QUICK LINKS: Chapter Summary 1–12 | 26–37 | 38–45 // Review // Quotes
Chapter 13
After their conversation, Alastir takes Poppy to a library where Cas is waiting. Poppy unexpectedly ends up in Cas’s lap.
Cas and Kieran question Poppy about Alastir. Poppy explains that Alastir doesn’t believe in their relationship and offered to help her escape, an offer she declined. Poppy assures Cas that she’ll keep her word. Before leaving, Cas thanks her for choosing him.
Poppy spends the rest of the day in the library with Kieran. She discovers an old book with records of Atlantians who once lived in New Haven. As Kieran leans in closer to look, his arm accidentally brushes hers. He feels a sudden shock, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
Later, Kieran leaves when Cas returns. As Poppy and Cas discuss the book’s contents, he suggests that she might be descended from the empath warrior bloodline, which could explain her unique abilities.
Just as Poppy and Cas are about to kiss, Naill bursts in with urgent news: the Ascended are approaching from the west.
Chapter 14
After hiding the book, Poppy leaves the library with Cas and Naill. Poppy and Cas find a spot in the woods and watch as the Ascended and Royal Knights round up the inhabitants, including Elijah and Magda.
Soon, Lord Chaney, an Ascended from Masadonia, arrives and questions the people about a group that came with a young woman. Magda answers that there was no woman. However, Lord Chaney brings out Mrs. Tulis, who confirms that the Maiden was indeed with the group. When Elijah denies the Maiden’s presence, Lord Chaney kills Mrs. Tulis for lying.
The situation escalates as the Lord kills another man. Before intervening, Cas leaves behind Poppy’s wolven dagger. Cas then admits that the Maiden is in the keep and reveals himself as the “Dark One.” Upon hearing this, Lord Chaney and the knights transform into their true, monstrous forms, similar to a Craven.
Chapter 15
A battle erupts. Poppy kills a knight who was about to harm a child and another knight who recognized her scars. Suddenly, Lord Chaney appears, holding the child. Thinking quickly, Poppy pretends to be scared and grateful for the Lord’s presence. But then someone strikes her unconscious.
Poppy awakens in a moving carriage with Lord Chaney. He warns her that if she’s thinking of escaping, she should know he is not alone. He also tells her that he knows she has been compromised.
Lord Chaney then reveals that he knows Poppy’s true nature, what is in her blood, and why she’s the Chosen. Desperate, Poppy tries to escape, but the Lord attacks and bites her arm.
Chapter 16
In a blind rage, Poppy repeatedly stabs Lord Chaney. Just then, Cas arrives and stops her. He tells her that he found her dagger and knows that she wouldn’t have left it behind unless she had no choice. After examining her injuries, he admits that he didn’t think he’d find her alive. Overwhelmed by pain, Poppy falls unconscious.
Poppy wakes up, disoriented and has no memory of the journey back to the keep. Cas explains that he gave her his blood to help her heal quickly, as they can’t afford to wait with others coming after her. They then discuss what happened with Lord Chaney, and Cas reveals that the Lord lied and killed the child.
Concerned, Cas asks Poppy if she’s upset that he gave her his blood. Poppy reassures him, appreciating that it spared her from more pain. She then expresses her desire to help the injured. Cas hesitates, worried because she was just injured herself, but eventually agrees.
Chapter 17
After Poppy changes, she and Cas leave the room and find a crowd at the keep’s entrance. A blood tree has appeared where Lord Chaney found her. Cas says it’s an omen of great change.
Near the banquet hall, Poppy and Cas enter a room filled with injured people. Poppy uses her ability to ease their pain and notices varied reactions, from gratitude to fear and distrust. Amid this, a woman reveals that Poppy is a “second daughter,” not a Maiden but still Chosen.
Later, Poppy, Cas, and Alastir discuss her empath abilities. Alastir explains that some people feared empath warriors for siphoning energy from emotions, calling them “Soul Eaters.” Poppy clarifies that she doesn’t have this ability.
After Alastir leaves for Spessa’s End, Cas leads Poppy to a pantry. He expresses his awe and admiration for her actions and asks for a kiss. He suggests that they pretend to be just Hawke and Poppy. Overwhelmed by the day’s events and her conflicting feelings, Poppy agrees.
Chapter 18
Poppy and Cas passionately kiss, but Cas stops before things go further. He tells Poppy that he has a gift for her: retribution.
Cas leads Poppy into the dungeon and gives her the choice to kill Lord Chaney herself or let him or Kieran do it. Poppy thrusts a dagger into the Lord’s heart, turning him to ash.
Back in the library, Poppy asks Kieran about his bond with Cas. Kieran explains that they can sense each other’s emotions and injuries but can’t read each other’s thoughts. If one dies, the other weakens but eventually recovers.
Later, Kieran follows Poppy to the chamber of names, where she carves the names of the Tulises.
