of my pants, seemed to burn against the flesh of my stomach. A terrifying image of Jamie taking the tiny book and falling dead at my feet flashed through my mind. As much as I wanted to tell him everything, I couldn’t dismiss the warning in both of our dreams or the counsel of the dying king. My purpose was not to stay in Doon, but to get the witch’s evil out of the kingdom, so Jamie and Sofia could fulfill their destinies as king and queen.
So, I swallowed my heart and said, “I’m glad. Thank you for telling me.”
He searched my face, his eyes churning like the ocean before a storm. Without warning, tears tracked down my cheeks.
“Ah, Vee,” he whispered before his mouth took mine, his hands cradling both sides of my face. I pressed against him, tasting the salt of my tears on his lips. Knowing this would be the last time I felt the heat of his body surrounding me, the bliss of his lips on mine, I returned his kiss with everything I couldn’t say.
“Ho, laird! Is that you up there? Lad, where have ye been?” A disembodied voice shattered our last private moment before I was ready to let go.
Jamie pulled his mouth from mine with a violent curse, but kept his hand on my cheek, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Can you trust me? That I’ll make the right decision?”
I nodded, wiping the tears from my face. “Of course,” I whispered. I was crazy, head-over-heels in love with Jamie MacCrae; trusting him was easy. The question was, did I love him enough to let him go?
As we entered the cool stone interior of the castle, a young man I recognized as a royal steward walked quickly in our direction.
“Sire, we must go immediately.” The man stopped in front of us with military precision, his hazel eyes focusing somewhere over Jamie’s left shoulder. “I’ve taken the liberty o’ assembling the coronation team in yer office suite. The tailors have just arrived and must get a final fitting fer your ceremonial ensemble. There’s also been another dispute over the east highland property—”
“Whoa, man.” Jamie cut the austere young man short with a lift of his hand. “Excuse me for one moment, Verranica.”
They walked a short distance away as Duncan and Kenna entered the vestibule. A wave of relief swept through me—swiftly followed by a sinking dread. Would they forgive me for putting them in danger—almost destroying us all?
I turned in Kenna’s direction, but Jamie’s words stopped me in my tracks. “And send a note to Sofia Rosetti and request she meet me in my suite as soon as possible. Give me ten minutes to greet my brother, then I’ll join ye.”
Reality smacked me upside the head like an icy ball of snow. Dragging in a deep, ragged breath, I reminded myself it was better this way, better that he’d chosen the right girl—just as I’d urged him to do. So why did it feel like the world had just dropped out from under my feet?
Kenna rushed forward, her wide gray eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she threw her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry!” I cried, hugging her with all my might.
“I’m just glad you’re safe,” she whispered fiercely in my ear. Duncan grinned at me over her shoulder and then headed to his brother. Ken leaned back and gripped my arms. “But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll kill you with my bare hands!”
“No worries.” I shook my head and bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering.
“Hey, it’s okay, Vee. You didn’t know what would happen.”
Not wanting to get into my sad tale in front of everyone, I let her misunderstanding of my teetering emotions stand. Unable to stop myself, I glanced over at Jamie.
“Hey, did you just get back? Who found you?” she asked in a Kenna-whisper.
“Jamie,” I muttered with a tiny shake of my head, trying to signal for her to shut it.
“Wait. You spent the entire night with him?” Every head in the courtyard swiveled our way.
Heat crept up my face, as my eyes locked with Jamie’s. His lips curved into a slow, wicked smile, stealing the pulse from my body. Funny how he could do that without even touching me.
“Okaayy. What’s going on?”
“Later,” I ground out between clenched teeth as I grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the arched castle doorway.
But before we could make our escape, Duncan strode over to us. “Glad you’re back safe and sound, Veronica.” With uncharacteristic awkwardness, he turned to Kenna and cleared his throat. “May I speak with you on the morrow?”
As if awkwardness were catching, Kenna shifted on her feet, suddenly unsure what to do with her arms. “Sure. I guess.”
Duncan captured her flailing hand, and bent down to give it a hasty kiss. “Until the morrow then.”
As he walked away, my friend lit up like a firefly, and I knew her heart was opening to him—whether she was willing to admit it or not. And unlike his brother, Duncan came with no baggage: no warning dreams, no almost-fiancee, and no mixed signals about wanting her in his life. It gave me hope that despite my own tear- jerker romance, her love story could still have a happy ending.
CHAPTER 26
Mackenna
Near-death experiences … Broadway would have us believe that they serve a greater purpose, like bringing reluctant lovers together. In some instances, it might be true. But for other relationships, it’s the trigger that shatters them apart like glass. What these events don’t do is significantly change the game. After the danger passes, the obstacles from before are still there, patiently waiting for the opportunity to dominate our lives once again.
Apparently, the other thing near death caused was fatigue. After a brief account of the blizzard and the hunting lodge, Vee crashed. By the time Fiona brought tea, she was sawing logs.
Not wanting to spend the evening alone, I invited Fiona to stay. I wasn’t sure she would, since my bestie had instigated Snowmageddon. But I liked to think that Fiona had become the kind of friend who would stand by us, mistakes and all.
Just to be sure, I decided to attack the elephant in the room head on. “You’re probably counting the seconds until the bridge opens tomorrow night, huh?”
Fiona placed the tea service on the little table in front of the settee and began to prepare our cups. “Far from it. I’ll be quite sad ta see you and Veronica go.”
“After we nearly destroyed your kingdom? Doubtful.”
The girl pushed a lock of strawberry-blonde hair behind her ear and made a noise that sounded like
“And what would that be—for you?” The moment the question fell from my lips, I couldn’t help but answer for myself. The image of the dark-haired prince with an easy smile and a fierce love of his realm filled my thoughts.
Fiona paused thoughtfully. “If it were truly the end, I’d want ta be with the person I loved best in all the world.”
Her expression was so strange—so astute and knowing—that I couldn’t help but worry she could read minds. Specifically mine. Averting my gaze, I folded a plaid blanket I’d left in a heap on the floor. “But you never thought the kingdom was coming to an end, did you?”
“Nay. I’ve faith you and Vee were both brought to Doon for a purpose. Ye couldna undo the Covenant unless it was the Protector’s will.” Finished preparing tea, she uncovered a tray of delicious-looking pastries. “My mum says I’ve a divine gift. Sight o’ the supernatural.”
“Isn’t that like demons and zombies and stuff? I thought Doonians didn’t believe in magic.”
“The supernatural is about good and evil. The working of spiritual things beyond our understanding.” She gestured I should sit with her. As I settled, she handed me a porcelain cup and saucer. “My gift merely gives me
