Rose in Chains

In the present timeline, Toven guides Briony into Biltmore Palace and towards Ilana, the collared woman in charge of the parties. She tells Toven that neither Mallow nor Reighven is attending, to Briony’s relief. Briony sees Phoebe, but Phoebe doesn’t look at her. Toven and Briony see Gains with General Tremelo of Daward, a country across the sea that has heart magic but no heartsprings. Briony cannot tell if Tremelo is offended by the Bomardi cruelty towards her and the other Eversuns, as he remains diplomatic. She uses her mind magic to enter his mind and finds that he’s glad to see her physically unharmed, though he is perhaps not on board with Bomardi actions. Gains wants Toven to fight in the arena with Briony. Since she’s a Rosewood, her golden heartspring bond with Toven should make him more powerful than any other, but Toven refuses because he doesn’t want Briony to end up like Cordelia, though he doesn’t give Briony any information about her friend. Toven takes Briony to the private suite with Finn, Liam, Canning, two other Bomardi boys named Lorne and Collin, and others she doesn’t recognize.