Then he’d be here with Fiona. And Jamie would be alive.”
“Or you’d be in the ground alongside him.”
“Aye.”
Although I seemed to make an unfortunate habit of hurting her, the degree of pain in Mackenna’s eyes was so much worse this time than anything I’d ever seen. I was deeply sorry to be the cause of it, which is why I’d avoided having this conversation.
“You’re so deluded, Duncan. To me it sounds like you made your choice—you just didn’t get to act on it. You’d rather die with your brother than live with me.”
“Tha’s not—”
“Save it. I think it’s time for you to go. I’ll meet you at the bridge at sundown.”
CHAPTER 23
Veronica
Soft mist peppered our cloaks as Jamie and I made our way to the Brig o’ Doon—or at least the spot where the bridge had stood for centuries. Something had prompted me to return. I’d dreamed of Kenna the night before, which was nothing new. She seemed to visit me every night now, my grief over her making the dreams more and more intense. But this was more of an urging. Almost as if Kenna had implanted the idea in my head, and like a fly buzzing around my brain, I couldn’t dismiss it.
“This is a waste o’ time. We could be halfway to the mountain trail by now,” Jamie grumbled.
“I need to check this out. I just . . . I know Kenna’s trying to get back to us.”
He barreled on as if he hadn’t heard me. “According to Gideon’s intelligence, the witch’s guards left for the mountains already. If they reach our people first—”
Jamie had sent Analisa to the royal cemetery at dawn to check for a message from Gideon. We were both shocked that the old captain had left news so soon. But not surprised to hear the witch’s plan. Jamie had explained she needed souls to power her magic in order to raise the undead army she planned to use to destroy us.
He was right, we needed to get to our people before she did. “Kenna can’t cross the bridge without my ring. You should—”
“The bridge is gone! You told me so yourself.”
And I also knew the Protector could reopen the portal. But Jamie’s present mood didn’t encourage a discussion on faith. “You should go after our people without me. You know the mountains better than anyone.”
Jamie gripped my elbow and spun me to face him. “Blast it, Verranica, I canna . . .” His eyes blazed into mine. “I canna let you out of my sight again. I need you by my side!”
The rain chose that moment to pick up, cascading droplets over our hoods, obscuring my view of his face. The admission that he needed me was not like my fiercely independent, iron-willed prince. Not at all. I stepped closer, until I could see the hard set of his mouth and chin. I reached for his hand, but he stepped back.
“Let’s go. The sooner we check this out, the sooner we can be on our way.”
He headed down the trail and I followed, hanging back. Since his return, he hadn’t spoken much, and had said nothing at all about his time as Addie’s prisoner. His easy smiles and quick wit had disappeared, replaced by the stoic, impatient boy I’d first met upon coming to Doon. He’d had his reasons then; being the heir to the throne with his father on death’s door, and me crossing the bridge unexpectedly—the girl who he’d believed his Called mate until I’d begun starring in nightmares that showed me destroying his kingdom.
But this was different. Almost as if he were stuck in his own head, and every time he tried to get out, memories crowded around, yanking him back. I’d attempted to draw him out by teasing, flirting, even sitting beside him in silence. But nothing had worked. The thought of the suffering he may have endured at the witch’s hands burned in my chest like a festering stew of sorrow, dread, and fury. How he must feel, I couldn’t even imagine. All I knew was that I had to find a way to pull him back from the dark side before he went full-on Anakin.
A snow-melt stream cut across our path, moving fast. I glanced past floating sticks and debris, but before I could determine an easier place to pass, strong arms swept me up.
I clung to Jamie’s strong neck and he carried me across in three long strides. “Why is it okay for your boots to