In the Veins of the Drowning

Rohana gives Imogen only one draught. She can sever the bond between Theo and Imogen, but Eusia’s bond will remain, as it was formed by taking a Siren bond and mixing it with magic. The blood rituals Imogen performed throughout her childhood are the likely cause of the bond, and only the one who performed the spell (Imogen) can break it. However, she must figure out how.

Rohana suggests Imogen return home. Thinking of her home in Seraf, Imogen remembers the Siren wing that hangs in the throne room. She realizes that the king in the prophecy is not Theo, but King Nemea, and the wing is Ligea’s. This leads to her discovery that Nemea is her biological father, and “what they have made” is Imogen herself (212).

Rohana gives Imogen parting advice: keep her bond with Theo and the additional power it offers so that she may survive her confrontation with Eusia. They are better together. She urges Imogen to take everything she wants because she will someday become like Rohana. Imogen drags Theo from the hut and to the home of Hector and Antonia, who nursed him back to health once before.

Imogen briefly informs the couple of her bond with Theo and their journey to see the Mage for a prophecy. They are given a room. Eventually, Theo wakes while Imogen is in the bath. When she exits, he sees the wound from where she gave her flesh to Rohana. Theo calls her over and holds her as he asks what he missed. Imogen informs him that she secured the draught for severing their bond and that only she can sever her own bond with Eusia. Imogen then tells him the first half of prophecy and about Nemea being her father but omits the fact that she will bring destruction.

Theo correctly assumes Imogen plans to take revenge on Nemea for everything but reminds her that her responsibilities are bigger than that. Imogen and Theo become intimate, during which Theo asks Imogen what she wants. She claims to want a home where she’s safe and feels less alone. Theo suggests Imogen throw the draught in the fire. He doesn’t want to unbind, because severing her bond from Eusia is too dangerous without his added power. Imogen reminds him of his duty to his people, which he claims this also adheres to.

Hector informs Theo of an attack King Nemea made on Ammos—one hour up the coast—two nights prior. Theo shutters the windows and locks the doors to the home, explaining to Hector and Antonia that Nemea is searching for Imogen. She is not only his wife and the queen of Varya now, but also a Siren and the daughter of Nemea and Ligea. That night, Imogen still hasn’t decided what to do with the severance draught. Theo tells her to take it if she believes that the bond is all he feels for her. Imogen knows things will end poorly between them because of the prophecy but also knows Theo has come to love her.

The next morning, Theo and Imogen begin their return journey. Imogen asks Theo about Rohana. He informs her that Rohana is 278 years into her 400-year tenure as Mage Seer. He doesn’t know where she learned magic but doesn’t believe she’s old enough to have been taught by the First Mage, who was executed for the way she used magic back when the Great Gods were new.

When Imogen explains what Rohana said about her bond with Eusia involving spell magic Imogen herself must have cast, Theo tells her spell magic makes the wielder sick. Imogen never experienced this during the rituals King Nemea forced her to participate in. Theo reveals there are books about magic back at the palace, but they are guarded by a hermitess who won’t allow even him access.

Theo and Imogen cross paths with a retinue of guards led by Commander Lachlan. He informs them of attacks on Ammos and Notos and expresses disapproval that their bond has not yet been severed. When Imogen tells him how the bond provides the additional strength she’ll need to survive killing Eusia and severing their bond, Lachlan is apathetic, claiming it is not Theo’s responsibility. Lachlan insults Theo’s ability to keep his duty separate from his love life, provoking a fight that Imogen must break up.

Their entourage is attacked by mercenaries hired by Nemea, including the men Theo and Imogen met at the caretaker’s cottage days prior. Imogen lashes out with her power against the mercenaries but snares Lachlan too, who nearly dies alongside them until Theo stops her. Lachlan’s men dispatch their enemies while Lachlan recovers. The near-deadly mistake convinces Imogen she must sever her bond to Theo if she wishes to keep him safe.

