Cursed

by K. K. Allen

  Alec looks worriedly at me and wraps me in a hug. “Are you okay?” The concern in his voice tugs at my heart, but I’m too disturbed from the events to return his affection.

  I find the strength to nod. “I’m okay.”

  Apparently, the croak in my voice tells him differently because he looks down at me with a helpless expression. He shakes his head, unbelieving. “That wave almost killed you, and it saved Iris’s life.” There’s a clear look of bewilderment in his expression. “I don’t even know how that was possible. We don’t get waves like that here.”

  Guilt shakes through me to the point where I become nauseated at the knowledge that everything that happened tonight, including my near-death accident, was completely in my control. Or it should have been. But like Rose warned, I wasn’t ready.

  I look over where Iris lies. Her hair is gone, her scalp is covered with blood, and a tear rolls down her cheek. She moans with pain, and my heart breaks for her. She was drunk, reckless, and mean, but she didn’t deserve what my magic did to her. I caused this. Maybe I should have died under that wave, but someone pulled me out of the water. But who?

  “How did I get back on the beach? I got caught in a wave that took me under. I was drowning, and someone pulled me out.”

  Alec shakes his head. “I don’t know. I saw you go under, and you were gone for a long time. Then, I don’t know how, but you just washed up on shore. I didn’t see anyone else.”

  I shiver then look at the sky. Closing my eyes, I soak in the light of the moon, hoping I can reenergize so I can help Iris. When I feel my energy begin to rebuild, I clamber to my feet and go to Iris’s side. I place one hand on my emerald and the other over her heart. But something feels wrong.

  My bracelet. The emerald is still secured around my neck, but the charm bracelet and locket my mom gave me are gone. No. My heart thuds deeply in my chest. My breath is caught in my throat, and I struggle to take another breath as panic sets in. How could I have lost my mother’s locket? A tear falls down my cheek, and I want to sob, but I need to help Iris.

  Alec was right. Iris’s injuries are almost too much to stomach. I can’t completely see her scalp through the blood, but there’s no doubt that she’s been badly burned.

  “Katrina.” Rose’s shrill voice startles me. “What happened?”

  I release my necklace and stare up at my grandmother and Charlotte. I open my mouth to speak, but Alec cuts in. “The bonfire got out of control.” I hadn’t even seen him approach.

  Rose’s gaze moves from Alec to me then stays on me. I know there will be consequences for what I did tonight, but I’m not ready to face them right now. Not until Iris is okay.

  “Hey, someone should probably meet the ambulance on the street so they know where we are.” It’s the first thing I can think of to make him go away. If I’m going to heal Iris, then he can’t be here.

  “Good idea,” Alec says. “I’ll be back.”

  As soon as he’s far enough away, I lean in closer to Iris and clutch my emerald again. My stomach churns at the sight of her burns. Fortunately, the fire didn’t spread farther than that.

  Rose and Charlotte shift so they are on the other side of her body. I’m glad they are here to help.

  Iris opens her eyes, and tears flood her eyes. “It hurts, Kat.”

  My chest aches. “Shh, it’s okay.” I squeeze her hand. “You’re going to be okay. Close your eyes.”

  Iris obeys, and I place my fingers on top of her head. I let the energy take over my body as I look to the moon for support, just as Rose and Charlotte taught me. I feel it—the tingling sensation in my fingers as it transfers to Iris and heals her wounds. I can even hear the energy sizzling in the air now that I’m focused on healing Iris and that alone.

  Rose and Charlotte extend their hands, too, their power now an extension of mine. I look at them both as they pour their healing into Iris. I’ve failed them. But when Iris finally begins to relax, it’s hard for me to be anything other than overwhelmingly relieved. Her eyes remain closed, and I think she’s sleeping. Her heartbeat is strong. She’s going to be okay.

  Alec returns, directing the ambulance to pull onto the beach. I stand to greet him. “You should go with her.”

