QUICK LINKS: Chapter Summary 1–7 | 8–20 | 36–41 // Review // Quotes
Chapter 21
Bored out of her mind, Poppy sneaks out to the Atheneum to “borrow” Miss Willa Colyns‘s diary, which details her scandalous exploits. As Poppy gets lost in the diary’s juicy content, she suddenly hears the Duke’s voice and realizes she has lost track of time. To avoid being caught, Poppy climbs out onto the narrow window ledge outside the Duke’s private room.
While perched on the ledge, Poppy overhears the Duke talking with a guard about the captured Descenter. After they leave, she hears someone else in the room. It’s Hawke, who finds her on the ledge. He scolds her for being reckless and pulls her to safety. They share a heated moment and almost kiss.
Chapter 22
Instead of kissing Poppy, Hawke asks how she managed to leave her room without him noticing. Reluctantly, Poppy tells him about the old servants’ access. Suddenly, Hawke grabs the diary from her. He teases her about its scandalous content and reads a passage out loud.
Poppy and Tawny get ready for the Rite, which is the first one Poppy is allowed to attend. It’s also the first time Poppy is wearing something other than white. Vikter then escorts Poppy and Tawny to the Rite.
Chapter 23
Lord Mazeen approaches Poppy and hints at Priestess Analia’s displeasure. He suggests that a “lesson” is coming. His presence triggers Poppy’s memory of the night Malessa was killed. She remembers the Lord had smelled of jasmine and recalls the jasmine petal she had later found. For now, Poppy sets these thoughts aside and plans to talk to Vikter about her suspicions later.
The Rite is about to begin, but the Duke still hasn’t shown up. As the Priest speaks, Agnes approaches Poppy and Vikter. She requests a private conversation with Poppy, but Vikter insists on accompanying Poppy, so the three of them step outside. Agnes thanks them for what they did for her and her husband. She then warns Poppy to be careful. Though Poppy and Vikter sense that Agnes wants to say more, she abruptly leaves.
Vikter escorts Poppy back to Tawny’s side. While the Duke remains absent, Hawke finally arrives and explains that he was busy with security sweeps. Vikter then leaves to speak to Commander Jansen.
After a while, Poppy feels guilty that Tawny is stuck with her when Tawny clearly wants to join the party. Poppy encourages her to mingle and enjoy the Rite. She tells Tawny that she’s tired and plans to retire soon anyway.
However, instead of taking Poppy straight to her room, Hawke convinces her to go to the garden, which used to be her refuge before Rylan’s death.
Chapter 24
Just as the garden brings back memories of Rylan for Poppy, Hawke shares a nostalgic memory from his childhood. He talks about a hidden cavern and hot spring that served as a special haven for him, his brother, and later, a close friend. After he lost his brother and his friend, the place “turned into a graveyard of memories.” Poppy uses her gift on Hawke again to take away his emotional pain.
Hawke then guides Poppy to a weeping willow. He sits on the bench inside and pulls Poppy onto his lap, her side resting against his chest. Hawke tells her that he cares about who she is, not what she is. Feeling nervous but determined, Poppy asks him to kiss her.
Chapter 25
Hawke and Poppy kiss, but just as things begin to intensify, Hawke stops before they go any further. As they make their way back to Poppy’s room, they run into Vikter, who immediately senses what the pair had been doing. Vikter expresses his disapproval to them and emphasizes the risks involved.
After Hawke leaves, Poppy has an emotional outburst, venting her frustration with the restrictions and limitations imposed on her as the Maiden. She reveals the depth of her feelings of powerlessness and resentment to Vikter and confesses that she wishes to be found unworthy by the gods. Vikter tries to comfort her, but she moves out of his reach.
As Poppy and Vikter continue walking, a loud, cracking sound suddenly halts them in their tracks. The noise is quickly followed by a chorus of terrified screams. Poppy rushes to the Great Hall and stops abruptly when she sees the Duke’s body, stabbed in the heart with his own cane. Above the body is the mark of the Dark One written in blood: “From Blood and Ash… We Will Rise.”
Chapter 26
The windows in the Great Hall shatter, sending glass shards flying into the crowd, and arrows strike down the Ascended. Vikter and the Royal Guards form a protective circle around Poppy and Tawny, but the chaos and crush of the crowd overwhelm them. Eventually, Poppy, Tawny, the Duchess, Lord Mazeen, and Vikter escape to an empty room, only for the Descenters to immediately break down the door. Poppy draws her dagger and fights them off alongside Vikter.
The Duchess is scandalized that Poppy knows how to fight, but Vikter tells Poppy that she makes him proud. As Poppy, Tawny, and Vikter are about to leave, a wounded Descenter stands up and throws a sword at Vikter, fatally striking him. Poppy sees Hawke and begs him to help, but it’s too late. As Vikter lies dying, he apologizes to Poppy for not protecting her and failing her.
Lord Mazeen suddenly taunts Poppy about Vikter’s death. In a fit of fury, Poppy swings her sword and severs the Lord’s arm, then his hand, and finally slices off his head. Hawke intervenes to stop Poppy’s violent rampage. Poppy then blacks out.
Chapter 27
Poppy stays in her room for a week and a half after Vikter’s death. One day, Hawke comes to her and says the Duchess has requested Poppy’s presence.
