Doon

Ayr Beach back the way we came, and Promenade, which I remembered, thanks to Ally, was the main oceanfront drive. Alloway was only a couple of miles away, but without a car, it might as well have been light-years. I placed my hand on Vee’s shoulder, grateful for the momentary rest. “What now?”

“We need a cab.” Without warning, she raced toward the promenade waving at a passing van. The cab slowed as the driver scrutinized our battered appearances. With a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, Vee explained, “Bridal party. We were celebrating on the beach and must’ve passed out. We need a ride back to Alloway.”

The cabbie nodded and Vee wrenched open the door. I climbed in first. Without a word, Duncan followed, elegantly tucking his large frame into the bucket seat. But when it was Fergus’s turn, he began to backpedal like a cartoon elephant shrinking away from a mouse. “I’m not goin’ near that thing,” he declared.

“You promised Fiona you’d follow me.” Vee balled up her fists, threatening the gentle giant with bodily harm, which under other circumstances would have been hilarious. But the frantic desperation that lurked just under her violent surface was no laughing matter.

Fergus shook his head from side to side. “Not in that thing. What is tha’ foul beast?”

In no mood to humor him, she grabbed his hand and twisted. “A horseless metal carriage. It’s not going to eat you. Now stop being such a big baby and get in!”

In a death-defying feat of agility, she wrenched Fergus forward, single-handedly catapulting him into the “horseless carriage” with Taxi scrawled on the side. Before he could protest, she’d slipped inside and shut the door, and we were speeding off to rescue a boy-king by defeating an evil witch. Perhaps she was part ninja after all.

CHAPTER 34 Veronica

Dunbrae Cottage loomed before us, dark and silent, appearing completely undisturbed. My chest tightened painfully. I’d had no tangible signs we were on the right track, but something in my gut had led me here. That same something made it impossible to be patient while Kenna searched for the spare key she’d hidden in the garden.

“It’s near the door … somewhere around here, I’m sure of it,” Kenna muttered to herself as she and Duncan lifted every leaf and rock within ten paces of the entrance.

About ready to break the cottage door down myself, I turned to Fergus. The gentle giant hopped up and down on the balls of his feet, his outward agitation a reflection of my own inner turmoil. “Can you open it?” I asked.

“Aye, m’ lady.” He took a giant step forward, almost knocking Duncan out of the way in his eagerness. “Watch out! I’m going in.”

In the same moment, Kenna yelled, “I found it!”

Fergus stopped in mid-stride. Obviously annoyed to have no physical outlet for his fear, he balled his massive hands into fists the size of melons and glowered fiercely.

“Thank the good Lord!” Duncan exclaimed as Kenna fit the key in the door and we all filed into the foyer. A stale smell of abandonment greeted us. Kenna flipped the light switch, but nothing happened. “Power’s turned off.”

My heart raced, beating so loudly in the eerie quiet that I glanced at my friends to see if they could hear it. But they were all looking around in distraction, frozen with indecision.

“Let’s split up,” I said. “Duncan, Kenna—you take upstairs. Fergus and I will search down here. Look for clues … anything, no matter how small, that seems out of place.” Three sets of eyes turned to me with undisguised skepticism.

“Vee, sweetie,” Kenna said gently, “I don’t think he’s here. It doesn’t feel like anyone’s been here in a really long time.” Duncan and Fergus nodded in agreement.

“Then the witch has done her job, hasn’t she? Don’t you see? She wants this place to appear deserted.” They all stared back at me, doubt clear on their faces. “Fine! You go, but I know he’s here.”

He has to be, I thought as I pushed past them and into the entryway. I headed to the hall storage cupboard and rummaged until I found candles and matches. Holding the matchbox, I attempted to strike a stick across the flint, but my hands shook so badly I couldn’t bring the two elements together.

“Let me help ye, lass.” Fergus’s voice, so close behind me, caused me to jump.

I handed off my task without a word. As the candlelight filled the space, I grabbed several candelabras on an upper shelf of the closet. Fergus inserted candles and lit the wicks one by one. In the shifting light, he appeared thoroughly chastised as he said, “I’m with ye, m’ lady. There’s a special connection between those who’ve received a Callin’.”

“But I—” I started to deny his words, but Duncan interrupted me.

“No, lass. Whether ye or my brother choose to accept it, the link between you is undeniable and should no’ be discounted. Hand me two o’ those candelabras. Mackenna and I will search upstairs.”

“Thank you,” I breathed, swallowing the lump in my throat. No time for tears now.

Two hours later, we’d found nothing. Kenna and I searched everywhere, pausing only long enough to get out of our cumbersome gowns and into modern clothes before ripping the cottage apart.

I splashed cool water on my face and stared into the gilded bathroom mirror at my huge, haunted eyes. We were no closer to finding Jamie than we’d been when we arrived. None of us had found a single clue to indicate anyone had been in this house since Kenna and I left, let alone a sign that a witch harbored a young king here.

Jamie’s image appeared before me, a cocky grin on his beautiful mouth, his dark eyes shining with love. With love? Did he love me? Or was I superimposing my own romanticized wishes on his memory? There was no point going there now … or ever. For Doon, I would find their new king and bring him home. Safe. From there I would let my future unfold, however it was meant to be.

Taking several deep, cleansing breaths, I focused my heart and mind and prayed, Please, God, show me the way. In desperation, I waited, gripping the cool porcelain sink until my fingers went numb. What made me think the Protector of Doon would hear me, the girl who’d started all this trouble in the first place?

Gradually, a pinkish light filtered in behind my closed lids. With a start, I opened my eyes and stared down at my hand. The Ring of Aontacht glowed, filling the small bathroom with a radiant light.

Jamie was here!

Grasping onto hope, I rushed from the bathroom. Kenna was nowhere in sight. I wanted to yell out for her, but as I opened my mouth some instinct warned me to remain quiet. If the witch was near, my shout would alert her to my presence.

With only the dull glow of the ring for a guide, I took a tentative step into the foyer. The glow became startlingly bright. Curiously, I took a step back, and it dulled again. I rushed forward, and as expected the ring flared as I hurried into the middle of the entryway. According to the ring’s blazing light, I was on the right track.

I considered my options. Fergus and I had searched the library together, removing most of the books from the shelves, so I stepped toward the front door … but the ring dimmed in response. Turning in a circle, I walked toward the stairway. The light within the ring remained unchanged. I backed off the stairs and moved toward the library, and to my relief the ring glowed brighter with every step.

I entered the room and shut the door behind me. The luminosity of the red stone eclipsed the candles we’d left burning on the coffee table, casting macabre shadows on the walls and cold stone hearth. I fought back a shiver as I threw open the curtains and allowed a beam of moonlight to slice through the room. With singular focus, I ran my fingers around the edge of the hearth stones, testing the seal of the mortar. It appeared solid. Concentrating on the walls, I turned a slow pirouette, searching for any inconsistency … There!

In the corner to the left of the hearth there was a gap between the wall and the shelf, wider at the top than at the base. The flame in the red stone danced encouragingly as I moved forward, my stomach doing sickening