Forever Doon Read online

  I had to think of something. These people were my responsibility—and I knew there was no way we could win. Unless . . .

  I gripped Alasdair’s hand with all my strength, tugging him closer. “Back at the field where we first saw the skellies, you said there was a way to beat Addie. A last resort.”

  “Aye, but ye aren’t goin’ ta like it.” His watery blue eyes met mine, their intensity making them as brilliant as the sky. “Ye have ta break the Covenant.”

  I raised my brows and waited for the punch line. No way was that the secret he’d been keeping. But instead of laughing it off and giving me the real, more plausible way to defeat the witch, he said, “Ye have ta breach the borders.”

  Something inside of me snapped. “Are you insane? There is no way we’re giving up and committing mass suicide!”

  Eyeing the old man, Kenna asked, “What are you saying exactly?”

  “If ye break the Covenant, the witch becomes mortal. The fact tha’ she canna restore her appearance while usin’ her magic to attack tells me ye weakened her. I believe that Saint Sebastian’s Elixir is continuing to weaken her and will strip Adelaide of any remaining magic as the Covenant breaks. Ye see, it’s harder to hang on ta magic in the modern world than it is in Doon. Once she’s mortal, ye will be able to kill her. It’s the only way.”

  “If we do this”—I cringed as another magic bomb crashed into the camp—“can you guarantee it won’t kill us all and end Doon forever?”

  “Nay, but I have faith. I believe the Protector knows our intentions and would never abandon us.”

  Addie hurtled a seemingly endless supply of magic explosives at our camp and the zombie fungus grew larger by the second; soon it would begin to swallow our people and eat their flesh. When I looked at it from that perspective, we had little to lose from Alasdair’s last resort. If we did nothing, we were dead anyway.

  “Even if I believed you, and I’m not saying that I do, there’s no possible way we’d make it to the border before Addie blew us all to kingdom come.”

  “Aye,” Alasdair agreed. “It would take a miracle.”

  As the old man and I stared at each other, the air between us began to stir. I watched in disbelief as a small funnel formed. It swirled away from us, devouring the zombie fungus and ripping the petunias from the ground. Three more funnels were sweeping through the paddock, sucking up skellie bones before they could create more fungus.

  “Verranica!” Jamie’s face appeared just outside our bubble. Relief smacked into me and my knees buckled.

  He clasped my shoulder, keeping me on my feet. “Ye’re no’ going to believe this!”

  Duncan ran up beside him and we joined hands with them, looping them into our shielded circle. “A cyclone just smacked the witch back into the treeline! She’s too busy fightin’ it to throw any bombs.”

  “Miracle enough for ye, Yer Highness?” Alasdair asked with a chuckle. “I’d say tha’s a sign.”

  Nodding in agreement, Duncan said, “The weather has always played a role in Doon’s protection.”

  Jamie squeezed my hand. “We need ta get the people to shelter while she’s occupied.”

  “Alasdair has given us another option.” Quickly, I explained his theory about breaking the Covenant. It didn’t sound any more plausible coming from my mouth.

  “I’m willin’ to try it.” Duncan’s gaze locked on Kenna. “What do ye say?”

  My best friend nodded, but I could read her like a book and she was two seconds away from changing her mind.

  I turned questioning eyes to Jamie. “I believe it’s our best option. But it’s your choice. We await your instruction, my queen.” He raised our joined hands and kissed my knuckles.

  Alasdair was right. When stepping out in faith, there could be no guarantee. But faith had brought me to Doon in the first place; had made me its queen when I would have gladly given my life. If we were to do this, we needed to act as one—step out in faith as a kingdom united.

  Withdrawing my hands from the group, the bubble disappeared and wind tore at my hair and clothes as the mini tornados spun around the camp, ridding it of all traces of zombie fungus. Jumping up on a stump, I put two fingers in my mouth and whistled as I’d seen Jamie do.

  Everyone within hearing distance gathered around. I couldn’t allow myself to search their weary faces for those who could be missing. They were too many to name, and if I had any hope of saving the rest of us, I had to stay focused on rallying the Doonians to our next impossible mission.