  Alec frowns. “What about you? You were hurt too, Kat.” His voice is so gentle it sends a knife through my chest. He has no idea I caused this disaster. He thinks I’m a victim.

  “We’ll take care of Katrina,” Rose says to him, her tone firm.

  I give Alec a small smile. “I’ll be okay, but Iris needs someone. You’ll call her parents?”

  “Already did. They’re heading to the hospital now.” Alec looks at me, defeated. “Kat, I don’t want to leave you.”

  I reach for his hand and squeeze it. If he had any idea what I did tonight, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me. My heart aches. He would hate me for what I am, for what I did. Still, I press my lips to his, not caring that Rose and Charlotte are standing by. “Go,” I whisper.

  After another second of hesitation, Alec jogs to the ambulance where the paramedics are placing Iris into the back of the van, and joins them.

  I watch until the doors of the ambulance close behind him and the vehicle rolls away into the distance. With a final glance at the scene on the beach, I follow Rose and Charlotte back to Summer Manor—ready to face my fate.

  Back at Summer Manor, Rose and I sit facing each other in the great room. Charlotte has gone to make tea. Rose isn’t looking at or speaking to me. Deep concentration is evident in her features. My heartbeat escalates as I replay the last couple of hours over and over in my mind, like a broken record. What have I done? What will my punishment be?

  I look at Rose, considering the fact that she is disappointed in me. A sinking in my chest tells me I don’t want that. Charlotte enters the room moments later with a tray and three full cups of tea. Steam rises from them, reminding me of the smoke from the billowing flames of the bonfire. I shudder.

  “I felt trapped,” I say, looking between them. “I didn’t mean to push Iris into the flames, or to make the wind fuel the fire. And the wave—” I choke on my words. “I didn’t mean for it to drown me.” I bow my head. “I lost control, just like you said I would.”

  Neither of them says a word and that make me feel worse.

  A million thoughts race through my mind, but one stands prominently there. I’ve read the Solstice law book from front to back, and one thing is abundantly clear. Those who abuse their powers will be punished. Rose has echoed those same words often. So now what? “Am I going to be punished for what I did?” My voice is weak, scared of whatever consequences I face.

  Rose looks at me, her brows bent as a look of confusion appears on her face. “Punished for what, dear?”

  Every thought I’ve had recently is halted by her words. Rose doesn’t think I should be punished?

  “Didn’t you hear me? I caused all of this. I was angry. The wind got out of control and took the fire with it. I couldn’t stop it. I tried, but I couldn’t control my own powers. The law book says that punishment is worse than death.”

  Charlotte places a hand on my leg. “Kat, listen to what you’re saying. You couldn’t calm the fire because you weren’t the one controlling it. The same goes for the wind.”

  My thoughts slow to a canter. “I don’t understand.”

  Rose narrows her eyes at me, halting me in mid-breath. “You pushed that poor girl toward the fire, which you shouldn’t have done, but someone else caused the fire to get out of control.”

  Again, I replay the events in my head. Only this time, I keep the law book in mind. “I can only control the powers I create.” Although I should be elated at my relief, I’m struck now with a flood of new questions. “Then who? Who would want the fire to get so out of control? I swear that thing had arms and legs, and it was reaching for Alec and Iris.”

  Rose and Charlotte look at each other, fear evident in their eyes. It’s as if they are deciding who should deliver the n
ews. “Kat,” Rose stars slowly. “Do you remember the stories of Astina Summer and her evil counterpart? The enemy and his army that still exists today?”

  I don’t have to think too hard to remember her story vividly. “Yes. The God of Darkness, right?” Something clicks. “You’re saying he was at the bonfire?”

  Rose nods carefully. “Yes. And if Erebus is here, that means his Followers are here also. Erebus doesn’t travel alone. He’s too much of a coward. He forms groups where he travels, and he teaches them to hunt, taunt, and kill. Erebus hides behind his Followers. They do his bidding, but if they get caught or killed in the process, he can just walk away. He cares for no one.”

