His forehead creased, but no words came out.
I pulled at my reins and shifted the horse to face the hunters. “One of you, gather every able-bodied rider and horse up here and?—”
A sharp cry sounded from my right, and I turned to see them pointing at the jungle.
Where a red fox sprinted from the dense, green expanse.
54
Clarissa
Ismelled 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 pointedto 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 saydeparture?” 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—tohim—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.
