Chapter 31

In the cave, Symond—Umbros’s Chief Centenary—confronts Diem, revealing her identity as Auralie’s daughter and surrounding the group with Centenaries. They invade Diem’s mind with taunts, but Diem’s godhood purges their magic and she manifests flaming whips, only to halt when the Centenaries psychically force Luther, Alixe, Taran, and the Cardinal to hold blades to their throats.

To spare her companions, Diem surrenders her weapons. Symond then tests the Cardinal’s loyalty, handing back her knife; she instantly drives it into her own throat under his manipulation. As the others erupt—Taran defending Zalaric as their “friend,” Symond revealing Zalaric’s prior bargain to betray them—tensions soar. Luther demands whether Diem knew of Zalaric’s coerced betrayal; distracted, Diem admits it.

Shielded by Alixe, Diem secretly channels her godhood to heal the Cardinal’s mortal wound, reviving her and concealing the act under a cloak. She then lies that the Cardinal died, keeping Symond’s focus on her while grief crushes Zalaric and trust in the group fractures.

To end the standoff and protect her friends from further psychic harm, Diem pivots, provoking and seducing Symond into following the Queen’s summons. She accepts escort to the Umbros Queen, masking her revulsion and sacrifice as the Centenaries take the entire group into custody.