The Drowned Gods, #1
Curious Tides
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 31: Emory
Overview
Dragged into the depths by the umbra that once was Jordyn, Emory nearly drowns as the creature feeds on her fears. Baz yanks her from the water, only for the umbra to turn on him. Cornered, Emory channels the full breadth of her unstable, all-touching magic, risking herself to break its hold.
Summary
Emory is dragged underwater by the umbra wearing Jordyn’s shape. As cold and darkness smother her, the umbra gorges on her fears and memories, from Dovermere’s horrors to doubts about Baz and the ache of her mother’s absence. She reaches instinctively for healing magic, but it cannot create air, and she begins to surrender.
At the brink, hands seize her and haul her out. Baz pulls Emory onto the rock beside the frozen wave, assuring her he has her. Before they can recover, the umbra reemerges, shrieking, and lunges. It clamps clawed hands around Baz’s throat, feeding on his terror while lifting him off the ground.
Seeing Baz’s struggle, Emory widens her senses and scrapes for any thread of power she can reach—life, death, light, darkness, protection, illusion, dreams, fear—refusing to let the umbra extinguish him. She recognizes that this creature intends to hollow Baz as Jordyn was hollowed.
Driven by urgency and loyalty, Emory releases everything. Magic surges through her like a tidal wave, searing and blinding, threatening to tear her apart. Accepting the cost, she lets it consume her, aiming that overwhelming force to break the umbra’s hold on Baz.
Who Appears
- EmoryProtagonist; nearly drowns as the umbra feeds on her fears, then unleashes vast, volatile magic to save Baz.
- BazRescues Emory from drowning; then is throttled by the umbra as it feeds on his terror.
- Jordyn (Umbra)Transformed into a shade-like umbra; attacks Emory and then Baz, intent on destruction.