  Raising my voice over the wind, I spoke the words I knew would plant further fear in their hearts. “Spread the word for every able-bodied Doonian and Destined to rally at the Brig o’ Doon. And for those too weak or injured to make the journey to gather at the auld Kirk and join us in spirit and in prayer.”

  I took a deep breath and made sure my next words were sure and confident. “Tell the people we are going to break the Covenant and unite our kingdom with the modern world in order to make the witch mortal. We need to believe that breaching the borders will not kill us, but save us. For Doon!”

  CHAPTER 46

  Mackenna

  Rally at the Brig o’ Doon!”

  The cyclones had cleared away the majority of the fungus, making a path for us. Jamie and Duncan raced among the people shouting orders and lending a hand while those able began to make their way toward the bridge.

  I dashed across the field alongside my best friend, doing my best not to have a clumsy moment on account of the uneven terrain. As we neared the tree line, someone shouted, “Incoming!”

  Acting on impulse, I stopped to look at the magic bomb hurtling through the sky. Duck and cover! my addled brain shouted at me. And I did. I dropped to the ground and wrapped my arms over my head.

  What are you doing? Vee demanded. Get up!

  She hoisted me up from the ground, but it was too late. The bomb was headed right for us. Quite suddenly, a bolt of lightning cut through the heavens like a missile and intercepted the bomb. The sky exploded in a shower of purple and white fireworks.

  “Holy Hammerstein!”

  “You can say that again,” Vee murmured.

  A second witch bomb flew toward us, only to be stopped by another lightning bolt. As sparks fizzled around us, a bloodcurdling screech rose from the opposite end of the clearing. Although the hair on my arms stood on end, I couldn’t help reveling in the moment. “Guess Addie wasn’t expecting that freak storm.”

  Vee grinned back at me. “Guess not. To the bridge!”

  Doonians took the lead, escorting Destined through the tree line toward the bridge.

  Jamie and Duncan waited for us within the cover of the forest. As Vee and I approached, Duncan said, “The people are spent.”

  “An’ many are injured,” Jamie added.

  Ignoring the sinking feeling in my chest, I pasted a cheerful expression on my face. “Fiona told me that the journey wouldn’t be easy.”

  “That I did,” Fiona called as she and Fergus came up from behind. Next to them were Sofia and Gabby Rosetti, each with an arm around Oliver.

  When Vee saw Oliver, she frowned. “You’re injured. You should be back at the church.”

  “And miss all the fun, Your Highness?” He grinned, and for the first time I saw the Aussie’s resemblance to Iron Man. Other Rosettis guided a group of Destined, including Cheska, who grinned like Ralphie in A Christmas Story despite the fact that her head had been wrapped in an improvised plaid bandage.

  Vee searched the crowds, standing on her toes to see through the people. “I don’t see Ewan.”

  Taking her hand, I tugged her forward, giving her a reassurance I didn’t feel. “I’m sure he’s around, but right now we have a bigger problem to solve.”

  “You’re right. We’ll find him later.”

  As exhausted and wounded people rallied around their queen, Vee turned to Jamie, Duncan, and me. “How should we do this? Should we split up or go together?”

  As I contempl
ated the distance we still had to travel to reach the bridge, an involuntary groan slipped from my mouth. “I don’t suppose we could ask for another miracle? Like the ability to wiggle our noses and automatically appear at the bridge.”

  Vee took my hand. “I don’t see why not.”

  I glared at her, wondering just how many skellie hits to the head she’s sustained during the battle, but she laughed. “Just hear me out.”

  Then she clapped her hands, gathering the people to her in a tight cluster. “We’re tired, and even as we stand here the witch is rallying. As you’ve heard, we’re going to break the Covenant that keeps Doon protected. We believe it’s the best chance to make Adelaide mortal.”

  “Won’t that kill us all?” someone shouted as heads nodded all around us.

  Vee shook her head. “We don’t believe so. The Protector knows our intent. We must have faith.”

  I looked about at the dirty, bloodied faces regarding their queen with subdued hope. In addition to being frightened, they were exhausted. “I think we should try to use the Rings of Aontacht to transport us to the bridge.”