They travel for two days and arrive back at the palace during an engagement feast Empress Nivala has thrown for Princess Halla. Imogen informs Lachlan to retrieve Agatha, as she plans to take the severance draught that night while Theo is preoccupied. Before she leaves the celebration, Imogen is approached by the Nivala, who tells Imogen a story about her surname, Nel.

Twenty-five years ago, the Nivala held a remembrance for her late husband, which many rulers attended, including King Nemea and Queen Ligea. The Nels were a rich and powerful Obelian family who hosted a lavish dinner at their home. Their guests went for a walk in the gardens, but when they returned, the entire Nel family had been murdered. They were slashed open from throat to waist, and their jewels were taken off their corpses, including a ring that looked exactly like Imogen’s engagement ring.

Imogen leaves the celebration, suspecting Nivala knows who and what she is. Agatha meets Imogen in her chambers, where Imogen admits she loves Theo. Before Imogen can take the draught, Theo arrives and realizes what she meant to do. After Agatha is dismissed, Theo admits his feelings for Imogen, which go far beyond duty or the bond. They become sexually intimate, and Imogen decides not to take the draught.

Later that night, a man leaves books on magic at the door. The hermitess agreed to lend them to Theo for two days after a compelling note he wrote her about taking a wife and honoring his duty to aid, protect, and upkeep the realm.

Imogen combs the books for information. One teaches her about the First Mage, who began her spell work to overshadow her infinitely more powerful sister, the Great Goddess Ligea. The First Mage began mixing her own Siren blood with blood, sacrifices, and well-worded prayers until she created a new form of magic—though its cost was immense. The First Mage’s first spell was benevolent. She provided a prophecy for a pregnant woman, informing her that the child, Rohana, would be a great seer who would advise and protect the archipelago. Over time, the First Mage began to weaken. Desperate to replenish what her magic took, she went to Rohana’s home and emerged two days later much stronger than before. Rohana’s mother was never seen again.

A page depicting lineages of the Gods shows Ligea and her younger sister, Eusia. Imogen wakes Theo who tells her the First Mage was disemboweled and thrown in the sea off the coast of the Siren’s home island of Anthemoessa, which has long since been uninhabited due to blight. Imogen tells Theo that Eusia is the First Mage. When he asks how to kill something that’s already dead, Imogen answers: magic. Theo warns Imogen against it, as magic will require a steep cost from her, but Imogen sees no other way.

Imogen and Theo have sex, which is interrupted by the arrival of Lachlan and Agatha. When Lachlan becomes angry that Imogen did not follow through in severing their bond, Agatha scolds him for pressuring them to do what was done to them. Guilty, Imogen reveals the final part of the prophecy foretelling that Imogen will decimate the order of all things. Theo still doesn’t agree to sever the bond, even after hearing the prophecy.

Imogen pockets the severance draught vial as the court prepares for the traditional Obelian pre-marriage ritual. Everyone gathers on the beach where Princess Halla waits. Agatha apologizes to Imogen for Lachlan’s behavior. Imogen advises Agatha to empathize with the pressure Lachlan is under and rebuild their former relationship. Princess Halla pulls Imogen aside for a conversation in which she tells her of the duty she must uphold to her kingdom. Nivala has tasked her with giving her mother an heir. She is suspicious of the relationship Imogen has with Theo and asks her not to intervene, which Imogen agrees to.

Princess Halla begins the ritual, pulling Theo ankle deep into the sea with her. She asks for a happy marriage, many children, and a strong military fleet. She then cuts her palm and offers her blood to the water, chanting the same prayer that King Nemea would have his court repeat for Eusia. Imogen disrupts the ritual when she realizes who Halla worships. Halla reveals that Eusia performed a miracle for her family, granting Nivala a child (Halla) in exchange for the life of her husband. Imogen realizes that Nivala must have taught King Nemea how to worship Eusia all those years ago at the remembrance she held for her husband, which is why the Nel family was sacrificed shortly after.

Halla learns that Imogen is blood bound to Theo and is therefore his wife by law. She demands they sever the bond or face the wrath of Empress Nivala and her military. Imogen flees the beach and removes the draught from her pocket, drinking it on the return to her chambers.