The Legendborn Cycle, #3
Oathbound
by Tracy Deonn
Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Mariah and Valec secretly test Aunt Lu's stolen Grand Dame Heart in the closed Crossroads Lounge as part of a risky plan to gain an audience with a Shade. The Heart activates violently, knocking Mariah unconscious and changing what Mariah can perceive.
When Mariah wakes, Mariah sees a strange deathlike energy inside Valec and realizes Valec is half undead. The discovery raises new stakes for their mission and exposes a hidden truth about Valec's nature.
Summary
Three months after Briana Matthews disappeared, Mariah meets Valec in the emptied Crossroads Lounge. Valec has closed the venue under a fake health inspection notice so no one will witness Mariah testing the stolen Heart, her Aunt Lu's Grand Dame necklace.
Mariah hesitates because the Heart is a powerful Rootcraft amplifier meant to be transferred through ceremony, not stolen and worn by a Medium. She and Valec hope the Heart's appearance will convince a Shade at a monthly appeal to hear them out, especially with a gift Valec is arranging.
Mariah puts on the necklace. At first nothing happens, and Valec suggests it may remain dormant because no formal ceremony has taken place. When Mariah claps her hands, the world turns bright gold, Valec shouts, and Mariah collapses on the stage.
Mariah wakes with Valec anxiously trying to revive her. As she steadies herself, Mariah notices a strange gray-black glow or shadow beneath Valec's skin, tracing through his hand, arm, and face.
Valec presses Mariah to explain what Mariah sees. Mariah realizes the Heart has amplified or altered Mariah's Medium sight: Valec is not dead, but Mariah can perceive that Valec is partly undead. Valec reacts with alarm, confirming the revelation matters.
Who Appears
- Mariah RochellePOV character; tests Aunt Lu's stolen Heart and gains sight of Valec's undead nature.
- ValecClears Crossroads for the experiment and is revealed to be partly undead.
- Aunt LuGrand Dame whose stolen Heart Mariah wears to support the Shade appeal plan.