  Vee slipped back into full ruler mode. “Everyone close your eyes,” she instructed. I slipped my hand into hers and clamped my eyes shut, focusing on my bestie’s voice. “Picture all your family and friends, all the new Destined, the children and older people in the caves—everyone you can think of. Now picture us all standing on the riverbank at the Brig o’ Doon.”

  Eyes closed, I felt our rings heat up. Then I could hear the River Doon rushing by. Duncan gasped and I blinked into his astonished face. We were standing at the mouth of the Brig o’ Doon, not just those of us that moments ago had been gathered in the forest, but also the Doonians from the cave.

  Next to him, Jamie scooped Vee into his arms and spun her in a circle. “You did it, love!”

  “We did it.” She pressed her lips to Jamie’s in a brief kiss before turning to me. “Ready to bring Doon into a new age?”

  Even as I nodded my agreement, confusion puckered my brows. “But, what if we don’t—”

  “Ken.” Vee placed her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t even say it. The Protector’s brought us this far. We have to trust, even when we can’t see the outcome.”

  I nodded, pushing away the suspicion that breeching Doon’s borders would kill us all in order to focus on a more positive outcome. “How will this work exactly? What are we going say to explain Doon appearing in the middle of modern Scotland? What if Castle MacCrae gets turned into a theme park like Harry Potter World?”

  “I have no idea. But if this is what it takes to defeat Addie once and for all, Doon becoming the next Disney World is a price I’m willing to pay.” She dropped her hand from my shoulder and slipped Aunt Gracie’s ring off her finger. “Now, take off your uncle Cameron’s ring and slip it into your pocket.”

  Hoping she knew what she was talking about, I did as she instructed.

  “Everyone, join hands.” With me on one side and Jamie on the other, she intertwined our fingers. I, in turn, grasped Duncan’s. As he fit his hand into mine, he reached over and captured my face. Time stopped as his lips pressed against mine in a kiss that was at the same time savage and heartbreakingly sweet.

  When the kiss came to an end, he whispered, “Forever.”

  “And ever,” I agreed. I gave him a final, quick peck and then as he reached for Alasdair, I turned to my best friend. “I love you, Vee.”

  She squeezed the heck out of my hand and smirked. “I know.”

  Vee looked left and then right at the united line of Destined and Doonians stretching along the riverbank as far as the eye could see in both directions. “On the count of three,” she announced, patiently waiting as the word spread down the line.

  “Ready? One . . . Two . . . Three . . . FOR DOON!”

  We stepped forward. Duncan, Jamie, Vee, Alasdair, and I walked onto the Brig o’ Doon, which, from the kingdom side, ended mid-arch in ruins. The others stopped at the very edge of the river. Mist began to form on the surface of the water, becoming as thick as a winter whiteout in seconds. With a rumble, it devoured everything around us. It swirled around our legs, blocking out the ground and swallowing the sounds of the river.

  On the far side of Duncan, Alasdair groaned. Searching his face in the fog, I wondered at how much older he looked. Seeming to be in intense pain, Alasdair’s clear, blue eyes shone with joy. “Thank ye, lad,” he said to Duncan. “For bringing me home one last time.”

  The old man’s voice bore the evidence of strain as he turned to Vee. “Yer Highness, it’s been a pleasure to fight alongside o’ you. Yer a credit to our kingdom.”

  With those words, the suspended man disintegrated into the mist, trapped between worlds no longer. Had Alasdair known that this would happen when he suggested that we breach the borders? Was this the sacrifice he’d been prepared to pay? I clung tightly to Duncan and Vee, praying that this was not the end, but a new beginning.

  CHAPTER 47

  Veronica

  The mist churned in opaque swirls, a sudden wind sweeping Alasdair MacCrae’s remains away as if he’d never existed. I squeezed Jamie’s hand, and then Mackenna’s, as Duncan looped an arm around her shoulders. I didn’t need to hear their voices in my head to know we were all thinking the same thing: Are we next?

  Kenna’s gaze met mine as her lips tilted in a tremulous smile. “See you on the other side, bestie.”

  I didn’t know if she meant in the modern world or somewhere beyond. My experiences in Doon had proved to me the undeniable existence of a greater being who loved and cared for us. Therefore, I didn’t fear death. But I wasn’t ready. I had so much more living to do—a kingdom to rebuild with the boy I loved, with our family and friends around us. I’d pictured our future children more times than I cared to admit. We’d have twins; a little girl with my coloring and a little boy with soulful brown eyes, dimples, and golden hair. Our daughter would boss him around, but the little prince would take it in stride. My throat constricted at the thought of the life we could’ve had.

