The Legendborn Cycle, #3
Oathbound
by Tracy Deonn
Contents
Chapter 3
Overview
Mariah, Aunt Lu, and Valec travel at night to a secret meeting near a warded Legendborn property, risking contact with Order forces to answer William’s call. Their discussion clarifies how they understand Bree’s possession by Arthur and reinforces Valec’s faith that Bree freed herself. The chapter ends with William appearing in the woods with an unconscious Alice, revealing the dangerous favor involves moving or helping her outside official channels.
Summary
Sixty-two hours after Briana Matthews disappeared, Mariah rides through the night with Aunt Lu and Valec in Valec’s SUV. Their banter about family history and Valec’s age briefly lightens the mood, but Mariah’s trembling hands and exhaustion show the strain of the trip. Valec drives them across state lines toward a dangerous meeting near a Legendborn-controlled property.
As they approach, Mariah worries that they are heading into danger because Legendborn and Merlins may still be present. Valec argues that the greater threat will not arrive until the next day, giving them a narrow window to get in and out. The group discusses the attack on Volition, Cestra and Erebus taking Bree, and the aftermath of Alice and Selwyn being left unconscious in their care.
The conversation turns to Bree’s possession by Arthur. Mariah explains that Arthur had fully overtaken Bree after she let him in, and Aunt Lu notes that Arthur sent Bree somewhere too deep for a Medium to retrieve. Valec insists that Nick and Selwyn may have helped weaken Arthur’s hold, but Bree must have been the one to bring herself and the others back.
Valec turns onto a private drive and stops before a faint Merlin ward surrounding the grounds. Because Valec can See the ward and Aunt Lu can feel it, Valec decides they will avoid the barrier and walk the rest of the way through the woods. Mariah reflects on her own limits as a Medium and compares herself to Bree, who has direct ancestral guidance and seems to be the chosen weapon of her family’s bargain.
Valec leads Mariah and Aunt Lu through the freezing dark forest, alert and prepared to use magic. They spot green glowing eyes approaching, and Valec identifies the figure as Scion Sitterson. William Sitterson emerges from the darkness and thanks them for coming, carrying the sleeping Alice Chen in his arms.
Who Appears
- MariahPOV character; a Medium accompanying Valec and Aunt Lu to William’s secret meeting.
- ValecCambion elder who drives, detects the ward, and leads the group through the woods.
- Aunt LuMariah’s aura-reading aunt; senses the Merlin ward and discusses Bree’s possession.
- William SittersonLegendborn healer who arranged the meeting and arrives carrying unconscious Alice.
- Alice ChenUnconscious in William’s arms, making her the apparent focus of the secret favor.