Page 100 of Cursebreaker

Owen shakes his head, steadying me. “He wasn’t on the beach.” His eyes flare with panic, and his voice warbles in my ears as he calls out, “Has anyone seen Titus?”

There’s a commotion near the jolly boat, and Owen and I both turn to watch as Killian draws his flintlock pistol, pointing it at Father.

“She’s still on the island!” Killian shouts. “I’m not leaving without her!”

“Orella will not leave her people to die,” Father says, his voice choked. “You know that.”

“Then I will die by her side!” Killian takes another step back. “I left her behind once. I will not spend another moment of my life without her.”

Father’s face falls, but he dips his head. “Aye,” he says, a tear spilling onto his cheek. “Tell her I love her, will you?”

Killian lowers the gun. Nods. “Stay out of trouble, old friend.”

Father retreats, gesturing for the crew to assist Killian with the jolly boat. They’ve just begun to lower it when Owen calls out for them to wait.

“I’m going back,” he says. “I can help evacuate—”

“Let’s not waste time, then!” Killian says, scrambling out of the jolly boat to grab hold of Owen’s arm.

But at the last second, before they disappear, I grab hold of Owen’s hand, and Henry grabs hold of mine.

One moment, the four of us are standing aboard the Starchaser, and the next, we’re back on the beach in front of the Pearl.

The screams from the townspeople as they flee down the beaches on either side, attempting to find safety from the cannons as fire catches, send a fresh wave of panic through me. Only minutes ago, we gathered on this beach for a wedding. Now I watch, dazed with horror, as Underlings chase innocent families from their homes, tearing them limb from limb, feasting on their blood, their bones, the unmistakable trill of Gore laughter filling me with dread.

Killian breaks away the moment we arrive, racing toward the village, where he must suspect Orella has gone. Owen starts after him, but he gives me one last look over his shoulder, and in an instant, we communicate everything we need to say with our eyes alone.

He nods, his lips pressed in a thin, tight line. Be careful.

I tilt my head, my brows lifted. Take your own advice.

Laughter dances on his face before he turns, disappearing into the thick undergrowth of the jungle.

I look down at Henry’s hand, still gripping my wrist. “What are you doing? You should be with the others—”

“He’s not gone,” he says, releasing me. “I saw him. My brother is still in there, somewhere.”

“Henry—” I start.

But Henry holds up his hand. “He could have killed me, but he didn’t,” he says quickly. “He’s a Changeling, right? That means he has my brother’s memories. He—he is my brother.”

I try to tell him it’s more complicated than that—that Will is more than just a Changeling, he’s an ancient being not of this world—but he cuts me off.

“No, listen to me!” He clenches his jaw, tears streaming down his scarred face. “Just think what we could accomplish with him on our side.”

My mouth works, my hands vibrating, and I’m trying to think about what he’s saying—really think about it—but there’s no time to argue.

“Fine!” I say, already moving. “Just keep up!”

I take off toward the Pearl—toward where I know Will must have gone in search of the Elysian Navigator, and where Titus must have followed.

I shove open the doors of the palace, Henry close on my heels as I race up the staircase that leads to the east wing—to my chambers.

Henry shouts, “Where are we—”

“He’s after the Elysian Navigator!” I call over my shoulder, my own voice distant and muffled, crackling in my ears like static electricity. “It’s in my chambers!”

Without the Relics of Night—without a means to break the curse that has plagued our world for six hundred years—Jack’s death will have been in vain.