Page 69 of Court of Secrets and Flames

I weave among them, hunting for signs of life, but find only vacant, pitch-black eyes and the faint scent of sweet decay that wafts from their bodies.

Ice worms over my skin.

Memories of the three lifeless fawns in the palace’s gardens creep into my mind, darkening my thoughts.

Is there a connection? My heart seizes with distress at the possibility.

I extend a tentative hand toward the nearest alicorn, a middle-aged mare, and seek any hint of warmth. The chill covering her soft coat seeps into my fingertips.

Long dead.

Cold. Stiff.

And so very, very wrong.

Curiously, the beach around them is devoid of any scavengers. No crabs crawl from the waves. No seagulls circle overhead. This scene is missing all the natural elements that usually feast on such tragedy.

The warmth should encourage carrion-eaters to swarm, yet nothing stirs. The scene is…unsettling. Sterile. What force could slaughter an entire herd and deter every type of scavenger?

Trudging through the sea of once-vibrant bodies, each step feels heavier than the last as I return to Dame. “Did you bring me here for this?”

She blinks in what appears to be a silentyes. A fresh wave of her discontent swamps me, and my skin crawls as if covered in ants. The very sand sticking to my boots feels dangerous and unwelcoming, and one word cycles repeatedly to the beat of my pulse.

Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.

We need to return to the palace. With a heavy heart, I mount, the usual thrill of flight dissolving into the somber air around us.

It’s going to be a silent, sober ride back.

The dragontenders hover when we land in the paddock, but I wave them off. Their assistance, while well-intentioned, is a crutch I don’t need.

What I need is time to think. Or someone to talk to about this problem. Though the list of people I can trust in this kingdom is short.

Dame’s unease floods my senses again and mingles with mine. She’s just as concerned as I am about the dead alicorns.

“Where the hell have you been?” Anger rolls off Knox in waves as he storms toward me.

I refuse to flinch at his tone. I’ve dealt with his grumpy ass since that first day at Flighthaven, and this is no different.

Finishing with Dame, I spin around to fully face the prince. “Well hello, Your Highness. It’s nice to see you too.”

He emits a growl-like sound as he invades my space. “You missed training.”

“I sent word that I would be late. Didn’t you get the message?”

“I did.” A muscle in his jaw tics. “But this isn’t just late. You’ve been gone all fucking day. Explain.”

A dragontender shoots a curious glance our way. Before I grant Knox’s request and “explain,” we have to get away from prying eyes.

“I will,” I lower my voice, “but not here. Care to take a walk?”

Wordlessly, Knox nods, waving off my guard before leading me away. We walk in silence for several minutes as we put distance between us and the fire paddock.

Once we’re out of hearing range, he stops and gives me a flat look. “Start talking.”

If I didn’t have such serious news, I’d tell him where he could stick his attitude. “I found an island filled with dead alicorns.”

“Dead alicorns?” Knox’s voice breaks, horror etched into his features. “Where?”

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