Chapter 68

Ophiucae pins Diem in his gryvern’s grasp and introduces himself as the man who gave her life. He tests her Crowns’ pull, tempts her with shared rule, and vows retribution. When Diem refuses his slaughter, his fury shakes the city and he brands her throat, until Doriel and Vexes strike, wounding his gryvern and drawing him away.

With Ophiucae chasing Doriel, Diem turns to the city fight. She withholds killing blows against shielded mortals, recognizing Vance’s manipulation, and struggles with a mortal’s accusation that she fights against her own. When Ophiucae’s shields on the mortals fail, Descended guards move to execute them; Diem compels the mortals to run and raises shields to block reprisals, ordering the Sophos to stand down.

Fearing for Luther, Diem searches the city until he returns, having hunted a mortal attacker and reclaimed the Sword of Corbois. Diem realizes the black onyx, gold-inlaid broadsword from the archives is the Kindred blade she saw in a vision and feels its bond. Luther reveals his captive: Vance, who had targeted defenseless schoolchildren.

Before a bloodthirsty crowd, Diem rejects execution. She heals Vance’s injuries and, using Umbros command, compels him to leave the realm and stop aiding Ophiucae, then shields him from the guards as he flees. Doriel and a wounded Meros rider crash back with Vexes, reporting one fallen Faunos ally and Ophiucae’s breach of their shields.

Ophiucae returns, depleted but overwhelming, demanding the mortals. Diem blocks him and embraces a chilling numbness she recognizes as his legacy within her, until Luther’s protective shield and love anchor her. Ophiucae notices Luther, threatens him, then issues an ultimatum: Diem has struck at him twice—defy him a third time, and his protection ends—before departing.