Page 30 of Crown of Envy

Damon’s eyes met mine in a sharp warning. “You’re not?—”

“We have to try,” I interrupted, squaring my shoulders despite the fear churning in my stomach. “If the amulet works on her, maybe it will work on the other poor souls trapped here.”

“How do you propose to do that?” Justice’s soft voice held a note of doubt that made my heart sink.

But I was determined, clenching my fists to stop my hands from trembling. “We go together. It’s the only way.”

Brody’s body tensed. “If we’re going to do this, we need to do it now,” he warned. “I can see something moving in that cave.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up at his words. I swallowed hard, trying to moisten my suddenly dry mouth. “Hold hands,” I commanded, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.

Damon exhaled sharply in frustration, but he seized my hand, his grip almost painfully tight. “This might not work a second time,” he muttered.

My gut clenched. If he was right, one of us might end up like Zara’s sister. The thought made my knees weak, but I forced myself to stand tall.

I nodded solemnly, meeting everyone’s eyes in turn. The weight of my decision pressed down on me like a Mack truck. As we formed our circle, the Heartstone pulsing between our joined hands, I sent up a silent prayer that I wasn’t making a terrible mistake. I would never forgive myself if one of my teammates were turned into stone.

I maneuvered us toward Zara’s sister, my heart pounding. Suddenly, the whispering voices started again, slithering into our ears like icy tendrils.

You’ll never leave.

Run, before we catch you.

A shudder ran through our linked hands, the fear palpable among us.

“Stay where you are,” Brody barked. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he scanned the darkness. “They’re trying to get us to let go of each other so they can turn us to stone.”

Then, a bone-chilling screech echoed from the mouth of the cave. The dark creature burst from the darkness, its numerous eyes glowing with malevolent intent as it barreled directly toward us. My stomach lurched at the sight, and bile rose in my throat.

“You will not set free one of my prisoners,” it hissed, the words reverberating in our minds rather than our ears.

Despite the terror gripping us, excitement flared in Zara’s eyes. Her grip on my hand tightened painfully. “That means the Heartstone will work,” she gasped. “My sister will soon be free.”

I silently prayed she was right as I released Justice’s hand, still holding Damon’s so we all stayed connected, and pressed the Heartstone against her sister’s statue. The stone’s warmth intensified, almost burning my palm. We all held our breath as the statue changed, its gray surface bleaching to a brilliant white.

But it didn’t move.

Zara tossed her head back and wailed. “No!”

The creature’s laughter boomed around us, a sound like grinding stones that set my teeth on edge. “The stone can’t free her,” it mocked, its words dripping with cruel amusement. “You’ll have to do better than that…Chosen ones. Which one of you wants to join my little garden?”

“We can’t leave my sister,” Zara pleaded through angry sobs.

Brody was on her other side. “We’ll find a way to save her, but if you break the circle, we’re all dead. This is your moment to prove you’re one of us.”

Zara blinked her tears back and drew a sobering breath. She nodded reluctantly but didn’t answer him.

My heart sank, a cold dread settling in my stomach. I met my companions’ frightened gazes. The creature loomed over us, its many eyes gleaming with anticipation, and I realized with horror that we might have walked into a trap we couldn’t escape.

A surge of determination coursed through me. This was my idea, and I’d be damned if I let my team die because of it. My heart raced as I gripped the Heartstone.

With a swift motion that surprised even me, I aimed the stone at the creature. The air crackled as the Heartstone’s energy focused on our monstrous foe.

Suddenly, green light erupted from the stone, flickering and dancing across the creature’s numerous eyes. The forest lit up in an eerie emerald glow, casting writhing shadows on the trees.

The creature recoiled, its body contorting in ways that made my stomach churn. It released a bone-chilling hiss that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to cover my ears.

As I watched the creature’s reaction, confusion mingled with my fear. Why was the stone affecting it? It had guarded the Heartstone, after all. The incongruity made my head spin, adding to the surreal nature of our predicament.

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