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“No, no… We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

“Not if I can help it.” Corvin grabs my hand and moves faster, dragging me alongside him.

Finally, we swing around a corner, and the arch leading to the party appears in the distance. But the screams are worse now, louder and more frantic.

I charge forward, finally bursting out of the maze.

The previously tranquil royal garden party has transformed into a stampede.

My mouth drops open.

No music, only terrified screams and people dashing in every direction. Tables are overturned, golden platters are being stomped on, and someone’s even tumbled into the mermaid fountain.

I’m going to vomit because this is my fault, my dragonfly’s chaos. She swoops through the crowd, focusing on a thick cluster of attendees, but she’s not attacking, just scaring them. Or trying to get to someone?

Panic bursts into full-on hysteria, and someone crashes into the king, whom I spot standing on the sidelines, staring at the turmoil. But now he’s just been bowled over, and a guard barely catches him from behind before he hits the ground.

“No, no, NO!” Terror slices through me. He’s going to murder us.

“Dawn!” Kazak bellows from within the chaos. “Call it back. Now!”

Lian’s attempting to chase the dragonfly, leaping up to grab hold of it, but she keeps slipping his grasp, zipping about.

I’m trembling, and Corvin’s in my ear. “You can do this. Concentrate and reach out to her. You’re connected, and she listens to you, because right now she’s driven by your fear.”

Standing still, I push aside all the screams and frantic trepidation pulsing through my mind.

Come back to me!

Nothing happens. I take deeper inhales, fighting the urge to just fall apart.

“Focus on picturing her in your mind’s eye, and speak to her directly,” Corvin suggests.

Eyes shut, I imagine her in front of me, those beautiful wings spread, staring at me.

Return to me.

I open my eyes just as she flies straight at me, leaving a streak of fire in her wake. She smacks into my chest, sending me reeling back a few steps. Corvin catches me and holds me upright. Then my mark sinks into my skin.

Fire encapsulates me, flaring across my chest, and it lessens as her mark above my heart fades. Seconds later, there’s no sign of her.

“Oh, thank the Gods,” I say, lifting my chin, feeling slightly relieved, except the gardens have fallen deadly silent. And now everyone’s staring at me.

People are shaking where they stand and glaring at me, but when I glance at the king, I gasp. He’s marching over to us, his body shuddering as if he might go full monster mode.

Corvin steps partly in front of me, and I appreciate him preparing to take the brunt of the oncoming anger, but I doubt I can escape this.

Lian and Kazak hurry toward us, so now we’re standing together and I’m surrounded by three monsters. I drown in both my guilt and the terror I caused so many people.

The garden party has been wrecked because of me.

King Slate’s face twists with rage, and his jaw flexes. “I extended you four my invitation,” he bellows, his voice dark and gravelly. He stops feet in front of us, his broad presence just as invasive as the fury pouring off him. “And this is the thanks I receive? You attack my guests, the Elite families of this city? You clearly have a death wish.”

“Your Majesty,” Corvin says, stepping forward to block me further. “It was a mistake, never meant to hurt anyone. We were attacked in the maze, and Dawn’s mark protected us. She’s very new at controlling it and⁠—”

He cracks his neck. “And the terror you’ve caused? No one will remember my gathering without mentioning the attack. Now, you expect me to believe my beautiful maze turned on you? I’m not a fucking fool!”

“It’s the truth,” Kazak adds. “You have my word.”