“Everything okay?” Silas straightened, glancing warily at the crowds. “Did you see something?”
“No, it’s just this feeling...” My body gave an involuntary shiver. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
But Silas didn’t seem to think it was nothing. His back had gone ramrod straight. His expression had gone stony, blocking the lingering moonlight out of his dark eyes. Those golden flecks were gone now, and all that was left was a swirling darkness as he scanned the crowds.
“It’s not someone,” I managed. “Nobody’s done anything wrong.”
“Can you describe—”
I didn’t need to describe. Silas’s gaze flicked across the riverbank. We saw it at the same time. Red eyes. Body of a beast. Hidden in shadow.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Impossible. It looks like a crimson lycanthrope,” Silas said. “But they were banished from The Isle forever ago, due to their tendency to serve dark magic.”
“How did it get here?” I asked. “Is it because the wards are down?”
“We’ll figure that out later,” Silas said gruffly. “For now, I need to take care of it—whatever it is.”
“I’ll help you.”
But Silas had already caught the eye of someone behind me. “Millie. Get Alessia out of here. Take her home, invoke the protections I told you about earlier.”
Millie’s eyes widened, but she didn’t argue. She reached for my arm, but I slipped out of her grasp.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I argued. “I’m staying here to help.”
“We can’t risk your safety,” Silas said. “Crimson lycanthrope are unpredictable and dangerous.”
“Yeah,” I said dryly. “So are curses and Furies, and look how that turned out.”
At this point, the lycanthrope howled, drawing attention from a few islanders still on the riverbank. Not everyone heard the noise, as there was so much music and commotion, and lots of honeyed mead flowing. But those who saw it stumbled back. Pointed. Panicked.
Ranger X and Lily were at our sides minutes later.
“That’s not what I think it is,” Ranger X muttered. “Is it? A crimson lycanthrope?”
Silas gave a nod. “That’s what I thought.”
“The Rangers aren’t trained for lycanthrope,” X said warily. “These creatures have been banished for so long, and the wards have been so good at keeping them out, it’s not part of our routine. It’s a death sentence to send my Rangers in there.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Silas said. “You stay here, get your Rangers to do crowd control. Keep people away from the riverbank.”
The beast crept forward, red eyes glowing like hot coals. The beast was giant but moved with great agility. I had a feeling it was fast and powerful, and probably very accurate with those bone-white teeth sticking out of its mouth.
“I’m coming with you,” I told Silas. “Don’t argue.”
Silas looked at me, very ready to argue, but then he did a double take. He stared at me. I couldn’t figure out why until I realized that Lily and Ranger X and Millie were all staring at me too.
When I finally looked down, I realized my body was glowing. Like a halo of silver light around my form, particularlyconcentrated around my hands. My magic was leaking out of me again.
Silas’s gaze flicked to Ranger X. “Best if she comes with me.”
We split off without further discussion. Silas and I hurried to the Lower Bridge. I tailed closely behind him, the fabric of my red dress cinched in one hand as I kicked off my shoes and ran barefoot to keep up with him.
We crept up the riverbank, keeping the beast within our sights. Across the water, Ranger X and his team were quietly ordering everyone back from the riverbank. I could see Lily uncapping the vials she’d been carrying, muttering enchantments as she set up protective spells around the crowds of festival goers.
“Have you ever fought a lycanthrope before?” I asked. “Do you know their weaknesses?”
