Destined for Doon (39 page)
To my everlasting relief — spoiler alert — they all lived. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the grief I felt at the end of that beloved book series. There would be no more magical adventures, no more crying over Harry’s heartbreaks and triumphs, laughing at Ron’s family dramas, or cheering on Hermione as she saved the boys’ behinds — again. The series I’d spent half my life immersed in was over.
I told anyone who would listen that it felt like I’d lost my best friend. After losing Kenna for a second time, I knew how incredibly naive that statement had been. It was possible that having a limb amputated would be less painful — and probably easier to live with. I pulled my knees to my chest, and tugged
the blanket tighter around my shoulders as another round of shivers racked through me. A cold I couldn’t seem to escape.
Jamie closed the door behind him, crossed the room, and then took the three stairs to the solarium in a single bound — all without spilling a drop of my tea. Inside, I smiled at his effortless grace, but couldn’t quite summon my lips to move.
“Thank you.” I took the cup, wrapped my fingers around its heat, and stared out at the panorama below. Candy-corn-colored leaves rolled like waves in the treetops, dazzling against the background of grassy hills and the sapphire loch. Fall had descended upon Doon — Kenna the Autumn Fairy’s favorite time of year.
Jamie sat close and guided my face toward him with a gentle finger on my cheek. “Hey, I know yer sad. But we also have much to celebrate. We’re here, together.” He leaned in and kissed my lips, warming me all the way to my toes. “And once again, you saved the kingdom. Not even that git MacNally can deny you’re the Protector’s chosen queen.” Jamie’s grin told me he’d gotten over my refusal to let him carry out his death threats against the mob leader. Sentencing the man to the dungeons until the next Centennial seemed to satisfy my prince’s need for justice.
I rallied a smile, but it faltered as my vision clouded with tears. “She’s not coming back this time, is she?”
With a scowl, Jamie took my tea, set it on the table, and lifted me onto his lap. I rested my head on his strong shoulder and bawled.
He let me cry, stroking my hair and my back until the sobs subsided into quiet hiccups. “You never know what the future may hold. I have a feelin’ we’ll see Mackenna again.”
I nodded against his chest, sniffled, and wiped the tears from my cheeks. Jamie set me gently on the settee and then stood. “Be right back.”
Perhaps he was right; there was so much to be thankful for. I tugged on the silver chain attached to the pendant resting against my chest. I was a queen, and like the courageous women who sat on the throne before me, self-indulgent pity was not an option.
Letting the cool breeze from the open window dry my face, I inhaled the comforting tang of wood smoke and roasting meat from the kitchens. Those last few terrifying hours in the limbus taught me to take nothing for granted, especially this amazing life I’d been given. I would miss Kenna every single day, but she would always be my sister, and I had to believe our paths would cross again. This was Doon after all, where nothing was ever predictable.
When Jamie returned holding out a handkerchief, I greeted him with a genuine smile.
He hesitated as his dark gold brows lifted in surprise. “Yer better now?”
I nodded, took the hankie, and blew my nose.
“Saints save me from women and their tears!” He flopped down beside me, arms and legs sprawling. “I vow I’ll never comprehend them.”
“You’re doing just fine.” I scooted over and snuggled into his big body. His arm went around me, tucking me close.
“If tha’s true, then do me a wee favor.”
I tilted my head back to meet his gaze. “Anything.”
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Next time you decide to risk your life to save the kingdom, let me in on the plan in advance, aye?”
I arched a single brow and imitated his deep brogue, “Baby steps, love.”
His eyes narrowed like a cat’s before he pounced, his fingers finding the ticklish spot just below my ribs.
I howled and wiggled, laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. Pillows and blankets flying, Jamie leaned into my ear. “Promise me.”
He drew back and I shook my head. “No way.”
“That’s it!” His dimpled grin faded as he took my face in his hands and lowered his delicious mouth to mine, kissing me with unhurried deliberation.
Soon, I wasn’t sure of my own name, let alone what he’d wanted me to promise.
Then, suddenly, Jamie froze. Every muscle in his body on alert, he lifted his head.
“What?” I asked.
He rose to his knees on the bench and stared out the window at the courtyard below. The echo of horses’ hooves galloping on stone compelled me to scramble up beside him. Cheers ushered a cart into view, along with the broad form of Duncan and an unmistakable redhead seated on the bench seat beside him.
“Kenna!” With a squeal, I whirled and jumped down the stairs. I was out the door before Jamie caught up to me.
Could it be true?
Had my best friend decided to stay?
I raced down the spiral staircase, Jamie close behind. I tripped down the last three steps, caught myself, and then ran for the doors to the courtyard. Halfway there I had to stop and catch my breath. Jamie looped his arm through mine as he passed. Stars spinning in front of my eyes, I let him tug me through the arched double doors and into the sunlit courtyard, where Duncan was lifting Kenna from the carriage.
Like a slow-motion scene, Kenna turned, her brilliant hair flying out behind her, her lips spreading into a wide smile. But her features blurred as darkness closed in on my periphery. Had I forgotten to eat breakfast again?
I shook my head, but my vision continued to narrow. Icy chills raced over my skin, my heart banging an erratic rhythm against my ribs. This was way more than a skipped meal. The world titled and I lurched forward.
