Rose in Chains
by Julie Soto
Contents
Chapter 15
Overview
After six days unconscious, Briony awakens at Hearst Hall and is forced by Toven to meet Veronika Mallow, now ruler of Moreland. Mallow demands a swift heartspring bond, confirms Briony’s collar fully suppresses magic, and violently invades Briony’s mind, extracting a lead on Finola and exposing Briony’s past feelings for Toven. Satisfied after probing Toven, Mallow dismisses them. Briony returns to Hearst Hall, resigned to captivity.
Summary
Briony wakes weak in a groundskeeper’s cottage at Hearst Hall after being electrocuted crossing the boundary. Toven reproaches her and reveals she has been unconscious for six days. He portals her, still in a nightgown, to Mallow’s new mountain stronghold, warning her to show deference.
In the vast hall, Toven kneels and drags Briony to kneel. Mallow, now the realm’s ruler, questions Toven about purchasing Briony after losing the auction and orders him to complete the heartspring bond soon. Toven says the collar issue is fixed; Briony tests and finds both her heart and mind magic suppressed.
Mallow interrogates Briony about her cousin Finola. When Briony mouths off, Toven backhands her to appease Mallow. Mallow then forcibly invades Briony’s memories, ripping through scenes until uncovering Finola’s training role and a lead toward Southern Camly. Mallow also discovers Briony once had feelings for Toven.
Mallow seizes Toven and searches his mind for any compromising feelings, eventually releasing him, seemingly satisfied. Amused and confident, Mallow reiterates the Southern Camly clue and dismisses them, expecting Toven’s power to grow once bonded.
Back at Hearst Hall, Toven anxiously asks what Mallow found; Briony deflects, cold and hurting. He leads her toward her new lodging in the castle, cementing her captivity and the looming bond.
Who Appears
- Briony RosewoodProtagonist; awakens after six days, coerced before Mallow, mind invaded, secrets exposed, returns to Hearst Hall captive.
- Toven HearstBuyer and captor; transports Briony to Mallow, strikes her, questioned about bonding, mind-probed and cleared, escorts her back.
- Veronika MallowNow ruler of Moreland; demands Briony’s bond, confirms collar suppression, mind-reads Briony and Toven, extracts Southern Camly lead.
- Finola RosewoodBriony’s cousin and Eversun strategist; appears in Briony’s memories; target of Mallow’s search with a Southern Camly lead.
- Bomardi guardsShadowed witnesses to the audience, reinforcing Mallow’s power and Briony’s vulnerability.