My own fingers twitched as I clenched my eyes and focused outside of myself, on my purpose—our purpose. Kenna and I had always been stronger as a team. Even the rings we wore symbolized unity. My ring had allowed me to neutralize the witch’s earlier attack, so what if combining the rings made them even more powerful? Blood began to flow back into my knotted muscles as my strength returned. Addie may have won the battle, but she would not use me to harm the people I loved. She would not win this war.
Visualizing my purpose as a sledgehammer, I crashed through the pall that threatened to crush my will and lunged toward Kenna. “Now!”
Our hands locked and Ken pulled me to my feet. The witch’s shriek of protest echoed in the small room as our rings’ power fused. The red and green united, and energy crackled through me like a lightning storm. Instantly, the lingering weight of the witch’s hex lifted.
“Yer going ta regret that, little queen!” Addie screeched.
Furtively, my eyes shifted to Jamie. He edged nearer, still battling the serpents—beating them with the flat of his sword. Even in the midst of fighting for his life, he was amazing.
Addie cackled, pulling my attention back to her. The hair at the back of my neck stood on end as her hands moved in a circle like she was caressing an imaginary ball. Words I couldn’t understand spewed from her lips. A purple haze swirled between her palms, growing more solid by the second.
My chest tightened for the impending blow of magic as cold sweat trickled down my back. The glow of my ring began to dim. I’d broken free from her binding curse, but that was only half the battle. What was I supposed to do now? I met Kenna’s frantic stare, searching for answers she didn’t have.
And then Jamie was there. His dark eyes locked on mine, and something beyond reason, beyond even time, passed between us. His gaze surrounded me like a physical force and ran deep inside my soul. A slow, confident smile spread across his face. He didn’t need to speak; faith shone from his eyes, filling me with strength. And I knew not even a maniacal, power-hungry witch would stop me from saving him.
Addie continued to chant, the violet mist between her palms growing stronger. The dark magic illuminated her face like a ghastly X-ray, revealing her jawbone and every tooth beneath the transparent veil of her skin. The ball knitted faster in her hands.
I turned and squeezed Kenna’s fingers. “We have to do this together.”
She nodded and we lifted our joined hands. The ring’s combined power blazed, brilliant and sparkling like the sun reflecting on a fresh blanket of snow. We moved forward as one, and Addie froze in place, the midnight shine of her spell fading rapidly. The demonic sphere swirled faster and faster, until with a high-pitched squeal it imploded into nothingness.
As Kenna and I advanced, I chanced a quick glance in her direction. She arched her eyebrows in challenge. “Are you the queen or aren’t you? Take that witch down!”
With a slight nod of my head, I turned back to Addie. She mumbled words that seemed to wilt in the wake of the divine power arching from our rings. Her magic faltered. But I needed to do something more, something that would keep her from hurting those I loved ever again.
Remembering how Fiona and I had broken the spell on the journal, I pictured Doon in my mind—the cobbled streets, castle turrets reaching into the sky, the old chapel emanating the glory of the souls within, and lastly, the faces: Jamie, Duncan, Fiona, Fergus, Mario and Sharron, the Rosetti sisters, and even poor, abused Gideon.
The people were the essence of Doon. I focused every ounce of my being on saving them and their enchanted kingdom, which I’d come to love with all my heart. Then I sent up a desperate plea to Doon’s Protector.
Blinding beams shot from the rings, passing through the witch’s torso. Addie twitched as if burning from the inside out, purged by fire and righteousness.
She screamed in outrage, “Nooo!”