Twenty-year-old Tarquin is smart, tactless, and braver than he knows. He's also been Mage of the Realm of Kelor for two years, taking the title from his mother after she died protecting Kelor from a terrible threat. Mages, unlike all other magicians, give their blood in exchange for far more powerful magic. Unfortunately for the Mage of the Realm, there's always the chance one day Kelor will need magic of such potency that a mage will have to give not just their blood, but their life. Tarquin's mother already made this sacrifice, and Tarquin knows it's likely also his fate. While on a quest to heal his brother, who is dying because of Tarquin's reckless mistake, Tarquin is attacked by a horrific, flesh-eating monster. He's saved by an enigmatic and mute young soldier, called "Five", who is cursed with a terrifying appearance that conceals the heart of a knight. There's an almost instant attraction between the two men, but no time to explore it. The monster's attack is the harbinger of a new invasion. With Kelor helpless, the realm's only hope lies with Tarquin. Just as he feared, his sole choice is to sacrifice himself the way his mother did, in exchange for magic strong enough to destroy the coming evil. He's prepared to give up his life to save the realm, but before the battle is over, he'll be faced not just with his own death, but the death of everyone he cares about. Including the cursed soldier he's come to love.

Blood for Magic

Even half-blind, the haldur only missed because Tarquin used his magic to keep it from gouging out his heart. The next strike, a swipe upward meant to disembowel, only managed to rip his tunic.


Enraged, the haldur drew its arm back for a blow that would’ve carried off half of Tarquin’s head, except that gave him enough space to shove his mage knife blade deep into the haldur’s chest, above Ainya’s arrow, and right into its malformed heart.


The knife was sharp and long, but it turned out the haldur was bigger and thicker than Tarquin had estimated. All that happened was it jerked and staggered a step, then bent its massive head to squint at the knife.


It looked up at Tarquin again and smiled like a fistful of broken glass, then used its thumb and forefinger to pluck the knife out like removing a splinter. The haldur dropped it onto the road.


Chapter 4