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

“I’m amazed you survived long enough for me to heal you, now that I remember it,” Tarquin said. “I mean, he was holding you down in the fire. And all the hits you took afterwards, and being slammed around like that…”


Five pulled away. For a moment Tarquin was surprised at how crestfallen he was, but then Five reached into his tunic and pulled out a leather amulet bag on a cord around his neck. It was the one Tarquin had given him.


“You want me to…?” Tarquin started, and then when Five nodded, he opened the drawstring. Inside were the remains of the amulets of protection against injury and cold that Tarquin had made Five back at the destroyed village. They’d been smashed into shards.


“I can’t believe I forgot about those,” Tarquin said, smiling with the flutter of pride and happiness in his chest. “I guess they worked, too, since you’re alive.” He frowned as he pulled the small drawstring shut. “You’ll need new ones.”


Chapter 63