friends take the lead under the pretense of readjusting my shield. Jamie hadn’t responded to my mental calls and I could tell Duncan was also concerned his brother had yet to return.
Knowing Kenna would hear my desperation, but unable to care, I projected, Jamie, if you can hear me, please answer. Say something to let me know you’re alive!
Silence met my call, and then I heard his voice echoing through the trees. “Save some skellies for me!”
Jamie ran into the clearing bloodied, bruised, and the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. He charged the last cluster of skeletons from behind, using his shield and sword to knock them to bits. Then he raced over and we threw our arms around him in the best group hug in the universe.
“What kept you?” Duncan asked.
“Zombie Sean,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“What?” I growled, my voice hoarse from shouting orders.
“Aye,” Jamie answered. “He can rest in peace now.”
I pulled out of the tangle of arms and searched Jamie’s face. Dirt and sweat streaked his skin, but his eyes were clear and golden brown. In truth, he seemed lighter than he had in a long time.
In unspoken agreement we moved into the fire circle and slumped against the log benches. My whole body shook with fatigue as I reclined next to Jamie, laying my head on his shoulder. Without the incessant click-clack of skellies, the camp seemed eerily silent.
Addie’s undead army was gone. Although there were casualties all around camp, I couldn’t think about that yet. I needed this one moment to regroup.
“Is it possible tha’ we’ve defeated them all?” Alasdair strode into the fire circle, appearing spry as usual. Only a slash on his arm and a slight limp betrayed that he’d just fought the battle of his life.
“Let’s hope so.”
None of us spoke the question that was surely on all of our minds: Where was Addie?
A horrid thought broke through my exhaustion, causing me to straighten up despite my protesting muscles. “We need to get everyone into base camp and restore the shield. Addie’ll be looking for more souls to rebuild her army.”
“Or she could just do that . . .” From Kenna’s weary tone, I couldn’t tell if she was trying to make a joke or on the verge of hysteria. But as I processed what had captured her attention, I had no urge to laugh.
In the center of the fire circle, a bone that had once been part of a skellie’s leg twitched. “Please tell me I’m not the only one seeing this!” Her voice pitched higher with every word as several more bones came together.
I leapt to my feet as all the bones around us began to rattle. “They’re regenerating.”
Everyone rose, warily watching the bones dancing toward each other and fervently hoping it was just a bad dream.
“You mean we’ve got to fight those things all over again? You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s like Groundhog Day from hell!” Kenna moaned. She tugged the tail of her braid, her eyes wide. “Maybe I can wake myself up.”
The ground vibrated as hundreds upon hundreds of bones around us convulsed, trying to reunite with their former bodies.
“We can’t last another round!” Panic gripped my chest. “We’ve lost too many already.”
The upper half of a skeleton dragged its way through the dirt, its violet eyes intent on my face. I scuttled back on my hands and it sparked.
“What in all that’s holy?” Jamie raised his sword to the laboriously advancing skellie.
“Wait!” Kenna shrieked. “It’s glowing . . . with dark magic. Igniting . . . like a sparkler.”
“Maybe they’re about to disintegrate,” Duncan suggested.
“Tha’s no’ what happened to them in the castle garden.” Jamie backed away from the creature that seemed to have stalled in place.
“Tallyho!” a call sounded from some distance away.
I shot to my feet. “Ewan?” I jumped onto a log and my heart squeezed. The missing Doonians and Destined, led by Ewan and Ana, raced toward camp. “They saved them!”
Kenna hopped up beside me. “Oh my . . . there’s Cheska, and Jerimiah, and Ezekiel.” Her voice thickened with emotion as she gripped my arm.
As they ran, I made out Sofia’s tiny form next to Ewan. Kenna and I jumped off the log and raced to meet them, Jamie and Duncan on our heels. We dodged sparking bones as other Doonians joined us. I couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across my face. Even if the skellies did re-form, we had reinforcements. The Destined were our second chance!