Chapter 36: Baz

Baz wakes cuffed in a Regulator office, head throbbing, with Kai unconscious at his feet and silver blood drawn. He overhears Artem and Vivianne discussing blood samples, the Tides, and a key—implying Emory. When alarms blare and they leave, Baz frees himself, rewinds Kai’s lost blood with his Collapsed time magic, and wakes him.

Kai recalls the draining and vows vengeance. Jae arrives in a glamoured uniform, urging them to gather evidence. Baz confronts Jae about hiding his and Theodore’s Collapses. They unlock drawers, finding ledgers detailing “S.O. Synthetic Magics,” which mix Collapsed silver blood with aligned magic to grant temporary powers, plus a list flagging Emory—and historic candidates like Cornus Clover—as “vessels.”

Artem intercepts them with Glamour compulsion and a knife, but Theodore knocks him out with a tray. The group escapes to Vera, deciding to hide Theodore at the Veiled Atlas while Baz races to Dovermere. Kai refuses to hide and insists on coming.

On the beach, Baz proposes reversing Kai’s Unhallowed Seal, not his Collapsing. Trusting Baz, Kai agrees. Baz turns back the brand’s time; Kai erupts into a controlled supernova of Collapse while Baz shields himself outside time. The blast subsides; Kai survives, laughing, empowered and whole, disproving the Shadow’s curse.

Resolved, Baz and Kai set off for Dovermere, determined to confront Keiran and protect Emory from the “vessel” ritual and the awakening of the Tides.