Page 73

Clarissa

I smelled them before I saw them.

Up on the hill ahead stood Thorne, Galen, and a small crowd of islanders, dismay etched on their faces as they gazed upon the oncoming curse. I bounded my way up on all fours, then shifted midair, only pausing to catch my breath.

The strangers backed up in alarm. A couple of them clutched one another’s arms, their wide eyes and frozen expressions taking in me and my magic.

I didn’t have time for their fear.

Thorne immediately grabbed my shoulders, his eyes frantic and searching.

They roamed over my body, the tick in his jaw giving away his panic.

“You’re covered in blood, Clarissa. Please tell me it’s not yours.

” His hold on me tightened, and my heart leaped.

“Actually, I’m not sure if that would be any better. ”

“It was a snake bite, but I’m fine now, I promise,” I assured him. “Shifters heal fast. It’s already gone.”

I didn’t want to tell him how close to death I would've been if I hadn’t absorbed the curse’s magic in time.

I squeezed his hand once before pulling away and facing everyone.

All eyes locked on me as I raised my voice.

“We need to get to the western shore. You, you, and you”—I pointed to the three men on horseback behind Thorne and Galen—“round up every horse, carriage, or wagon you can find and get the people up here down to the main village. And we have to warn the Zelorias. Someone needs to find them so we can coordinate ships at the port for departure. Thorne?—”

“I’m sorry, did you say departure ?” one of the islanders asked.

I leveled him with a stare. “Unless you know of a way to stop this,” I brandished an arm at the still-moving edge of the blight, “I’m afraid your island isn’t safe anymore.”

Stunned outbursts rustled among the crowd, but thankfully, the three men I’d given orders to began to take charge and gather everyone.

“Why didn’t it stop when you touched it?” Thorne whispered.

“I don’t know,” I said, forcing back panic. “It’s strong. Stronger than anything I’ve felt before.”

He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. When he opened them again, determination shone back at me. “What do you need from me, Empress?”

“We need to get my family and Nox,” I rushed out. “If we can’t slow it down, then at the very least, we can save anyone who might get caught in it. And Nox can get a better view from up above of where it’s impacted so far.”

Thorne tilted his head. “Why? What can Nox do?”

“He’s a dragon Shifter.”

He blinked. “Of course he is.”

Galen cleared his throat. “How can I help?”

My eyes slid to his, my voice cold. “Not hiding away in your room would be a great start.”

Thorne stepped between us. “We don’t have time for this. Do what she says. Let’s go back to the village and find Daelan and Hector.”

I held Galen’s stare for another moment. It was a battle of wills—the King and the Empress. I knew he wouldn’t take my barging in here and giving orders to his people—to him —lightly, but he had to realize what was at stake .

And that he wasn’t strong enough to save them.

His jaw stiffened as he gave a single nod, then mounted his horse once more. “We’ll meet you at the docks,” he said before snapping the reins and galloping off in the other direction.

When everyone was out of eyesight, Thorne reached for my waist and pulled me closer. “Find my family, Thorne,” I whispered, cupping his cheek. “We can’t let this hurt anyone else.”

“I will.” He quickly kissed my palm. “What will you do?”

“What do you think?” I gave him a small smirk and pushed away to give myself enough space. “I’m going to lead them.”

In the blink of an eye, I launched myself into the air and shifted.

The next hour was a blur.

I ran to the Base as quickly as I could to find the island’s guard station, where I shifted—to their utter shock—and relayed the situation.

I ordered them to split up among the neighborhoods and businesses to inform the citizens of the evacuation plan and get as many people as possible to the western shore.

At the docks, Galen and the Zeloria brothers were already working on getting the ships ready.

Deckhands were tossing as much cargo as they could onto the shore to make room for the mass of people the ships would have to carry.

Smaller dinghies were being pulled from storage sheds, along with any and every vessel that could be used to make it across to the other territories.

I’d suggested the Zelorias send a couple of messengers ahead on a swift fishing boat to deliver word to the Silenus and Penworth regent families about the incoming horde of people.

It was going to be a nightmare to figure out accommodations, but that could be sorted out once everyone was safe.

An enormous burst of wind almost knocked me off balance as I started to head back to the Base. Screams ripped through the air behind me, and I spun around, expecting to see the curse having already reached us.

It wasn’t the curse.

The summer sun glinted off navy-blue and silver scales. The air shook as two wings, each three times as long as my body, beat in tandem. A spiked tail slashed over the tips of trees, slowly descending until four paws landed in the sand with enough force to make the ground tremble.

At least a dozen people jumped off the back of the dragon and staggered away, mixed expressions of terror, awe, and relief on their faces. In the next breath, Nox shifted back to his human form and ran toward me.

“I see you found the curse.”

“It’s incredible,” he breathed out. “Well, not the curse. But my magic . It’s really back.”

I motioned to the frightened villagers who’d climbed off him. “How did you convince those people to let you carry them?”

“Told them it was either get on, or I’d burn them to a crisp.”

“Can you really do that? Breathe fire ?”

He shrugged. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I rolled my eyes. “How far has the curse spread?”

“I got a view of the entire island before I found this group fishing off the south coast.” He motioned to the people he’d carried here.

“I think it started over in the eastern mountains, and it’s already gotten that entire coastline.

It’s about halfway across the island now.

And it’s picking up speed.” He swallowed.

“Clarissa, this—this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. ”

“I know,” I said grimly.

Halfway across? Fates, that was worse than I’d expected. I thought through courses of action, weighing my options. “Look, the priority is getting everyone off the island. Can you circle around again and pick up anyone who may be lingering too far out of the way?”

He nodded, but before he could shift back, I grabbed his arm. “ The magic won’t last forever. Don’t forget to absorb more if you feel it waning.”

“I know, Rissa.”

“Be careful!” I called out as he strode off, jumped into the air, and shifted back into his dragon form. “Show-off,” I muttered under my breath.

I spent the next few minutes updating the Zelorias and Galen on the status of the curse.

Urgency mounted with every passing moment.

Panic clawed just beneath my skin and in the rustling wind around me, pressing in on all sides.

But as more people came up to me with questions, problems, and requests for instruction, I had to rein it in.

I couldn’t lose control, couldn’t let them see me crumble.

Not when they were looking to me for guidance. For hope.

That was all I’d ever wanted to bring them.

I shoved aside the anxiety and stayed their solid anchor, unmoving despite the clouds of fear billowing in.

Until I heard his voice.

“Clarissa!” Thorne shouted from the tree line behind me. I whirled around, my stomach lurching up my throat at the sheer despair in his tone.

I rushed to meet him. “What’s wrong?”

“It—It’s Marigold,” he choked out. His dark hair hung limp around his face, his blue eyes ragged and lips parted. “I can’t find her.”