Another unexpected sacrifice of breaking the Covenant; our Calling connection had been severed.
Addie’s face had further disintegrated, the flesh appearing to melt off her bones. She raised her hands and magic swirled in her palms. “Well, well, little queen, we meet one last time.”
“Why are you still here?” I marched toward her, fuming that we’d merged Doon with the modern world and yet she still lived. “You should be dust!”
She sauntered forward, the violet sparks growing into orbs. “My magic has sustained me for a millennia. Do ye really think yer little trick could finish me off?” She threw her head back and let out a cackle like icicles shattering on concrete.
Shoving my hand into my pocket, I slipped on the ring and whispered a quick prayer of protection. But when I raised my hand, nothing happened. The ruby remained as lifeless as an ordinary stone.
“That willna work, Queenie,” Addie goaded as she moved closer. “Ye’ve broken the Covenant, ye see. You’re just a weak little human.”
The ring would be of no use to me now. But if its power was no longer viable, Alasdair had been right. I squared my shoulders and stared into the face of evil personified. “Then magic will leave you too. You’re dying, Addie.”
The spell in her palms pulsed, and then faded. She grimaced and pushed her hands against the air, the violet sputtering before it blazed again. “Just a temporary setback.”
Her lidless eyeballs glowed purple, giving me the warning I needed before she hurtled a globe of fire. I threw myself to the ground, tucked, and rolled. As I peeked up, something moved out of the corner of my eye, but before I could get a good look she threw the second orb. I scrambled to the right, the magic catching the hem of my cloak and sizzling up the fabric. I unhooked the fastening and stood, dropping it to the ground.
I frantically searched the curtain for help, but it was as if every last Doonian had disappeared. So it would be a showdown to see if I could outwit her long enough for her magic to fade for good.
Addie’s whole body trembled and she chanted into her hands, the bones of her fingers poked through the end of her flesh as she worked to summon another blast of magic.
Emboldened by her growing weakness, I circled, staying on my toes, ready to dodge her next attack. “It’s over, Addie. But it’s not too late to turn from evil. Make the right choice before it’s too late.”
With an unearthly wail, she leveled her hand at my chest. Suddenly, I couldn’t move, only watch in horror as she lifted her other hand to the sky. Purple-black lightning flashed into her palm and her mouth twisted into a lipless gargoyle smile. “I suppose I should thank you for breakin’ the Covenant. Ye see, while it protected Doon, I couldna touch you—well, not the way I wanted to. But now, let’s jus’ say it’s a dream o’ mine about ta come true.
“Ye’ve been a worthy adversary, Veronica Welling. In fact, yer soul is so strong and pure that once I drink it and take over yer body, not even your delicious prince’s kiss will be able to tell the difference.”
I strained against her hold with every ounce of will I possessed. No way would I let her take my soul and steal my identity! But I couldn’t even move a finger. My chest tightened as cold sweat dripped down my back.
Addie stepped closer, her voice a gravely hiss. “And when an infant mysteriously dies every six months, we’ll chalk it up to natural causes. No one needs to know their sweet little souls will sustain me and fuel my magic until I’m restored to my former power . . . It’s worked verra well for me the last millennia.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “The beauty of it all is that I won’t even need to take Doon. When I’m you, those simpletons will just hand it over to me.”
Even as she boasted, her arm shook, the purple lightning she held in her hand flickering. While her power faltered, strength surged back into my muscles. I lunged, scrambling to the right and heading for the cover of the nearby trees. But she froze me again mid-leap.
“Appears my fun is endin’. Or should I say yours!” she crowed in triumph. “Adieu, Queenie. I’ll enjoy livin’ yer life, wi’ relish!”