wanted to believe right along with everyone else that she held the means to destroy Addie in her hand. Could it really be that easy? I prayed it was true.
After tucking the vial back in her pocket, Vee said, “Thirdly, Kenna and Duncan”—she shot me a grin before continuing—“have been training an army of Destined who have gathered from all over the modern world. These Called individuals have specialized skills in combat, weaponry, and battle strategy.”
In theory, I amended as the crowd murmured among themselves in reaction to the news. A large majority of them were gamers like Cheska. Yes, there were some Destined with actual combat and/or weapons experience as well as a few survivalists—but I was still at a loss to figure out what the Protector needed with a rodeo champ, or a wildly popular Internet magician.
“They will cross the bridge and join our ranks when the time is right.” She stepped to the edge of the rock and braced her hands on her hips. “We are not alone in this fight! The Protector has given us everything we need to win back our kingdom! Now who’s with me?”
Amid the applause and shouts of Aye, I threw my fist into the air and cried, “For Doon!” The audience immediately picked up the chant, their voices so loud I was afraid they might shake the stalactites down around us.
Jamie jumped from the boulder, trailed by Vee. As soon as they were down, the princes, all three of them, led their people through a mass pledge of fealty to their American queen and to country. As I repeated the oath along with the others, I felt hopeful for the first time since being stranded in Alloway that Doon’s story wouldn’t end like a Shakespearian tragedy.
Sometime later, after Vee and the MacCraes had spoken to everyone individually, I nibbled on my supper ration of half a stale roll and some dubious dried meat, and my mind wandered to my own star-crossed love story. I thought I’d done well in the recent battle with Addie’s guards, shown that I could handle myself . . . until Duncan had called me off. That moment and his lack of confidence in my fighting ability continued to fester, fueling my ascent to the cliff. Now in the dimly lit space, it was a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall pooka standing between us.
Scanning the crowd for the shadow who stood head and shoulders above the rest, I walked over to where Duncan chatted with a group of men and thumped him on the bicep. “Can we talk?”
Then I turned and wove my way through the large cave toward the back, in search of a little privacy. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest. But as much as I dreaded the impending confrontation, I couldn’t allow us to remain in limbo as danger grew all around us.
Ducking into a small recess off to the side of the main grotto, I waited for Duncan to join me. In the space between one breath and the next, he stopped beside me. In the gloom, I rummaged through my bag until I felt a small box.
Inside was a folded scrap of plaid paper, a silly memento I handed to him. “Here.”
“What’s this?” I watched as he unfolded the paper and then looked to me for an explanation.
“It’s your heart,” I said without preamble. “I’m giving it back to you.”
“I dinna want it back.” He shoved the paper back into my hand and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Then what do you want? ’Cause I’ve been trying to figure that out. You don’t want your heart; you don’t want me. Do you want me to go away?”
The tension in the darkened alcove was palpable, like an impending thunderstorm or the moments preceding the opening night of a play that’s had a bad tech rehearsal. Unable to take the silence, I continued to force the conversation. “Say something. What do you want from me?”
“I want you ta not fight,” he hissed. “I want to chain you up in this cave an’ leave you here until the battle’s over!”
My eyes began to sting as my vision turned glassy—but I refused to cry. Instead, I let the emotion fuel my anger. “You don’t want me fighting by your side? Fighting to save Doon?”
His response spewed forth in a heated rush. “Nay. I do, it’s jus’ . . . if you or Jamie should get inta trouble in battle—I dinna want