from the bear, it was true, and a part of me felt willing to give him anything he asked for, as long as it didn’t derail me from my goal. “Go on,” I said flatly.
He wiped his mouth and stood. “Come to the Coronation and the Centennial Ball.”
“I don’t know …” The thought of watching him and Sofia become engaged, although I knew it was the right course, could very well push me over the edge.
“It would give me strength to see ye there.”
I swallowed hard, his statement moving me more than I cared to admit. “I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough. Let me just do one thing, then we can go.” And with that, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me full on the mouth before stalking out of the room.
Affected beyond reason by the simple kiss, I forced myself to refocus. All I had to do was prevent the witch from hurting anyone else before I could remove her evil vessel from Doon. And watch the boy I loved be crowned king and announce his engagement to a mini Italian goddess. While I was at it, maybe I would schedule some time to have my heart cut out of my chest.
CHAPTER 25
Veronica
The journey back to the castle alternated between tortuous bliss and blissful torture. I didn’t know which I wanted more: for our time to be over quickly or to drag it out as long as possible. In the end, the beauty of the day tipped the scales toward procrastination. Well, that and the company—Jamie hadn’t left my side all morning, taking my hand to help me across a fallen log, lifting me over puddles, brushing tendrils of hair off my cheek, all of which made maintaining a comfortable emotional distance next to impossible.
We made our way out of the forest and through the lush hills, past rushing streams, flowing clear and pure, around fields of golden gorse and wild heather, and along meadows populated with grazing stags. In the light of the lovely summer countryside, it was almost as if the hellish blizzard of the night before never happened.
“Not far now, Vee. Come, I wish to show ye something.” He grabbed my hand.
Walking so close beside him, I felt small—in a delicious, protected kind of way. I squeezed his hand, smiling as he led me off the path to the edge of a steep drop-off.
“Oh my—” The entire kingdom of Doon stretched before us. Slate-blue castle turrets soared into the sky, replicated in the sparkling mirror of the lake. The steeple of the Auld Kirk towered above the trees, standing sentinel to the winding cobblestone streets of the village. My Christmas village, I thought, wishing I could stay here forever. My stomach twisted in longing.
Shaking off my melancholy, I pointed west and asked, “Are those the flags of the tournament stadium?”
“Aye.” The single word contained all the pride and adoration he felt for his kingdom.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Not me.”
I met his eyes as they moved possessively over my face, and my pulse soared like a hummingbird taking flight. Desperate to divert his attention I blurted, “Someone should build a house here. This view is amazing!”
“That is an excellent idea. Maybe I shall.”
“You?” I stared at him in mock horror. “Don’t you think an enormous castle and a hunting lodge are enough for one young monarch?” But I couldn’t stop the impish grin from spreading across my face.
“Dear Miss Welling,” he teased, the long dimple appearing in his cheek, “the castle is a public building and the lodge is used by many. Maybe I long for a place o’ my own.” He pulled lightly on the end of my braid, his eyes full of insinuation. “Or maybe a retreat to share with another. I imagine it shall be advantageous to have a wee bit o’ privacy once I”—he winked—“take a queen.”
“Oh, don’t be a perv!” I smacked his arm and immediately clutched my stinging fingers with my other hand. The guy’s biceps were ridiculous.
Jamie just laughed and hopped away from me.
Turning around, I headed back down the trail, leaving him to follow me or not. The image of him building a house on this hill to share with Sofia made me almost blind with jealousy.
After a few moments, I heard him jog up behind me. “What is a perv?”
I glanced at him. “You know, a pervert … a sexually depraved lunatic.”
“You think I’m some kind o’ crazy sex fiend?”
With satisfaction, I saw his eyes widen in shock while I managed a nonchalant shrug. “If the shoe fits …”
“Well, what would that make you then, little miss dance-around-the-room-wi’-no-trousers-on? Hmm?”
I stopped and he kept walking.
There was no way he could know I did that on purpose—could he? “I didn’t—you don’t think I—”
He turned to face me, and crossed his arms over his chest, goading me with a single raised eyebrow.
“Well—I certainly did not dance!” I insisted with a huff.
“A pity, that.” He took a large step closer, his eyes narrowing with intent.
I stepped back and he advanced. I turned around to run, but he grabbed my arm from behind and spun me around with enough force that I hit his chest with a loud “Umpf!”
“Who taught you manners anyway? Geez!”
“I’m sorry but I couldna resist. You’re just so adorable when you’re bein’ self-righteous.”
His smiling eyes shone into mine, then something shifted, and the dark power of his gaze caused me to panic. “Verranica, I …” He hesitated, clearing his throat.
I pulled back, but his arms tightened around me.
“No, please dinna pull away. Touching ye is like breathin’ … I canna seem to stop myself.” I wanted to shut him down, keep him from breaking the spell of the idyllic afternoon, but against my better judgment I kept silent.
“I’ve never known anyone like you. Ye challenge me and make me see things in ways I couldna on my own. I heard every word you said last night. Ye shamed me a bit.”
He paused, favoring me with a brief flash of straight, white teeth. But the gravity in every line of his face stopped my breath as I anticipated his next words. “Nevertheless, ye made it clear to me what was right—what the Protector’s will is for the kingdom and what I must do for the realm.”
My heart beat painfully in my chest, full to the point of bursting with the conflicting emotions inside of me. Being with him felt so right—so perfect—that I opened my mouth to tell him everything about Addie and the journal. And beg him not to marry Sofia.
But just as the words formed on my tongue, I stopped. The journal, tucked into the tightly rolled waistband
