Page 40 of The Crown of Nyx

I stiffened in his embrace, casting another quick, almost desperate look around the ship. I checked on each mate, from Rowan at the very front of the ship, to Adrian, who had his back to me and golden hair wildly whipping around his face, up to Orion in the crow’s nest, who I couldn’t see fully but knew was close, and then to Maeve still standing with Hawk, both with weapons drawn, searching the darkness ahead of us.

There’s a strange magic in the air,I finally managed, turning back to meet Elias’s eyes.I feel it. And there’s something wrong. I don’t?—

Before I could finish that thought, the ship rocked violently, swaying to one side so hard, we almost hit the water. If it weren’t for Elias and his arm around me, I would have lost my footing and fallen into the black water. Elias shouted, releasing my hand to grab a rope tied around the mast, crushing me to him as the boat tried to right itself.

I buried my face in his chest. The groan of wood, the cries and shouts of everyone around me, barely cut through the sudden buzzing in my ears. All of my bondsbrightened in my chest out of worry—maybe even out of fear. I tried to reach for all of them. I called upon my magic, bringing it to the surface before casting it out in a web of violet power over the ship.

But it wasn’t enough.

The ship gave a warning groan, likepart of it was being torn apart. Had we hit something? There were so many wrecks, I would be surprised if we had.

Oh, god, what if we go down like the Titanic?I thought dying by car crash would suck. What a way for a future Queen to go. But shipwreck in the middle of a cursed ocean full of zombies?

If it weren’t for being smothered by Elias, I was ninety percent certain I’d throw up again.

I gritted my teeth in an effort to hold the ship together. My magic strained, pushing against the inside of my skin, swelling within me in an attempt to explode. It wanted to tear my skin apart, but I reeled it in, hoping—no, praying—that I would be enough to protect us.

But the pressure building within me threatened to crack as the ship made another alarming sound. Above my head, Orion shouted, though not in fear.

I forced myself to look up, and bit down on a cry as the mast splintered from the weight of the storm.

It was like the world around me moved slowly. The crow’s nest waved almost comically in the air with my mate holding tightly to it. The power holding us together, keeping the ship stable, wanted to do more than act like glue. It wanted to be unleashed.

It wanted to save our mate.

And yet if I let go of the ship, I knew I would lose the others. Maeve and Hawk at one end, still tied to the deck with ropes. Adrian and Rowan at the other.

My heart pounded. Magic burned my veins.

I closed my eyes at the next crack in the mast. Bit my tongue as the ship rocked again.

I tried to ignore the tears building behind my eyes. The tightening in my throat as I delved deeper into my magic.

Now, I finally had a reason to test the full extent of my power.

Don’t worry about me, flower, Orion whispered down the bond. Though he tried to be calming, he was anything but.Don’t push your power. Not this soon.

I clenched my jaw and focused on what I knew about the structure of the ship as I replied,I’m not letting you go again, asshole.

There was the briefest hint of amusement through the bond, but it was quickly drowned out by a flash of fear. His fear.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I pulled up the ship in my mind and imagined every part of it. I drew together the different people on board, from my mates right down to the crew. Captain Meira at the helm, her power nothing against the wind and waves. The threeshifters and two mages scattered across the deck, all holding on for dear life.

As I imagined them, awareness raced down my spine. In that moment, I felt everything: their emotions, their power, and most importantly—their terror. They did not want to die. They did not want to become the creatures that watched us from the water.

And I had no desire letting the curse take them.

I pulled Orion into the image as well, taking the mast and imagining a net around it, keeping him steady and protected above me. I placed a series of charms around the ship, almost like the ones I’d set up on the SUV. Only this time, I imagined them stronger. Lessbreakable. And more importantly, designed with the safety of everyone in mind.

Protecting the ship wouldn’t be enough. I had to build a barrier around the people, too.

Something in the distance made a deep, almost animalistic growl, one that chilled me to the bone. My eyes flew open, and I met Elias’s wide stare.

“What—” I didn’t get the chance to ask what the hell kind of creature could make a sound like that. Because it wasn’t the zombies in the water.

Elias looked away from me to glare at something behind me. I gasped and looked over my shoulder.

Lightning struck, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw the outline of a monster against the swirling dark grey clouds.

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