  But even if this was the end, I took comfort in the hope that since Alasdair was gone, that meant Adelaide Blackmore Cadell had most likely disintegrated into the earth along with the bones of her skellies.

  The fog shifted, the breeze stinging my tear-filled eyes. Jamie squeezed my hand as a gust of cool, sweet-smelling wind pushed down on our heads and the mist parted to reveal a wide expanse of blue sky. Releasing my friends, I spun around, staring up at the soft orange glow of the sun’s fiery rays peeking through the clouds. My ears began to buzz, accompanied by a low rumble vibrating in my chest. “Do you hear that?”

  Without waiting for the others to reply, I backtracked across the stones, onto the spongy earth of Doon, and whirled around. A cylindrical shadow moved across the ground, then tilted, revealing its wings. I threw my head back, just as the plane flew over and I stumbled forward. In the distance, gleaming white turrets rose into the sky, framed by gray, snow-capped mountains. Just visible on the far side of the bridge a lamppost glowed with electricity. Doon on one side and the modern world on the other—we’d done it!

  I turned around to run back to the riverbank and congratulate the others, but froze mid-step. The Witch of Doon stood before me, alive in all her terrifying glory.

  A wall of solid indigo vapor fell like a curtain behind her, blocking me from my friends on the bridge and the others on the riverbank. Immediately, I sent out a frantic call to Kenna and Jamie, but received no response. Another unexpected sacrifice of breaking the Covenant; our Calling connection had been severed.

  Addie’s face had further disintegrated, the flesh appearing to melt off her bones. She raised her hands and magic swirled in her palms. “Well, well, little queen, we meet one last time.”

  “Why are you still here?” I marched toward her, fuming that we’d merged Doon with the modern world and yet she still lived. “You should be dust!”

  She sauntered forward, the violet sparks g
rowing into orbs. “My magic has sustained me for a millennia. Do ye really think yer little trick could finish me off?” She threw her head back and let out a cackle like icicles shattering on concrete.

  Shoving my hand into my pocket, I slipped on the ring and whispered a quick prayer of protection. But when I raised my hand, nothing happened. The ruby remained as lifeless as an ordinary stone.

  “That willna work, Queenie,” Addie goaded as she moved closer. “Ye’ve broken the Covenant, ye see. You’re just a weak little human.”

  The ring would be of no use to me now. But if its power was no longer viable, Alasdair had been right. I squared my shoulders and stared into the face of evil personified. “Then magic will leave you too. You’re dying, Addie.”

  The spell in her palms pulsed, and then faded. She grimaced and pushed her hands against the air, the violet sputtering before it blazed again. “Just a temporary setback.”

  Her lidless eyeballs glowed purple, giving me the warning I needed before she hurtled a globe of fire. I threw myself to the ground, tucked, and rolled. As I peeked up, something moved out of the corner of my eye, but before I could get a good look she threw the second orb. I scrambled to the right, the magic catching the hem of my cloak and sizzling up the fabric. I unhooked the fastening and stood, dropping it to the ground.

  I frantically searched the curtain for help, but it was as if every last Doonian had disappeared. So it would be a showdown to see if I could outwit her long enough for her magic to fade for good.

  Addie’s whole body trembled and she chanted into her hands, the bones of her fingers poked through the end of her flesh as she worked to summon another blast of magic.

  Emboldened by her growing weakness, I circled, staying on my toes, ready to dodge her next attack. “It’s over, Addie. But it’s not too late to turn from evil. Make the right choice before it’s too late.”

  With an unearthly wail, she leveled her hand at my chest. Suddenly, I couldn’t move, only watch in horror as she lifted her other hand to the sky. Purple-black lightning flashed into her palm and her mouth twisted into a lipless gargoyle smile. “I suppose I should thank you for breakin’ the Covenant. Ye see, while it protected Doon, I couldna touch you—well, not the way I wanted to. But now, let’s jus’ say it’s a dream o’ mine about ta come true.