If the pendant was the queen’s, what was it doing in this cursed place? I plucked it out of the box, and a long silver chain
came with it. The metal felt solid and warm in my hand as I closed my fingers around it. Ken and I had agreed the spell book was the only thing we would take from the cottage — less evidence that we’d been here. But with deep conviction, I knew Lynnette would not want her prized possession left to rot in this evil place. And for some reason, just holding it made me feel connected to the past queens. Like I was meant to have it.
As I heard Kenna approach, I stood and slipped the chain over my head, tucking the pendant beneath my shirt. I slid the empty box back under the cabinet with my toe and turned around.
“This has to be it.” Kenna descended the stairs and entered the kitchen carrying a large book covered in withered brown leather. “I found it hidden in a box under the floor. What does it say, do you think?” She held out the ancient text. The cover was engraved with a row of symbols I couldn’t read, but recognized as Pictish.
“I don’t know.” I cracked open the cover and leafed through the tissue-thin pages. Similar to the green book we’d found before, the contents appeared to be written in pictures and Scots. “But I know someone who will.”
“Fiona,” we said at the same time. As if in response to the name, or perhaps to the book itself, the wind picked up and whistled through the broken eaves above us.
Kenna’s unsettled gaze met mine. “Let’s get out of here before this place falls on us.”
I nodded and headed up the stairs. I’d gotten what I came for. And found something I didn’t know I’d been missing. In the main room, I stepped over a scattering of broken pottery. “I thought houses only fell on wicked witches.”
“Do you really want to stick around and find out?”
I shook my head and kept moving.
Outside, the forest felt heavy. Even worse than on our way into the cottage. Despite the warm breeze, it took an effort to pull air into my lungs, and my steps felt sluggish, like I was in a dream. Almost as if something didn’t want us to return to the safety of Doon’s boundaries. “Do you feel that?”
Kenna slipped her scarf over her nose and pulled in a deep breath. “Yes. Let’s hurry.”
She reached out, and I stared at her fingers. Feeling the limbus was bad enough, but seeing it . . . I knew I’d never get the images out of my head as long as I lived. But it was our only way out. So I took her hand, and watched the rings light up like glow sticks on Halloween night.
We stepped through the gate and into a Tim Burton nightmare. The trees withered as if in agony, branches bent in on themselves, their leaves black as coal. The very air tinged to a putrid yellow-gray, like it had been charred. I began to jog, pulling Kenna with me. Red eyes peeked from behind a nearby bush, but I wasn’t about to wait around to see whatever it was step into the light, its fur melting from its bones, blood staining its teeth.
Force field or not, I wanted to get out of there. I kicked into a run. The wind howled and pushed against us, whipping our hair into wild torrents and forcing us to lean into it as we ran. We’d almost reached the outer perimeter of black petunias when a vision of their vines bursting from the ground and lashing around our legs made me stumble. Kenna yanked on my arm, keeping me from face-planting into the swampy ground. I had no idea if what I’d seen was prophecy or imagination, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I righted myself and yelled over the wind, “Jump over the flowers!”
She stared at me for half a second before she readjusted her grip on the spell book and pulled me back a few steps. “Okay. Ready?”
I nodded, and we took off at a sprint, heading for the narrowest section of flowers. It was still several feet wide, and as we approached my heart beat faster yet. Just before our shoes hit the black carpet, I shouted, “Now!” With a mighty leap, we flew over the abyss and into the sunshine-dappled forests of Doon.
When we landed, Kenna tripped forward with her momentum. We crashed through a stand of trees and into a small clearing. Before I could let go of her hand, she fell and pulled us both to the ground.
I rolled onto my back, post-traumatic laughter shaking my entire body. I’d never been so happy to see clear air and blue sky. Lolling my head to the side, I glanced at my BFF sprawled out beside me. “You okay?”
She hesitated, and after several slow breaths turned to look at me. “Sure. But next time you decide to perform a jeté, I hope I’m sitting in the audience. I think I pulled a hammy or something.” She bent her legs and rubbed the backs of her thighs with a grimace.
I sat up and leaned on my hands. “That’s it. I’m starting you on a yoga regimen first thing tomorrow.”
“No way.” Kenna pushed herself up and hoisted the spell book into her lap, wiping bits of grass from the cover.
“Why not?”
