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

“Yeah, that’s what I figured,” Tarquin said. He looked down at Five’s hand, fascinated by how the unnatural color contrasted with his own light brown skin. “I wish you could tell me what happened to you. I keep thinking I could fix this, if I just knew what happened.”


Tarquin winced. He didn’t know if Five meant he couldn’t tell him, or even if Tarquin knew what happened, it wouldn’t make a difference. Maybe he’d just end up hurting him again. The gods knew his magic was good at causing pain.


Five let Tarquin’s hand go, and they shuffled around until he was on Tarquin’s other side and he extended his other hand. Tarquin started with the thumb again. Five looked out across the room, but he seemed to be very much in his own world, and clearly not a good one.


Tarquin cut the rest of Five’s claws in their shared, unhappy silence.


“There.” The last claw shot away somewhere. “All done. What do you think?”


Chapter 62