Cursed (Enchanted Gods #1) - K.K. Allen Page 0,74

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 news. “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