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’s mother was sending out envoys to the few mages in the Realm to inform them the Kawj was gone and to request their presence at the capital. Isobel was certain Tarquin could explain the true nature of the Kawj and what its destruction meant. Tarquin wasn’t quite as confident. He definitely wasn’t looking forward to telling the other mages they might not actually be mages anymore.


He thought maybe they could be something else now, though. Maybe something even more powerful, without the limits of the Kawj’s terrible recompense. Something better.


But that wasn’t going to happen tonight, and Tarquin deliberately put it out of his head, promising himself he could fret about it later. Tonight was for celebrating the continued existence of the Realm, the birth of Ethelrine, and the official induction of the newest Shields of the Crown.


He took another drink, which emptied the bowl, then looked at the dregs of wine with some disappointment. It was very good wine.


Chapter 96