“You know what my granny used to say.”
When I shook my head, her face went slack and she lowered her voice to a quiver. “Yoga’s nothing but young girls twistin’ themselves into pretzels and prayin’ to the devil.” Then in her regular voice she said, “No thanks.”
I swallowed my laughter. I
so
did not want to encourage her drama. “You’re the one holding the witches’ spell book.”
“Speaking of.” Kenna rose to her feet, looking a bit like her granny as she clutched her lower back. “Let’s get a move on. I
don’t want to be responsible for this thing one second longer than I have to.”
I sprang up, and we made our way to the overgrown path. After a few minutes of walking in silence, I commented, “Yoga isn’t evil, you know. The breathing and the movement just helps clear my head.”
“I know. Like when I sing — ”
The snap of a stick silenced her, and we both froze. Quick footsteps echoed through the trees. Kenna’s eyes were huge as she held the massive book in front of her. There was nowhere to tuck it away where it wouldn’t be seen. “Duck behind that bush.” I pointed to an overgrown bramble just off the trail. “And I’ll see who it is.”
“Sure, stick Robin behind a thorny hedge while Batgirl runs off to save the day,” she hissed, but she rushed into the forest anyway. “I see where I rank.”
“Not sure if you’ve noticed, but there’s nothing about you that reads sidekick.” The bush shook violently in reply. With a grin, I took off at a jog. But I hadn’t gotten three steps when my prince stepped into the path, brows lowered, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
“Jamie, you’re back!” I took a running leap and threw myself into his arms. It was a calculated distraction, but also fun because I knew he would catch me. “I didn’t expect you until later tonight.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist and buried my face in his neck, soaking in his familiar scent. His skin against my cheek felt like the breeze off the ocean, a rainy Saturday morning, and Christmas Eve all rolled into one amazing place that only existed when we were together.
Jamie breathed in the scent of my hair and then pulled back. “Aye, Duncan and I had to see to a few things for the festivities.”
He gave me a final squeeze and kissed my forehead before lowering me to the ground. “Who were you talking to?”
I met his steady gaze with my best doe-eyed stare. “No one.”
“Odd, I could ha’ sworn I heard voices.” He let go of my arms and gave me a head-to-toe once over. “Were you running . . . alone?”
“Er . . . yes. I know you asked me to stay on the castle grounds, but it was too crowded up there, and I figured no one would be out this close to the witch’s cottage.”
“Aye, and for good reason. What if — ” Jamie clenched his jaw and ran a hand over the back of his head as he looked into the sky, apparently searching for strength to deal with his obstinate girlfriend/co-ruler.
“Hey.” I took his large, calloused hand in mine and he lowered his chin. Curling one side of my mouth, I winked. “At least I didn’t wear the wee, skin-tight trousers.”
He returned my grin with one of his own and spun me around by the shoulders to get a better look at my red cutoff sweats. He stopped and held me still with my back to him.
“Och, lass! What is that written across yer bum?”
I’d forgotten these particular sweats sported the word
Juicy
in white, cursive letters across the back. I glanced over my shoulder to see his broad cheekbones drained of all color, his eyes wide — totally adorable. I turned all the way around and his arms dropped to his sides. “Jamie, it’s just a name brand.”
He blinked and focused back on my face. “A brand, like on a cow?”
I swallowed a giggle. “Kind of. It’s the name of the company who made these pants.” His brows shot up. “Er . . . trousers.”
Before he could answer, a loud rustling announced the arrival of Duncan, who was carrying a huge basket in both arms. “Hey there, I got everythin’ for tonight’s merriments. Did
ye order the pine tar?” The younger prince wore a grin, the first real one I’d seen on him in months. “Oh, hello, Yer Majesty. I didna see you there.”
He set down the basket with a groan, and I could see it was full to the brim with rocks.
Rocks and pine tar?
What were these two up to?
Duncan straightened, his eyes glued to me with a mischievous sparkle. “Don’t ye look fetching in those . . . er . . . red trousers.” He took my hand and bent to give it a quick kiss.
I laughed, wishing he could be his old charming self all the time. But Jamie didn’t seem to share my sentiment. As soon as his brother stood and stepped back from me, Jamie put both hands on Duncan’s chest and shoved. Caught off guard, Duncan stumbled back as Jamie growled, “Is that how you speak to your queen? Cave. Ten minutes. I’ve a mind to teach ye some manners.”
