The Legendborn Cycle, #3
Oathbound
by Tracy Deonn
Contents
Chapter 59
Overview
On the way to Penumbra, Bree’s group is delayed by Elijah, whose misguided attempt to rescue Zoe accidentally leads Selwyn straight to them. Zoe and Elijah flee after Selwyn warns them off, leaving Bree and Nick to face his volatile, demon-driven attention alone.
Selwyn’s confrontation with Bree and Nick reveals his hunger, resentment, and fractured identity, but also that he recognizes Bree has been magically altered. He lets them continue toward Penumbra for now, though his final threat suggests he may choose chaos rather than recovery.
Summary
Bree, Nick, Zoe, and Mariah leave Hazel’s house in Valec’s SUV with Erebus’s wrapped crown at Bree and Mariah’s feet. The group is tense because Bree must reach Penumbra in time for the meeting with Erebus, while Selwyn is also unstable and capable of tracking Bree. On the mountain road, Zoe stops for a lone boulder blocking the way, and everyone suspects a trap.
Zoe and Bree try to move the boulder, but Bree senses someone watching. Elijah suddenly appears at the car, holding Mariah hostage because he believes Nick and Bree may have harmed Zoe. Zoe convinces Elijah that she is safe and explains that Valec lied to them and that Selwyn Kane, not Nick, is the dangerous cambion hunting Bree.
Elijah and Zoe hear Selwyn before Bree and Nick can. Selwyn warns the cambion twins to leave because they are threats, and Bree and Nick tell Zoe and Elijah to go. Zoe leaves reluctantly with Elijah, while Mariah remains locked in the SUV and Bree and Nick wait in the road for Selwyn.
Selwyn arrives with glowing green aether, fangs, claws, and a predatory calm. Nick tries to reason with Selwyn, but Selwyn focuses on Bree, fascinated by her power and by memories Bree no longer has. When Selwyn realizes Bree is missing part of her life, he grows angry and connects the damage to what his mother meant when she said Selwyn could not give Bree what Bree needs.
Nick and Selwyn confront the damage caused by the Kingsmage Oath, the Order, Nick’s father, and the expectations placed on both of them. Selwyn lashes out, taunting Nick about jealousy and Bree’s past kiss with Selwyn, but Nick stays controlled. Bree challenges Selwyn’s self-image as a failure or problem to be fixed, while Selwyn admits that what he wants now is chaos.
When Selwyn samples Bree’s root, Selwyn realizes Bree’s magic has been altered. Nick and Bree explain that they need to reach Penumbra to try to reverse the damage, and Selwyn surprisingly lets them continue. Before leaving, Selwyn warns that if Bree is right that he is not a problem to be fixed, perhaps he should become one.
Who Appears
- Bree MatthewsTravels to Penumbra, confronts Selwyn, and argues he is not a problem to be fixed.
- Selwyn KaneTracks Bree through Elijah, confronts her and Nick, and reveals a dangerous hunger for chaos.
- Nick DavisProtects Bree, reasons with Selwyn, and acknowledges the harm of the Kingsmage Oath.
- ZoeDrives the group, reunites with Elijah, and leaves after Selwyn warns the cambion twins away.
- ElijahAmbushes the group to protect Zoe, then unintentionally leads Selwyn to Bree and Nick.
- MariahAccompanies Bree, is briefly taken hostage by Elijah, then shelters inside the SUV.