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

Eleven days, since Ainya and Five had returned abruptly from their scouting mission and Faladir had died. Eleven days since they’d confirmed what everyone had feared: that the haldur were massing in Telir to march to war. Tarquin had been in the sickroom for all of them, and balanced between life and death for three.


Prea insisted she wouldn’t answer any of Tarquin’s questions until he finished his meal and stopped panicking, so he grudgingly picked at the watery oatmeal he’d been brought.


He was still pushing wet globs around the bowl when the members of the queen’s inner court came in, looking as grim and frightened as Tarquin felt. The scars on Ainya’s face had faded to slender lines, and whatever wounds she’d taken from the golem had clearly been healed. It was hard to believe enough time had passed for that to happen.


Chapter 56