Chapter 19
That night, Poppy wakes from a nightmare about her mother’s death. Cas comforts her and suggests that they pretend to be just Hawke and Poppy again. He then gives her pleasure, which helps her fall back asleep.
The next morning, Poppy, Cas, and their group prepare to leave for Spessa’s End. Cas notices that Poppy is unusually quiet and tries to guess why. She insists that it has nothing to do with the previous night.
Before they depart, Poppy and Cas take a moment to say goodbye to Elijah.
Chapter 20
Poppy avoids Cas’s questions about her silence, but he realizes that it’s due to their arrangement. She admits that she’s unsure how to act around him publicly. Cas tells her to be herself, as people will believe their relationship more if she acts naturally, even if it means threatening to stab him. Poppy elbows him when he provokes her.
While discussing relationships, Poppy asks Cas about his former lover, but he avoids the question. Instead, Cas reveals that the Ascended have caused all the bad things in his life. She points out her connection to the Ascended and privately wonders how he can even stand to be around her.
For three days, Cas barely says a word. As they ride through the woods, Poppy notices eerie bone structures hanging from the trees. Cas explains that these are made by the Dead Bones Clan, a notorious group rumored to kill and eat humans. Sensing danger, he teaches Poppy how to use an Atlantian bow and arrow.
Suddenly, without warning, the Dead Bones Clan launches an attack.
Chapter 21
Cas is hit by multiple arrows. Poppy panics but quickly uses the bow and arrow Cas gave her to fight back. Kieran and Delano, in their wolven forms, also join the fight.
After the fight, Cas, despite his injuries, reassures Poppy that he’ll heal once he removes the arrows. While he tends to her wound, Poppy notices his pupils are unusually large. Just then, Kieran interrupts, snapping Cas out of his trance.
Later that night, the group arrives at Pompay, known as “the last Atlantian stronghold,” which the Ascended destroyed over forty years ago.
Chapter 22
At dawn, the group continues their journey and finally arrives at Spessa’s End by nightfall. They are greeted by Quentyn Da’Lahr and his wolven companion, Beckett. After Quentyn shows them to their rooms, Cas leaves to check in with the others while Poppy settles in.
Poppy wakes up nearly on top of a sleeping Cas. As she tries to pull away, Cas shifts and pins her beneath him. Though awake, he doesn’t seem to recognize her. Using her gift, Poppy senses that Cas is starving. His behavior then turns aggressively sexual toward her.
Kieran bursts into the room upon hearing Poppy’s screams. He tells her to run, but instead, she uses her gift to calm Cas down. Cas snaps out of it, apologizes, and leaves.
Chapter 23
After confirming Cas didn’t harm Poppy, Kieran tells her Cas needs to feed. Poppy wonders why Cas hasn’t.
Kieran takes Poppy to the Bay, where they discuss Malik, Shea, and their concerns about Cas. He reveals that Cas hasn’t fed since Masadonia and explains that Atlantians avoid feeding from others when they care for someone, implying that Cas has feelings for Poppy.
During Kieran and Poppy’s conversation, Kieran shares his belief that Poppy and Cas are heartmates, which adds another layer to her complicated relationship with Cas.
Chapter 24
Kieran doesn’t explain what “heartmates” means, and Poppy doesn’t press for details. However, as they share breakfast, the conversation lingers in her mind. She starts worrying about Cas and decides to offer herself to Cas so he can feed.
Poppy then asks Kieran if Cas would have truly let her go if she had refused his proposal. Kieran assures her that he would have, but she wouldn’t have been completely free of him. This makes Poppy realize that Cas’s plans for her have changed, and she can no longer ignore or deny her feelings for him. She then confides in Kieran about her plan to offer herself to Cas.
Back in her room, Poppy lets Alastir in. Alastir asks if Cas mentioned relocating the Atlantians to Spessa’s End. Poppy admits that Cas hasn’t told her, which irritates Poppy and makes her question his trust.
Alastir then mentions the Joining, an ancient Atlantian tradition that would stop Poppy from aging and dying. This revelation shocks her.
Chapter 25
After explaining the Joining, Alastir shocks Poppy further by revealing that he was King Malec’s bonded wolven and would have refused the Joining. He also confesses that, despite his oath, he was the one who informed the Queen that King Malec had turned his mistress, Isbeth, into a vampry.
Later, Cas finds Poppy by the fire in their room. He apologizes for losing control that morning and thanks her for calming him down. Poppy mentions Alastir’s visit and the Joining. Cas, amused, explains that the ritual isn’t always sexual.
As the conversation shifts, Poppy tells Cas that she knows he needs to feed. She then asks what happens if things get worse. Cas explains that going too long without feeding leads to bloodlust and reveals that the Ascended often withheld blood from him.
Poppy then offers Cas her blood. Cas hesitates but eventually agrees, on the condition that someone else is present to ensure that he doesn’t take too much.
