“My life force was linked to the witch, trappin’ me all these many centuries so close to my home and yet never able to return.”
“Why didn’t you cross during one of the Centennials when the bridge was open?” I asked, still not convinced.
Jamie answered for him. “Because he couldna enter until the witch did.”
“A day I ha’ longed for with both hope and fear,” Alasdair replied, almost too low to hear.
I exchanged a glance with Jamie, and then with Kenna, and we began to walk back toward the path. Blackened trees, arched and broken, littered the landscape where the Eldritch Limbus had scorched the earth as it burned away. We stepped over a narrow fissure in the ground and Duncan helped Alasdair across as Jamie answered the old man’s questions about the destruction. I glanced over my shoulder to see Eòran hanging back, his eyes glued to the back of Jamie’s head, distrust clear on his face.
Before I could go back and speak to him, soft fingers linked through mine and I turned to smile at my BFF. She looked different, a bit leaner and harder around the edges. But I had a more pressing question that needed answering. “How did you tell me you were coming? I woke up knowing I needed to meet you at the bridge this morning.”
“Don’t you remember all of our dreams, silly? Me calling you Wonder Woman during axe-throwing practice?”
I started and stared at her hard. How had she known about that?
“The icky supply boat and me warning you that the first floor of the castle was cursed? Our conversation—”
“By the campfire in our sleepover PJs!” I finished for her, the revelation hitting me like a smack to the face. “We had a Calling?”
She smiled wide. “Have a Calling. We’re connected in here.” She pointed to her chest.
And the tears finally came, rushing down my face as ugly sobs racked my chest. I’d felt alone for so many long weeks, grieving for Jamie and my best friend. Resolved to protect our people and be strong on my own. Now they were both here with me.
Kenna pulled me close and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. We’d been through so much, fought so hard for our happiness, but it still wasn’t over. Kenna let me bawl, her own eyes dry now. That’s how it worked with us; when one of us was weak, the other was strong. A balance I’d never truly appreciated until that moment. The thought gave me hope. Individually we were strong, but together we could do anything. Even take our kingdom back from an evil witch and an army of the undead.
CHAPTER 26
Mackenna
I bolted into Vee’s empty teepee like a hunchback in need of sanctuary. Returning to the Doonian camp had been . . . a lot. Most everyone wanted news of their loved ones, assurances they were alive and well, messages from beyond the Brig o’ Doon—but I didn’t have that much to offer. Yes, we have your child. Yes, your aging mother is well. No, we haven’t seen your brother or your sister.
Alasdair had immediately been accepted as long-lost royalty and was surprisingly good at passing along news from Alloway. He seemed to personally get to know everyone in the camp and had an endless supply of anecdotes to share. He was also quite skilled at comforting those to whom he could offer no news. Who knew he would be such a godsend?
As I plopped onto a floor pallet, Fergus appeared at the entryway. I’d asked him to follow me. I only had one written message, and with so many Doonians hungry for news, I had been waiting to pass the message along. He’d already been given assurances that his wife was well, but that was as much as we’d spoken so far.
Looking like a true hunchback, the big man had to bend in half to fit inside. “How does Fiona fare?”
“She’s amazing. I mean, she misses you so much, but she pretty much runs things back in Alloway.”
“And ye said that there’s hundreds of Destined at your camp?”
“Yes. They’re all ready to fight for Doon—and your wife is overseeing them all.”
I watched my big friend’s chest swell with pride. “She’s not one to remain idle when there’s somethin’ that needs doin’. Especially for her kingdom.”
“She sent you a note.” I reached into the gym bag I had packed for the trip and pulled out a folded sheet of pale purple paper. When I handed