Anyone who knows about the former Kingsmage Natasia Kane likely thinks of her as a cautionary tale for “succumbing to the blood,” what the Merlins call it when they lose themselves to the demon nature always hiding just under the surface of all part-human, part-demon cambions. The original Merlin, Arthur’s sorcerer, had bespelled his descendants with a safeguard so that as long as they fulfill their Oaths of service and protection to the Order, they can keep that demon part of their blood from taking control. Twenty-five years ago, Nick’s father framed Sel’s mother—his original Kingsmage—for opening demon Gates in order to murder Onceborn humans so that suspicion would not fall on him for his act of betrayal. Lord Davis told the Regents that Natasia had become too powerful for even the Oaths to stop her from succumbing to her blood, and they believed him. When the Regents quietly took her title and had her imprisoned, it was assumed that the inability to fulfill her Oaths would erase anything that remained of her humanity.

But a restored memory of the night my mother died showed me that Natasia Kane had been there in the hospital, grieving my mother. Sel and I are the only people who know that not only had his mother escaped her false imprisonment but, somehow, she’d avoided succumbing to her blood while captured. We don’t know how she did it, and we don’t know where she is to ask. Whenever I have raised that memory of his mother with him, Sel dodges the topic.

Sel is not his mother. And with Nick gone, his Kingsmage Oath is unfulfilled. Right now I can see the pressing wound of fear in him—and so can Lark. A haunted, hollow look crosses Sel’s face—and guilt pricks at my throat. Little daggers of Why didn’t I ask about this earlier? and What else have I missed?

Another Merlin saw what I hadn’t.

“Sel,” I murmur, stepping closer, “are you…?”

“I am fine,” Sel mutters. Lark drops a hand on Sel’s shoulder as he steps around him, continuing his casual stride toward the stairs. Sel moves to follow, leaving me to scramble behind him.

“But Nick… your blood—”

“He speaks the truth, Crown Scion. He is fine.” Lark calls down to us from halfway up the stairs. “His Oath of Service to the chapter is helping him maintain. If it wasn’t, and Kane here was anything other than in full control of himself, Erebus would have taken him down on sight. And I wouldn’t be willing to leave ye alone with him.”

Sel scoffs behind him. “You haven’t left me alone with her.”

“Getting there.” Lark reaches the top before we do and turns on his heel, jerking his head down the hall. “Allow me to go ahead. I’ll sweep the Crown Scion’s room myself.”