Blood Bound

Astrid goes to the royal library to think and to search for information about the Covenant and the Heart’s location. She studies the tapestry depicting Queen Aeloria and King Nyx, using a ladder for a closer look. She discovers Aeloria has a wing-shaped mate mark on her forehead, partially obscured by the queen’s raised arm. Caught in studying the tapestry, Astrid slips and falls but is caught by Zryan, who has followed her. Together, they realize Nyx’s mark depicts a rising sun, matching Aeloria’s title, “The Dawn.” This means the two were mates, not enemies, as history claims. Later that night on Astrid’s balcony, she and Skylar perform the spell using Cam’s ring. As Astrid casts, the ring floats and strains toward the sky. Astrid realizes what this means and tells Skylar that Cam is dead.

Devastated by the news of Cam’s death, Skylar flies into a rage, vowing to kill the entire Vatran royal family. Astrid and Bastet intervene, warning Skylar that if she dies in the process of killing the royals, Astrid will die too. The presence of Kaida also helps ground Skylar, with Astrid promising her they will get justice together. Needing to be alone, Skylar flees to the cliffs, draining the life from plants as she runs. Mjolnir appears and offers her an escape. She accepts, and they fly high above the kingdom. The flight feels natural to Skylar, but it provides only a temporary reprieve from her grief. When they land, a crowd—including the royals, Astrid, and Axel—is waiting. Axel approaches to offer condolences, but Skylar furiously rejects him. When he reaches for her, she blasts him backward with her power and walks away.

The royals meet with the Custodian to determine if Skylar can legally use Mjolnir in the duel, since Kaida is too young. Citing a lack of precedent, the Custodian rules that only Mjolnir can decide. Skylar communicates with the dragon and announces that he has agreed to fight. Later, at the Measuring—made a closed event following recent events—Astrid and Skylar are fitted for their duel attire. During the fitting, Astrid’s mother, Gwen, asks Queen Ottilie about a specific fabric, inadvertently revealing that Astrid was in the royal library and making Ottilie visibly anxious. 

Skylar is given an outfit in the Vatran colors of red and gold, while Astrid selects a storm-gray silver suit. Astrid then uses magic to change Skylar’s outfit to black, leaving a ring of red and gold over her heart in memory of Cam. Afterward, they encounter Zryan and Axel. Zryan’s reaction to Astrid’s form-fitting suit enrages Ottilie. Astrid overhears Axel mention the “warrens” to the queen, a place connected to the rebels, and formulates a plan to find the Heart.

Five days before the duel, Astrid convinces a grief-stricken Skylar to help her locate the Heart. After a couple of late-night planning sessions, they sneak out of the castle by climbing down a wall; when Astrid slips, Skylar catches her mid-fall with her magic. Using a mist to hide their appearance, they navigate Stone City to the warrens, a holding facility for conscripted Blooded citizens. The sight of carriages filled with people being taken to be drained of magic affects Skylar, reminding her of Cam. As they plant magical trackers on the vehicles, Skylar accidentally drops one, alerting a guard who soon spots her. Suddenly, an enormous, winged shadow plunges the area into magical darkness. A mysterious voice echoes in Skylar’s mind, telling her to run. When the darkness lifts, she sees an unknown figure grabbing Astrid from behind.

The figure who grabbed Astrid is Zryan, who was there on a secret mission. After they incapacitate a guard, Skylar joins them. Astrid amplifies Zryan’s power, allowing him to Teleport all three of them back to Skylar’s room—overcoming his normal inability to take anyone but Astrid and to Teleport that far. There, Zryan reveals to Skylar his involvement with the rebellion. Skylar is stunned and asks if Axel is involved; he is not. 

After Skylar grows pensive, Zryan takes Astrid to her room. She confronts him for not doing more to stop his father’s destructive policies and the Blight affecting her people. They conclude that Vatra is likely planning to invade Arturea for its resources, and that damage to the Heart may be driving Vatran fears that their Vitalas supply will run out. Zryan swears to support Skylar as queen if she wins the duel. They share an intense moment, but are interrupted by a guard before they can act on their feelings. Zryan leaves, and Astrid checks her map, confirming the trackers are working.

Skylar attends the Mourning Feast, the final tradition before the duel, to support Astrid. The event is full of nobles who have paid for their seats. A pompous lord, Sebastien Deveraux, sits between the heirs and behaves possessively toward Astrid. Skylar threatens him just as Zryan arrives and ejects the man, declaring the princesses are not for sale. Axel then sits next to Skylar, who rejects his presence. He tells her she is destined to win the duel, but she leaves the table. 

As King Zachary begins a speech honoring her, Skylar has had enough. The glass in her hand shatters and she denounces the entire spectacle. As she storms out, she blasts the king with her power, then her power explodes the overhead lights, sending glass showering down. Astrid follows her into an orchard. They confirm the trackers have likely located the Heart near an area called Sarkan’s Pass. Astrid returns Cam’s ring to Skylar and makes her promise to kill her cleanly, rather than letting Mjolnir do it. After an emotional farewell, Astrid leaves with Zryan for their final night.

Zryan takes Astrid to his private rooms, a space he has never shared with anyone before. They spend their last night together in a passionate embrace, making love under the stars on his balcony. The next morning, Zryan’s guard Jelani arrives with news that a rebel mission was a trap and Simone has been captured. Astrid is shocked to learn Zryan is the leader of the entire rebellion. Torn between his duty and his desire to stay with Astrid on her final day, he confesses he desperately searched for a way to stop the duel but found nothing. Astrid insists he must go help his people, as there is nothing more he can do for her. Before Zryan leaves, he swears he will be at the duel to support Astrid, promising that he will always choose her.

Skylar is escorted to the arena for the duel, but Mjolnir is nowhere to be found. She is further unsettled to see that Zryan and Axel are also missing. In Mjolnir’s absence, the Custodian rules that Skylar must enter the cage with her other bonded dragon, the infant Kaida. Horrified, Skylar instructs Kaida to stay behind Bastet for protection. Before the heirs enter the arena, a Blood Wielder severs their bond by drawing a drop of blood from each heir’s palm; the blood sizzles and turns black in a metal bowl. 

Skylar notes a faint remnant of Astrid’s essence still lingers, the bond not yet fully gone. Skylar and Astrid step into the cage with Kaida and Bastet. As the king announces the start of the duel, Skylar hears what she believes is Cam’s voice in her head, telling her he will always be with her. She shuts down her emotions, erasing all traces of the girl she was, and prepares to fight.

The duel begins, and Skylar is cold and merciless. She immediately attacks Astrid with her Exhauster power, and when Astrid is distracted, she slashes her across the face. Skylar taunts Astrid, sneering about Zryan’s absence and then attacking Bastet, which enrages Astrid. As they fight, Skylar claims their friendship was a lie and then delivers a cruel taunt about Jessa. Pushed past her breaking point by Skylar’s callous words about Jessa, and by Skylar lashing out toward Bastet again, Astrid unleashes her full power. She uses a spell to immobilize Skylar and throws a potion that floods her with magical, excruciating pain. With Skylar helpless on the ground, Astrid kneels over her. Resolved to win for Bastet and her people, she raises her claw to deliver the killing blow.