Page 26 of Cursebreaker

But he doesn’t.

And as we leave the manor behind, entering the sparse grove at the border of the estate, Will takes my hand, and my pulse slows as a feeling of calm overtakes me.

Even if the Underling general is here—even if he’s taken the form of someone close to me—I’m not alone. Because Will is here, too. I won’t let the Changeling take me, and neither will he.

At least, not without a fight.

But by the time we approach the stretch of prairie at the edge of the grove, three miles from the estate, Will struggles to catch his breath, wheezing for air with pained gasps that rattle his chest. If we’re attacked, there’s only one way for Will to gain the strength he needs to protect himself, and I know he doesn’t wish to feed—to lose himself to the bloodlust.

Warm amber lights flicker in the distance, illuminating the leaves in their fiery golden glow. Gabriel brings a finger to his lips as he kneels, motioning for us all to follow. My heart races as the six of us crouch, peering through the tall grass. Ahead, voices rise above the ticking and thumping of the idle train as League soldiers in their olive-green uniforms load and unload cargo.

I feel Will go rigid, and when I glance at him, kneeling between Henry and me toward the back of the group, he looks as if he’s holding his breath. He sputters, struggling to hold back a bout of coughing, and Gabriel glares at him over his shoulder. Henry scowls, patting his brother on the back, and shoots me an exasperated look before flipping Gabriel—now facing away once more—his middle finger.

In front of us, Jack’s shoulders tense. “How’re we supposed to get on board? Train’s crawling with League soldiers.”

Gabriel looks back again, this time at Henry, but Henry’s already shaking his head.

“Don’t look at me,” he grumbles. “I may be a firebreather, but even I didn’t know your sister’s little trick with the light was possible until a few weeks ago. I’ve been practicing, but the most I can do is turn small objects invisible. I can’t shield us all. I can’t even shield myself yet.”

Margaret turns to Gabriel. “What about a distraction?” she whispers.

“Go right ahead.” Henry rolls his eyes. “By all means—”

Margaret hisses, “At least I’m trying to help—”

Gabriel tries to cut across the two of them as their bickering intensifies, but this only serves to turn their attention on him.

“This was your idea!” says Henry.

“Surely, you have a plan?” says Margaret.

Something rustles the leaves overhead, and I look up. Above, a raven perches on a quivering branch, peering down at me with dark, knowing eyes.

I reach for Will’s hand, tearing my gaze from the raven long enough to see the drool pooling at the corners of Will’s mouth, dripping from his chin.…

“Will,” I murmur, my voice quiet.

A low growl rumbles in Will’s throat, and the rustle of leaves overhead tells me the raven has fled. At that moment, Gabriel and the others all turn to see Will—to see his eyes glowing red.

Gabriel reaches for the hilts of his swords, but before he can unsheathe them, the smattered pop of gunfire rips through the night, drawing our attention away from Will to the chaos unfolding near the train.

The soldiers aim their weapons no more than twenty feet to our right, where a lion emerges from the tall grass, prowling toward them with slow, measured steps.

I think of the raven, watching me from above. Owen can transform into anything, and now, just when we need a distraction, a lion appears. Could it be him?

Am I wrong for hoping it’s him?

“Shoot it!” a soldier screams just as the lion lunges for him.

His scream turns to a wail, which is swiftly silenced by a massive paw tearing a gash in his throat. Will lurches forward, but Henry grabs him by the arm, and when I touch Will’s clammy cheek, he blinks, and his eyes are green, rimmed only by a thin ring of gold.

“I’m trying—” Will starts, his teeth clenched.

The soldiers advance on the lion, but their bullets appear to have no effect on the creature. It snarls, stalking toward them.

Then, suddenly, the soldiers can’t seem to move, as if frozen in place.

“Follow me!” Gabriel whispers, launching forward. “Now!”