Chapter 22

Briony spends the morning researching dragons—especially Mallow’s—and mind barriers, practicing lake imagery by the pond. Toven arrives, clearly injured from Castle Javis. He confirms Finola is dead and reveals she cast Blood Boil and Bone Dust on him. Briony, reeling, fears what would happen to her if he died and probes why he bought her; Toven withholds details of his deal with Reighven.

The argument escalates as Briony challenges Toven’s morality and motivations. Provoked, she stomps—and her suppressed magic erupts, hurling Toven into a tree and aggravating his fragile shoulder. Realizing the collar no longer restrains her, Briony panics and calls for help.

Vesper appears and bites Toven’s collar, teleporting him away. Briony rushes to Hearst Hall, where Serena blocks her from the room as Toven screams under treatment. Orion confronts Briony in the hall, throttling her with magic, then pointedly releases her and instructs her to keep her magic and learn mind barriers.

Shaken but relieved, Briony confirms she can again summon wind. Keeping vigil outside Toven’s room, she concludes Toven restored her magic at her request. She recognizes the Hearsts’ pressing need for her to master mind defenses, though their reasons remain unclear.