The Duchess informs Poppy that the Queen has summoned Poppy back to Carsodonia for her safety. Also, to Poppy’s surprise, she will not be punished for killing Lord Mazeen.
Chapter 28
Poppy and Hawke argue about taking Tawny to Carsodonia. Hawke insists it’s too dangerous. Tawny agrees and cites safety concerns and her lack of combat skills. Hawke then instructs Poppy to pack lightly and leave her veil behind.
At sunrise, Poppy, Hawke, and a small group set out for Carsodonia. For the first time in years, Poppy feels the wind and sun on her face without her veil. Before they leave, Hawke introduces her to Kieran, a guard who traveled from the capital with him.
Chapter 29
Poppy doesn’t know how to ride a horse, so she rides with Hawke. Being so close to him at first makes her uneasy, but she eventually relaxes.
The group travels through the desolate Barren Plains and the ruins of former settlements ravaged by the Craven. They then slow their pace due to the uneven terrain and the possibility of encountering barrats: large, dangerous rodents that eat anything they come across, including humans.
Hawke surprises Poppy with Lady Willa Colyns’s diary, and they share a brief, light-hearted moment that’s quickly overshadowed. As the group enters the Blood Forest, Poppy is disturbed by the bones of animals and people underfoot and the absence of leaves. Phillips, one of the guards, remark on the forest’s unnatural nature.
The group then sets up camp within the Blood Forest and prepares to spend the night close to the Craven’s territory.
Chapter 30
Poppy struggles to sleep in the frigid Blood Forest, her anxiety heightened by the fear of barrats and the threat of a Craven attack. When Hawke notices her shivering, he lies down beside her and wraps his arm and blanket around her to keep her warm. He explains that staying close isn’t just to keep her warm but also to intervene if she has a nightmare. He then gives her pleasure to help her relax and fall asleep.
Chapter 31
Poppy wakes up to hear Hawke and Kieran talking. Kieran mentions that he has noticed something going on between Hawke and Poppy. He then reminds Hawke about his task.
Hawke approaches Poppy, who is pretending to be asleep, and gently wakes her. To Poppy’s surprise, he thanks her for what happened last night. As they share a tender moment, Kieran watches them with concern.
As the group travels through the Blood Forest, a horde of barrats rushes past them. Thick mist suddenly rolls in, and a Craven appears and kills Noah.
The group fights off the Craven, but Airrick is mortally wounded while saving Poppy. As Airrick dies, Poppy uses her gift to ease his pain. This confirms the rumors about her “touch” to Hawke and Phillips.
Chapter 32
The group arrives in New Haven at dusk. As they pass through the town, Poppy notices the townspeople behaving as if they’re in the presence of royalty. When they reach Haven Keep, Delano, Elijah, and Magda greet them. Hawke asks Magda to take Poppy to a room where she can bathe and have some food.
Magda gives Poppy a blue robe, which makes Poppy emotional since it’s not white. As Magda turns to leave, Poppy asks her about the Lord and Lady of New Haven. Magda tells her that the Lord is out hunting.
Later, when Hawke joins her in her room, Poppy reveals the full extent of her gift: she senses others’ emotions and eases pain through touch. She admits that she had eased his pain in the past without him knowing. Hawke thanks her sincerely. Not wanting him to leave, Poppy asks him to stay with her.
Chapter 33
Hawke warns Poppy that if he stays, she will no longer be the Maiden. Poppy, fully aware of the consequences, assures him that she understands. They share an intimate night together.
Afterward, Hawke asks Poppy to promise that no matter what happens later, she won’t forget this moment and that their connection is real.
Chapter 34
Poppy wakes up with Hawke, who leaves after a knock on the door. Phillips rushes in and warns Poppy that something is wrong and that they need to leave. He suspects Hawke and Kieran of deception. As Poppy and Phillips try to escape, they run into Kieran. Phillips attacks him, and Kieran transforms into a wolven, confirming Phillips’s fears. Poppy and Phillips flee to the stables, where Luddie and Bryant are waiting for them.
Jericho appears and threatens Poppy. Hawke then arrives and kills Phillips. Bryant and Luddie also get killed in the chaos. Poppy tries to use her gift on Hawke but feels nothing, which confuses her. Jericho then asks if he can kill Poppy, but Hawke insists they need her alive.
Chapter 35
Hawke tells a shocked Poppy they need to talk. She realizes Phillips was right about Hawke’s deception. Hawke admits that he used Rylan’s death to get close to her and that he knew her identity at the Red Pearl.
The truth hits Poppy hard, especially when she learns of Hawke’s role in Vikter’s death. Angry, she throws a dagger at Hawke, but he catches it. Grabbing Phillips’s sword, she swings at Jericho and manages to wound him. However, another person intervenes, and she gets sliced across the stomach in the process. Despite the pain, she tries to escape, but Hawke catches and disarms her.
Poppy fights back and lands a few more hits on Hawke. But she freezes when she sees his fangs and realizes that he is an Atlantian. Hawke then orders Delano to take her somewhere safe. As the crowd clamors for Poppy’s death, Hawke warns them that no one can touch her except him.
Chained in a dark cell, Poppy realizes the depth of Hawke’s betrayal and fears he plans to hand her over to the Dark One. As she eats the food Delano brought, Hawke arrives and orders Delano to leave.
