Chapter 16

Blake visits Rodriguez after Kage’s referral, despite fearing Pendragon’s reaction. He finds Rodriguez’s office in disarray, a bottle of Crimson Ambrosia shattered, and healing bite marks—fallout from Regan’s new Blood Donation Incentive Program. Blake confronts him for losing control while Regan runs the school.

Rodriguez quickly deduces Blake is changing and explains that, historically, some dragons were born while others were made through the wrong—or right—blood and light blood magic. He implies Blake’s exposure to rider blood catalyzed a latent change and suggests working with Nyxaris could bring control. Their banter briefly defuses tension, but the revelation forces Blake to confront what “made” dragons mean.

When Blake suspects the Emberwatch once petrified dragons, Rodriguez clarifies it was consensual: the four became stone to hold back the Veil. He challenges the official history, hinting Sangratha once connected to other worlds, that dark creatures may have come through, and that riders likely originated elsewhere. He also suggests Marcus might know the true borders.

Blake admits he killed a blightborn while protecting Pendragon and fears losing control. Rodriguez labels the escalating instability as soul-splitting. With no easy fix, he retrieves an ancient tome, The Dark Art of Eternal Bonds, implying an unwelcome path to stabilize Blake.

Before Rodriguez can elaborate, Visha arrives dressed for an apparent rendezvous. Rodriguez dismisses Blake with the book, cutting short answers about the Veil, other worlds, and Blake’s condition, leaving Blake reeling but armed with a potential solution.