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

Tarquin gave him a wry smile. “Exactly. Luckily one of the kitchen staff spotted the vyr assassin before she got much farther than the corridor, or we might all be pledging fealty to Redshanks and her royal court of vyr. They closed the tunnel again after that.”


Now Tarquin could see spots of light from the holes in the stone wall up ahead. A weak breeze came through, just enough to sting his nose and make his mouth tingle with the taste of salt. “Here it is,” he said quietly.


He’d stopped them at a heavy wooden door, locked with mage magic like the trapdoor above them. The door was new, replacing the one Faladir had destroyed.


Describing the history of the tunnel had distracted him, but now they were right outside the door to the Kawj, Tarquin didn’t want to open it. He felt sick, nauseated with guilt and fear. And underneath those churning emotions was the beat of the Kawj itself, like a slower echo of his hammering heart.


Chapter 66