  It all feels like too much to process. “Maybe it wasn’t him,” I say, desperate to believe history isn’t repeating itself. “Maybe it was all just a coincidence. There were fireworks near the fire, and—”

  “We found his mark tonight, Katrina.”

  “His what?” My heart is beating so hard and fast, I need to focus to hear what she says next.

  “Erebus leaves a mark in the wake of his destruction. A signature of sorts. An Enchanter who was there tonight found it carved into a log from the fire and brought it to us.”

  “What?” A shiver races down my spine.

  Rose pauses for a moment, like she needs time to process all of this too. “It’s a warning. He wants us to know he’s watching. Erebus isn’t an impulsive nemesis. He’s calculated, manipulative, and clever. Tonight was only the beginning.”

  “The beginning of what exactly?”

  Rose shakes her head. “I wish I knew.”

  I let out an exasperated breath. “What do you think he wants this time?”

  “What he’s always wanted. Power. Our community has only grown over the years, despite his threats. There’s more for him to gain by killing us, but we’ve also made it much harder for him to do so. One of your grandfather’s biggest legacies was using magic to protect certain areas of Apollo Beach to act as a safe haven for Enchanters. Erebus can’t step foot on Summer Island or in an Enchanter’s home, for instance.”

  I think about what happened on the beach tonight and frown. “Why didn’t he protect all of Apollo Beach?”

  “It’s not that simple, dear. That form of magic is… complicated, to say the least.”

  Like during every conversation with Rose, I’m frustrated. She’s so careful to not give out more information than a person can handle, but right now, I just want to know all of it. “What about his Followers? Are we protected from them too?”

  Rose searches my eyes like she wants to tell me something but changes her mind. “Astina stripped them of their magic when she saw what Erebus was commanding of them. Erebus still employs his Equinox army to carry out evil acts. And they only have powers like ours when he possesses them.”

  I shudder. “He possesses them? As in takes over their body and controls their every move?”

  Rose nods. “Precisely.”

  “But why hurt innocent people like Iris?”

  “He can’t fight us unless he makes us vulnerable first. So he causes harm to innocent people, then his army looks for those who do as an Enchanter would.” Her eyes pierce mine and I’m taken back to Rose, Charlotte, and me on the beach, healing Iris.

  “The fire was a trap?” My heartbeat quickens. “I created that wave. Do you think he knows about me?” My voice is shaky and full of emotion because I already know the answer to my question.

  “You need not worry, Katrina. Erebus cannot harm you. There’s a reason your mother gave you that bracelet. It protects you from Erebus. It…” Her voice trails off as her gaze drops to my wrist. She gasps, her shocked eyes rising to mine.

  I clutch my bare wrist, and an overwhelming sense of loss fills me yet again. “I know. I must have lost it in the ocean.” Tears blur my vision. “What do you mean it protects me from Erebus?”

  Rose shakes her head like she refuses to say whatever it is on her mind. “It doesn’t make sense,” she whispers to herself.

  “What doesn’t make sense?” I rise to my feet, my anger blossoming rapidly.

  When Rose looks back at me, I can tell she’s trying to maintain a calm appearance, but whatever the loss of my bracelet means to her is making it impossible. “It doesn’t make sense because without that bracelet, you’re vulnerable to Erebus.”

  “Vulnerable how?” I demand.

  Rose stands, her movements slow, her eyes set firmly on mine. “You said you almost drowned under that wave. Your energy was depleted. Is that right?”

  I nod, shuddering at the memory.

  “Without that pendant, you wouldn’t have had a chance against Erebus. He could have ended your life tonight, Katrina.”

  “Then why didn’t he?”

  In true Rose fashion, she pauses dramatically before speaking. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling we’re all about to find out.”

  Thank you so much for reading Cursed, Book One in the Enchanted Gods Trilogy. I hope you loved it. Fated releases on August 17th. Get ready for more romance, mystery, and twists you’ll never see coming!

