Jamie’s gaze flicked dispassionately to Kenna and Duncan before returning to me. Looking into his stony face, I realized the prince I loved had been replaced by a cold, condemning king. “Fergus, escort Miss Welling and Miss Reid to the dungeon. Bind and gag them if ye have to. Take my lying brother with them.”
Duncan stepped forward, “Jamie, I—”
“Your king commands you to be silent!”
Duncan’s whole body stiffened. Sure that he would protest his brother’s irrational behavior, I watched him expectantly. But the brash prince hung his head, his congenial face transformed by guilt as he allowed himself to be restrained and led away.
Fergus faced me with an apologetic grimace, and I noticed he was holding my arm in his meaty hand. “Come, Miss Veronica.”
“Please wait!” As he led me away, I dug in my heels and twisted back toward the dais. I had to at least try to get through to my Jamie. “You know I would never do anything to harm Doon or its people! You know me.”
“Take the witches away.” Jamie’s emotionless words chilled my soul. His hollow stare passed right though me, as if I no longer mattered. Still holding the journal in his hands, he turned to Gideon. “I’m going to the chapel. See that I’m no’ disturbed.”
Catching a glimpse of Kenna’s terrified face as a guard forced her out of the ballroom, her arms behind her back like some kind of criminal, I set my jaw in determination. I may not have a choice about going to the dungeon, but I wasn’t giving up that easily. Urgently, I whispered, “Fergus, let one of the other guards take me. Follow Jamie and get your hands on that journal. Then get it out of the kingdom, no matter what you have to do!”
The giant’s steps slowed and he stared at me in bewilderment.
“Fergus, if you’ve ever trusted me, trust me now. The journal is cursed. We have to get it out of Doon. That’s what I was trying to do when I caused the blizzard.”
He stopped walking and stared at me for several seconds. His face hardened and I was sure he would refuse. But then he said, “Not sure why, but I’ve always believed in ye, and I’m not goin’ to stop now.”
Tears of relief filled my eyes as he motioned for another guard.
With Kenna and I locked in the dungeon and the bridge opening in less than two hours, Fergus could be our last chance to get the witch’s evil influence out of the kingdom. I hated to think about what would happen if he failed.
Was it too much to ask for another miracle?
CHAPTER 31
Veronica
The more I thought about his actions at the ball, the more convinced I became that something was wrong with Jamie. He was nothing if not logical, and yet he’d jumped to an unjustified conclusion in less than ten seconds. He’d just finished telling me how his mom had taught him to think with the right balance, yet neither his heart nor his head appeared to be in control.
I paced the length of our cell struggling to maintain control and think rationally. I still had hope that Fergus would get the journal from Jamie and get it across the bridge. But just in case, I needed to come up with a plan B.
The echo of footsteps in the corridor caused me to rush to the dungeon door. Fiona hurried toward us, but not fast enough for me. I pushed my face between the bars and called out, “Something’s not right.”
Fiona stopped in front of me, remorse and a trace of my own panic in her eyes. “Something? Try everything. The Brig o’ Doon will be openin’ soon.”
“No, I mean with Jamie.”
“Aye.” Fiona’s soft lilt of reassurance was edged with doubt as she added, “Don’t ye fret, Veronica. Fergus will talk some sense inta him.”
“Fergus has failed.” Fergus’s ragged voice reached us through the void, followed by a scuffle, a moan, and a soft thump. “I didna even get to see him.”