Jamie grabbed me just as my legs gave out. He lowered me to the ground, his beautiful, terror-stricken face hovering above me. His head turned and he began to yell, but I couldn’t comprehend his words.
I struggled to slow my breathing, to calm my pulse. My body refused to obey. I grasped Jamie’s arms, fighting for air like a drowning person. Shadows crowded in on all sides.
Jamie shook his head, repeating the word “No” over and over, but I needed for him to hear me. Had to make sure he knew. “I . . .”
He leaned closer, his warm tears blanketing my face. Unable to get my voice above a whisper, I tried again. “I’ll . . . always . . . lov — ”
Agony exploded inside my chest. The ground pulled away beneath me. My entire life narrowed to a single point — Jamie’s face as he mouthed the word “love.” And the blackness swallowed him.
C
o-writing a series is one of the most challenging, fulfilling things either one of us has ever attempted to do. Thankfully, we have wonderful friends who continue to support us on this epic journey that we call Doon.
Thank you to:
Jacque Alberta
, for her love for this series, discerning editing eye, and her alter ego, Queen Picky Pants, who pointed out — very rightly — that Highland sheep do not have wool on their legs. Thanks for always watching out for us!
The
Blink
and
Zondervan
teams, for their patient collaboration with two authors who want to have their fingers on every aspect of the process, and for all the amazing work you do.
Agent extraordinaire
Nicole Resciniti
, for being our champion.
Melissa Landers,
our critique partner and friend, for being an early reader of
Destined for Doon
, and for occasionally pulling us back from the edge with a much needed girls’ night.
Meredith Briski,
for helping create the initial vision for Kenna and Duncan’s story, and for begging for more sword fights — they’re coming, we promise!
The
librarians
,
bloggers
, and dedicated
booksellers
, for advocating
Doon
and supporting these two unknown debut authors.
The
Doon Street Team
— Amber, Amanda C., Jules, Ange, Tracy, Stephanie, Sara, Amanda S., Charity, Debz, Jessica, Rachel, Kathryn, Amber F., and Cameron — for helping us build the Doon brand. Without you we would just be two girls tweeting into oblivion.
Mike Heath
, for designing another awe-inspiring, enchanted cover.
Sarah Alsberg
, for her social networking genius and infectious
Doon
love!
Our ever-faithful
readers
, for falling in love with Jamie and Duncan, for wanting to be like Vee and Kenna, and for wishing they lived in Doon. Your encouraging messages mean more to us than you could ever comprehend.
The
God
of the universe, our Protector and the Creator of our dreams, without whom our writing would be meaningless.
Lorie would like to thank:
My family and friends, for tirelessly spreading the word about Doon, for being my personal cheering squad, and for occasionally pulling me out of the world of kilts and curses to experience the magic of real life. You know who you are, and I love you all.
Carey would like to thank:
Athena for being the best assistant/theater buddy/daughter that I could ever hope for. Aaron and Harrison, who aren’t so bad either! My amazing family and friends for their overwhelming support — especially Autumn Schultz, Karen Powers, Sara Boepple, Mickey Merritt, Graciela Campos, and Shey’s girls back in Texas — I love you all bunches! And
Lorie,
whose vision started this challenging and incredible journey; because of you I have been changed for good.
1. When Duncan mistakenly believes that Weston is Mackenna’s serious boyfriend, Mackenna doesn’t correct him. Why do you think she does this? Have you ever decided to let someone believe their misconception was true? Why?
2. Near the beginning of the book, the Rosetti Tavern is set upon by a small mob of dissenters. Veronica wants to talk to them, but Jamie carries her — quite forcibly — out the back door. Was he right to do so? Was this an instance of Jamie being overprotective or was it an appropriate occasion to disobey the queen’s commands?
3. Mackenna tells Vee that she left Duncan on the bridge of Doon in order to protect him. Do you think Kenna was successful in this goal? Could there be another reason she returned to Chicago alone?
4. Now that Veronica has become queen, she realizes there is a lot more to the role than crowns and pretty dresses. In fact, much of the job is extremely stressful. What do you think would be the hardest part about being the ruler of a country? What do you think is the hard part for Vee?
5. In order to provide a cover story for Kenna’s sudden appearance, she and Duncan have to fake a romance — even though there is a real one simmering just below the surface. How do you think acting out their “fake” feelings influences their true ones?
6. Veronica’s father abandoned her, and her mother is more concerned with her boyfriends than her own daughter. How do you think Vee’s life back in the States colors the way she sees Doon? How do you think it influences her relationship with Jamie?
7. In Queen Lynette’s memoir, Veronica reads, “
Authority
,
I found
,
did not make one a queen
.” What do you think that line means?
8. When Duncan catches Mackenna singing in the garden, he admits to her that he watched her Chicago performance. What do you think this means to Mackenna? Why does it catch her off guard?
9. Why do you think Duncan never told Mackenna that he was her imaginary friend, Finn? How might it have changed their relationship if he had?
10. At the end of the book, Mackenna has to face apparitions of Veronica, Aunt Gracie, Finn, and Duncan. What do their words and Mackenna’s reactions reveal about Mackenna’s secret feelings and fears?
11. Makenna turns out to be wrong about Analise. Were her harsh judgments justified, or should she have done more to understand the true Analise?
12. What is it that enables Mackenna and Duncan to finally admit their true feelings to each other?
