At every barrier she raised, Althea gave the same instruction: “Go inside. Lock the doors. Do not leave. The cursed cannot enter the light.”

Soon, groups of survivors were huddling in the glowing houses, the golden light marking safe zones amid the darkness. Rudy and Ben shouted themselves hoarse, herding more villagers toward the inn and pointing to the glowing shelters as the only safe places left.

Althea, breathing hard, pressed her palm to her chest. Her power was being drained ...