Read Online Destined for Doon by Carey Corp - Free Book Online Page B

anything this boy could do that I wouldn’t forgive if he asked. As he tugged on my hand, moving my chair so our legs were flush, I noticed he’d left his weapons belt behind for once — hopefully anticipating a peaceful dinner. The group at the table laughed at a joke the inventor was telling about a wallaby and a croc, but as I looked around at their smiling faces, I couldn’t forget that we were missing one.
    I leaned into Jamie and whispered, “Have you seen Emily Roosevelt? I haven’t spoken with her since I had to break the news about Drew’s . . . er . . . disappearance.” Emily was a shyyoung woman who’d been Called to Doon via dreams of Drew Forrester. Drew’s brother was still in the hospital in a medically induced coma, leaving everyone with the impression Drew had died in a milling accident. But our story didn’t change the fact that Emily’s sole reason for coming to Doon had been sucked into the evil abyss. The thought that somehow that wicked witch, Addie, was still hurting us even after I’d stripped her of her powers, made a boiling heat race through my soul.
    “Thas why I’m late, actually. I found Emily sitting outside the tavern cryin’.” Jamie’s dark eyes clouded with concern as he shoved a hand through the burnished waves of his hair.
    “What did you say to her?”
    “I dinna rightly know.” His mouth curled in a self-deprecating smile. “Some gibberish about helping her carve out a new life here. Ye know I canna handle tears.”
    “I recall you handling mine quite well.” Memories of his lips on my eyes and cheeks, kissing away my grief after I realized I might never see Kenna again, sent a warm flush over my skin.
    Jamie drifted closer, his eyelids growing heavy as he lifted a dark curl from my shoulder and wrapped it around his fingers. “Yer the exception, love.”
    “Ex-excuse me.” Emily stood on the other side of the table wringing her hands. “May I join you?”
    “Of course!” I jerked away from Jamie with a squeak.
    “Certainly.” Jamie rose, spun his chair around for the girl, grabbed another, and moved to sit on the other side of the table.
    Emily dropped heavily into the seat beside me, brushed her light-brown bangs out of her puffy eyes, and grabbed a napkin off the table. She blew her nose with several loud honks. I took a couple of plates and set them in front of us while I waited for her to compose herself. All I could think to say was, “Ah . . . would you like some pizza?”
    “No-no, thank you.” She stuttered through the hiccups shaking her chest.
    I slid a slice of pepperoni onto my plate and just stared at it. “Well, I’m here if you want to talk.” I couldn’t even imagine what she must be feeling. If I’d crossed the Brig o’ Doon only to have my reason for coming here ripped away — Jamie gone forever — there would be no words that could lessen my pain.
    Emily grew still beside me, her next words pouring out in a rush. “How could your Protector lead me here and then take my soul mate from me? It isn’t fair. I have nothing now. Nothing!” She buried her head in her hands, sobs shaking her shoulders.
    I swallowed the lump in my throat as I reached over to rub her back in slow circles. She was right. It wasn’t fair. But the deadly limbus had nothing to do with Doon’s Protector. I said a quick prayer for guidance and reached my arm around her plump shoulders. “You’re not alone, Emily. In fact, I was wondering if you’d be interested in moving into the castle.”
    She stopped crying, and a hazel eye peeked at me through her fingers. “Really?” came her muffled reply.
    I gave her a small smile. “Absolutely. There’s a role I’ve been trying to fill on my staff, but I haven’t found the right person. I think a fellow American would be perfect. Would you like to be my personal assistant?” It was true. I’d realized there was just too much to do in a given day for me to handle, even with Fiona’s help.
    Emily