with Laird Jamie.”
Didn’t I know it. But I would defend him until my dying breath. “The prince was kidnapped by the witch . . . we don’t know what he’s been through, Ewan.”
“Well, I realize tha’. But he . . . well . . . I dinna think . . .”
I stepped over a small fissure in the earth before glancing at my friend. He ran a hand over his head and gripped the back of his neck—clearly unused to being at a loss for words. I knew Ewan had developed feelings for me, but I’d figured it was a passing crush, and once I discovered Jamie alive I hadn’t given it a second thought. Until now.
Not wishing to hurt him, I searched for the right words to let him down easy. “Ewan, Jamie and I have a Calling. Surely you know what that means.”
“Aye, I do. But he doesna treat ye right!”
A few faces turned in our direction at his raised voice. “Ewan, please! Maybe we should talk about this later.”
“Nay.” His voice had quieted, but was no less passionate. “He’s sullen and angry and he ignores ye, but worse, I can tell he’s hidin’ something. I’ve known him all my life and this just isna him!”
My chest squeezed at his words. The witch’s voice echoed back from my dreams. He is mine . . . I set my jaw and focused on the blue sky peeking through the clouds. I would not let her into my head.
“And where is he now?” The boy had leaned close to my ear. When I snapped around, he pulled back, but his gaze locked on mine. “I fear he has been bewitched somehow.”
My gut clenched as Ewan’s word confirmed my own fears. I looked straight ahead, and thought for several moments before I spoke. “Did you see where he went?”
“I was one o’ the last to scale down the cliff face. He pulled up the ropes and I never saw him come down.”
It was curious, but I still believed in Jamie. Regardless of what Addie had done that he wasn’t telling me or my own reservations about his behavior.
“Look, Ewan, I appreciate your concern, but I’m sure Jamie has his reasons for taking off on his own.”
“He did.” The deep voice gave me a start, and I whirled to find Jamie right behind us.
“Where did you come—”
“I need ye to come with me. Now.”
“Wait.” Ewan gripped my forearm. “Yer Majesty, I dinna think ye should go on your own.”
Jamie inserted himself between us, forcibly removed Ewan’s hold on me, and then looped his arm around Ewan’s shoulders. He spoke low, but I could still make out the words. “Ye are no’ Queen Verranica’s guard, or her betrothed. She is none o’ your concern, Murray. However, she is mine. Now leave off!” Jamie released him with a push and Ewan stumbled into a group of men who laughingly steadied him on his feet.
“Best no’ to anger the laird, young Ewan!” The blacksmith smacked him on the back so hard, he stumbled again.
“Jamie!” Worried he might snap, I followed, reaching an arm out to . . . what? If he decided to hurt Ewan, there wasn’t much I could do to stop him.
He returned to me with a rueful grin, and I let out a sigh of relief.
Looping his arm around my waist, he guided me quickly through the slow-moving crowd. “Sorry, love. I’ve needed to do tha’ for several days now.”
“If it makes you feel better. But there’s nothing going on between us.”
“I believe ye, but that doesn’t mean I have to sit back and let him disparage me to ye.”
“He’s only watching out for me.” He lifted a brow in challenge and I decided to table that conversation for later. I asked, “What’s going on? Where did you go?”
“I need to show ye,” he insisted as he made a beeline for Kenna and Duncan.
When we reached them, Jamie gripped his brother’s shoulders and said a few urgent words close to his ear. A few minutes later, Jamie led Duncan, Kenna, and myself through the forest at a breakneck pace. It seemed we were headed back the way we’d come. Following a sharp switchback trail, we were forced to climb single file. Jamie took my hand and practically ran the rest of the way. “Almost there!”
We reached the top and burst onto a ridge, the world opening up below us. Fallow fields bisected by low walls and rushing streams stretched out like a