“But I—” I started to deny his words, but Duncan interrupted me.
“No, lass. Whether ye or my brother choose to accept it, the link between you is undeniable and should no’ be discounted. Hand me two o’ those candelabras. Mackenna and I will search upstairs.”
“Thank you,” I breathed, swallowing the lump in my throat. No time for tears now.
Two hours later, we’d found nothing. Kenna and I searched everywhere, pausing only long enough to get out of our cumbersome gowns and into modern clothes before ripping the cottage apart.
I splashed cool water on my face and stared into the gilded bathroom mirror at my huge, haunted eyes. We were no closer to finding Jamie than we’d been when we arrived. None of us had found a single clue to indicate anyone had been in this house since Kenna and I left, let alone a sign that a witch harbored a young king here.
Jamie’s image appeared before me, a cocky grin on his beautiful mouth, his dark eyes shining with love. With love? Did he love me? Or was I superimposing my own romanticized wishes on his memory? There was no point going there now … or ever. For Doon, I would find their new king and bring him home. Safe. From there I would let my future unfold, however it was meant to be.
Taking several deep, cleansing breaths, I focused my heart and mind and prayed, Please, God, show me the way. In desperation, I waited, gripping the cool porcelain sink until my fingers went numb. What made me think the Protector of Doon would hear me, the girl who’d started all this trouble in the first place?
Gradually, a pinkish light filtered in behind my closed lids. With a start, I opened my eyes and stared down at my hand. The Ring of Aontacht glowed, filling the small bathroom with a radiant light.
Jamie was here!
Grasping onto hope, I rushed from the bathroom. Kenna was nowhere in sight. I wanted to yell out for her, but as I opened my mouth some instinct warned me to remain quiet. If the witch was near, my shout would alert her to my presence.
With only the dull glow of the ring for a guide, I took a tentative step into the foyer. The glow became startlingly bright. Curiously, I took a step back, and it dulled again. I rushed forward, and as expected the ring flared as I hurried into the middle of the entryway. According to the ring’s blazing light, I was on the right track.
I considered my options. Fergus and I had searched the library together, removing most of the books from the shelves, so I stepped toward the front door … but the ring dimmed in response. Turning in a circle, I walked toward the stairway. The light within the ring remained unchanged. I backed off the stairs and moved toward the library, and to my relief the ring glowed brighter with every step.
I entered the room and shut the door behind me. The luminosity of the red stone eclipsed the candles we’d left burning on the coffee table, casting macabre shadows on the walls and cold stone hearth. I fought back a shiver as I threw open the curtains and allowed a beam of moonlight to slice through the room. With singular focus, I ran my fingers around the edge of the hearth stones, testing the seal of the mortar. It appeared solid. Concentrating on the walls, I turned a slow pirouette, searching for any inconsistency … There!
In the corner to the left of the hearth there was a gap between the wall and the shelf, wider at the top than at the base. The flame in the red stone danced encouragingly as I moved forward, my stomach doing sickening backflips. Slipping my fingers around the gap, I pulled with all my strength.
With a great whoosh of musty air, the bookcase swung open to reveal an ancient stone staircase that curved down into blackness. Not wanting to risk the glow of the ring giving me away, I twisted the stone around and closed my fist over it. Saying a quick prayer, I stepped down into the unknown.
CHAPTER 35
Mackenna