threading into my hair. “Say yes, love,” he murmured against my ear, sending sparks all the way to my shriveled toes.
I’d never wanted to say yes to anything more in my life. We needed to take a tangible step to solidify our commitment to each other. But my mind warred with my heart. I scooted back to face him. “I would gladly bind myself to you for eternity, Jamie MacCrae, but we can’t marry in the shadow of evil. And I don’t want to rush to the altar without all of our family and friends.”
His face fell. “Ye’re right. I couldna marry wi’out my brother by my side.”
“However . . .” I brushed the scruff on his cheek with my thumb and dropped a quick kiss on his mouth. “The people could use something to lift their spirits. A handfasting ceremony, perhaps?”
His eyes burned into mine. “Aye. First thing in the morn. I willna face another day without makin’ you mine.”
I laced my fingers into the damp hair curling against his neck and kissed him until my head spun and the pool practically boiled around us.
If the witch had sought to drive a wedge between us, she’d failed. Our connection could not be severed, short of death.
CHAPTER 33
Mackenna
Fiona Lockhart folded the slip of paper containing words of love and encouragement written by her husband and tucked it into her bodice. Her hazel eyes glistened with unshed tears as she said, “Fergus is right. We shall be together soon. And when we defeat the witch, all the sacrifice shall be worth the sweet victory.”
The fierceness of her words reminded me that the petite, strawberry blonde with a smattering of freckles across her button nose was also a Celtic warrior, prepared to fight to the death for her kingdom . . . as we all were. But how many of us on the modern side of the bridge knew anything about battle except in video games, where opportunity for a new life took the finality out of dying?
I’d witnessed the skellies with my own eyes. They appeared invincible. As of now, we had no idea how to defeat them. How many of us would die trying? And how many, when faced with a seemly unbeatable foe, would run away?
Fiona’s dainty hand covered mine. “What’s troubling ye, Kenna?”
“What if I’m not brave enough?” The question spilled out before I could stop it. I knew how important it was for me to put on a courageous face for the sake of our people. It was like being the lead in a show. No matter how unprepared you felt for opening night, the entire cast and crew looked to you to guide them through to the other side. But unlike theater, where a botched performance resulted in a bad review, a botched campaign would eradicate us from the planet.
Quietly studying me, Fiona waited until I met her empathetic gaze to respond. “You’re one of the bravest people I know. When it comes to following your heart, you’re fearless. Now, what’s got ye in such a state?”
“You know how Duncan and I told everyone about the skeleton army that Addie’s raising?”
“Aye.”
“Well, they’re protected by Addie’s magic. They appear invincible.” I explained about Duncan’s futile attack on the skellie, how he was thrown through the air and knocked unconscious.
“And?”
“And? How do we stop something that can’t be defeated? What if we all die trying?”
Fiona made a noise of disapproval. “Mackenna Reid. The good Protector dinna call forth a Destined army just to lead us to the slaughter. He dinna bring you and a queen from Indiana just to have you fail.”
“Why did he call us, then?”
“Fer the same reason he chose Cheska, Ezekiel, Jerimiah, and the others—to have ye stand with him. Make no mistake, you’ve been called to be Doonians. You’re one of us and we’re his. The Protector already has a plan in motion that will end in triumph.”
I shook my head in frustration. “But Vee and I were right there, on the edge of the field. It was the perfect chance to destroy those creatures before they could do any damage. We tried to use our rings, but they wouldn’t work. We even appealed to the Protector and nothing happened.” I huffed, knowing that I sounded like a spoiled kindergartner but unable to stop myself. “It would’ve been so much easier if the rings had just zapped the skellies.”
I expected more lecturing, but instead Fiona challenged in a gentle voice, “When has this journey