Chapter 67

Diem’s throat mark flares, warning that Ophiucae is near. She orders Luther to warn Doriel and sends Perthe to hide with Teller, revealing Ophiucae is her birth father and intends to kill Descended. Diem raises a stone wall against approaching riders and races back to the library, where Doriel and guards assemble.

Doriel sees Ophiucae’s sigil on Diem and accuses her of collusion. To force action, Diem uses Umbros compulsion to make Doriel release Luther’s sealed magic; together, Diem and Luther cast a citywide shield. Ophiucae arrives astride a monstrous gryvern, draining their shield’s power and directing marked mortal attackers led by Vance into Sophos. Doriel reluctantly crowns up and launches with their gryvern Vexes to lure Ophiucae away.

On the streets, Diem uses Faunos to unseat horsemen and sends Stuart to fetch godstone weapons from the archives. The battle turns chaotic; Diem employs Arboros, Meros, and other magics to hinder invaders, risking exposure. A mortal spares Diem after noticing Ophiucae’s mark on her, and Diem realizes all the attackers bear the same star. She heals a gravely wounded guard and continues reviving others under fire.

Above, Vexes falters; Ophiucae’s gryvern snatches Doriel, impaling them. Stuart returns with limited godstone arms. As Ophiucae dives, spewing dragonfyre, Diem draws a godstone sword from an ancient scabbard, endures the flames unburned, and slashes the gryvern’s belly, forcing it to drop Doriel. Diem heals Doriel and instructs them to pair Meros wind and Faunos speech with Vexes to offset Ophiucae’s speed.

Amid burning buildings, foreign Descended join Sophos guards to raise obstacles. Diem cannot find Luther—who has gone after Vance and the Sword of Corbois—but chooses to trust him and turns to save civilians, summoning rain to douse fires. Suddenly, Ophiucae and the wounded gryvern smash her down; a talon clamps her throat as Ophiucae taunts her, capturing Diem.