The smile gone from Duncan’s face, he regained his balance and stepped into Jamie. “Gladly. But we’ll see who teaches whom.”
“Oh, you mean the Brother Cave?” The words rushed out of me in an attempt to alleviate the tension.
Two sets of hot, dark eyes swiveled in my direction, and I resisted the urge to turn tail and run.
“The what?” Duncan demanded.
“Ah . . . you know . . . the cave where you guys work out . . . and stuff.” By the way Jamie was shaking his head, I could tell he hadn’t told Duncan that I knew about their hideout.
“You told her!” Duncan’s voice sounded equal parts outraged and hurt as he turned back to Jamie.
“Nay, brother.” Jamie took a step back. “She found me doing drills there one morn’ while she was running. We christened it
‘the Brother Cave.’ ” He thrust his hands into his jacket pockets, ducked his head, and shrugged. “I kinda like it.”
It seemed I’d betrayed some sort of brotherly pact. “Um . . . I’m sorry.”
Jamie tilted his head in my direction, his hair falling across one eye as he shot me a sweet, forgiving smile. Unable to stay away, I moved to his side, and he linked his fingers through mine. Instantly, all the tension drained from my body. The boy was seriously like a drug.
Duncan glanced between the two of us. “I guess I like it too.”
I grinned.
“But that doesna mean you’re invited to join us,” Duncan added.
“To work out in an icky dungeon? No thanks. And don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” Except for the someone who was hearing this entire conversation, I added in my head as I saw the bush quiver out of the corner of my eye.
“Thank you, Yer Majesty.” Duncan bowed his head with a tiny smile.
Jamie cleared his throat. “Better, but I’m still itchin’ to teach you a lesson, little brother. Are we on?”
Duncan’s expression took on a blank quality, something I still had a hard time getting used to seeing on him. “I’ll meet you there in an hour. I promised Ana a visit as soon as I returned.” He squatted and picked up the heavy basket.
Jamie squeezed my fingers and I met his dark, gold-flecked eyes. “I’ll walk ye back to the castle, love.”
It took me several seconds to shake off the spell of his gaze to answer. “Thanks, but I’ll finish my run.”
“We need to talk. I’d like to give you an update.”
“Me too.” Knowing he would freak, I couldn’t yet tell him about the spell book, but I did want to discuss everything else
I’d learned, and hear about the patrol. There was also the matter of Gregory Forrester waking from his coma to address. I’d convinced the miller to keep his brother’s disappearance into the limbus a secret . . . for now. “Meet me for lunch in my suite?”
“Aye.” He hesitated, but then pressed his lips to mine in a quick kiss. “Be careful,” he whispered before stepping away from me.
“I always am,” I called as he and Duncan set off to the main road.
As they rounded the bend I overheard Jamie say, “Here, I’ll carry that for a while.” Followed by a grunt, and then a strangled, “Saints! Did you get enough, do ye think?”
Duncan’s laughter echoed back through the trees.
I turned to find a slightly disheveled Kenna beside me.
“You shouldn’t frown like that. It’ll give you wrinkles,” I said as I pulled twigs from her bright hair.
“Like I care what I’m going to look like in ten years. Seriously, what does it matter . . .” She trailed off and began walking down the forest path.
Clearly, she was upset, and I was pretty sure I knew why.
Catching up to her, I prompted, “Do you remember when I thought Jamie wanted to be with Sofia?”
“Yeah . . .”
“I’d not only convinced myself that Jamie loved her, but that he was meant to be with her instead of me.” I kicked a pebble with the toe of my shoe and watched it roll into the underbrush. “That she was meant to be his queen.
“Even though I loved Doon with every fiber of my being, I refused to consider the possibility of staying. I couldn’t stand the thought of living the rest of my life pining after Jamie and watching him with someone else.”
“Thanks for the stroll down memory lane. We should go.” Kenna picked up her pace.
The stretch of her long legs forced me to jog to keep up with her. “Stop, okay?”
She paused and turned toward me, gripping the enormous spell book to her chest like a shield.
“Duncan and Ana are friends. That’s it.”
“Vee, I don’t care. That oaf can do whatever he wants with whomever he wants.”