  Keep reading for a sneak peek of FATED, Book Two! You can also…

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  Steam Level Warning: This series does get steamier with each book.

  Fated Prologue

  Coming August 17th

  I didn’t ask for this life. To finally have the one thing in this world worth living for then be forced to give it up is unbearable. He stands before me, yet out of my grasp. Now, he is forbidden to me, a temptation above any red fruit.

  A pained look flickers across his expression, like I’ve hurt him, but he hurt me too. The knowledge of what he did is far more powerful than the tears that threaten to surface. I must will them away. To reveal my own pain would only complicate things. One thing, I know for sure—this is how things are destined to be.

  Forcing my eyes away from his is my only hope at this moment. His heated stare stays on me. I can feel it burning a hole straight through my core.

  How did it happen that the one I’m fated to love would turn out to be the one I need to kill to survive?

  Keep reading for the first chapter of FATED or...

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  PREORDER FATED NOW

  ADD FATED TO GOODREADS

  * * *

  Steam Level Warning: This series does get steamier with each book.

  Fated Chapter 1

  Coming August 17th

  Breeze from the bay whips my ponytail around as the freed tendrils of long brown hair smack my cheek. I tighten my grasp around the handlebars of my beach cruiser and place my right foot firmly on the concrete. As cars exit the one-lane bridge that leads to Summer Island, I smile easily at the drivers turning onto the main road.

  There’s something mystical about the ivy growing on the gate’s concrete walls and the tall, dark kudzu-covered trees surrounding the entrance. Mystical. The single word seems to accurately describe my entire life-changing existence since moving to Apollo Beach. Who would have thought the teen who found trouble everywhere she turned wasn’t cursed, but instead Enchanted?

  A man in uniform steps outside the guard house building to wave. “Morning, Kat.”

  “Hey, Herkle.” I recognized him instantly from my first few visits to the island. “Nice to see you again.”

  Herkle, Herkie, and Herk are all short for Hercules, from whom he descended. I put two and two together, and Charlotte confirmed it for me during dinner one night this past week. He’s one of us—an Enchanter, a descendant of the gods from ancient Greece. It’s still mind-boggling to know it’s all real and this is my new life.

  “I heard you had quite the Enchanting.” His jovial smile is infectious.

  I find myself smiling too. “It was definitely eye-opening, to say the least.

  He chuckles. “We’ve all been there. Will I see you at the Encha
nters’ event tonight?”

  I give him a knowing look. “Are you kidding? Charlotte is making me a dress for the occasion and everything. I’ll be there.”

  Traffic clears, and I give Herkle a goodbye wave. I push to start pedaling again and take off down the long, winding tree-covered drive. It’s been almost two months since I moved here, and I’m back on the job hunt. After my failed audition to waitress at Island Grille, I’ve decided to tempt fate and ask for another shot. It’s not like I qualify for much. A job at the Apollo Beach Library would be another option, but after being holed up at Summer Manor for two weeks straight while doing nothing but reading the Solstice Law Book, I’m aiming for something—dare I say—fun.

  I pedal faster to round the final curve before I get to the quaint village, which is reminiscent of ancient Greek landmarks and ruins. I’m nearly around the bend when a squirrel jumps out of the bushes and darts across the street just as a white van barrels around the corner.

  “No,” I gasp. With a quick turn of my bike, I pull out in front of the van and stick my foot out to stop my bike completely.

  Tires squeal and swerve as the van attempts to break, but it’s still going too fast. My pulse zooms through my veins as I think quickly. My new magic travels faster when I use my hands to propel it, but Charlotte has been teaching me how to exercise energy without having to be so obvious about it. This moment would be the appropriate time to try it.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch the handlebars of my bike before aiming all the energy I can muster toward the van. I can feel the explosion of energy burst from my pores. There’s a loud crunching of metal, like the van just collided with a wall, and I look to see the squirrel dart into the bushes on the other side of the road.