The Legendborn Cycle, #3
Oathbound
by Tracy Deonn
Contents
Chapter 34
Overview
Bree is forced to continue the masked thief’s lie that she is Iris, fiancée of Benedict Pierce, while Bianca reveals the blackout came from an attempted ward breach. Alone with him, Bree learns the thief is Nick, someone from her lost Legendborn life, and Nick recognizes the scope and magical nature of Bree’s memory loss.
The chapter shifts the infiltration from a simple theft mission into a collision with Bree’s erased past. Zoe, Ava, and Mariah arrive, forcing the group to rapidly reshuffle identities so they can survive the auction’s security while Bree’s attraction to and trust in Nick become an immediate emotional risk.
Summary
Bree is stunned when the masked thief, posing as Benedict Pierce, tells Bianca that Bree is his fiancée, Iris. Bree realizes Benedict is improvising to protect his own cover and has pulled Bree into a risky lie that could expose both Bree and Zoe. Bianca explains that the alarm came from an attempted breach outside the house, implying someone tried to break a ward, then sends them back to the ballroom while a warlock guard watches.
To maintain the engagement act, Benedict retrieves Bree’s shoes and escorts Bree toward the back staircase. Once they are out of sight, Benedict drops the affectionate performance and reveals that he knows Bree from before her missing memories. Benedict says the Legendborn, including Bree’s friends and enemies, have not seen Bree in months, and Bree admits that she has lost everyone from memory.
On the stairs, Benedict quickly deduces that Bree’s memory loss is magical, not mesmer, and that someone did it to Bree. Benedict also guesses that Bree may have accepted the loss because she believes she gained something from it. Bree resists Benedict’s insight but asks what Benedict was stealing; Benedict avoids answering and instead apologizes for fighting Bree and kissing Bree as a distraction from Bianca.
Bree says she plans to leave, but Benedict warns that the auction is unsafe and urges Bree to escape when possible. Bree asks how Benedict knows her, but Benedict says the story is too dangerous to tell there. When Benedict asks whether Bree is with the demon who took Bree from Northern, Bree refuses to answer and demands Benedict’s real name; Benedict finally says he is Nick.
At the ballroom entrance, Nick searches for someone, and Bree notices Nick’s silver ring, making Bree question who Iris really is. Zoe arrives with Ava, who is furious and accuses Nick of a double cross. Mariah then recognizes Bree, but Bree does not remember Mariah either, confirming to the group that Bree’s memory loss is severe.
With Bianca approaching and the ballroom lockdown continuing, the group scrambles to preserve their false identities. Because Bianca has already seen Bree as Iris with Nick as Benedict, Ava gives Nick the engagement ring and loses that role. Zoe quickly swaps cards so Mariah can pose as Zoe’s sister and Ava can pose as the art curator, leaving everyone with a usable cover before they return to the ballroom; Bree follows Nick despite Zoe’s silent warning and feels dangerously reckless around him.
Who Appears
- BreeForced to pose as Iris; confronts Nick and grapples with erased memories and attraction.
- NickMasked thief posing as Benedict; knows Bree, reveals his name, and protects their cover.
- ZoeBree’s mission partner; finds Bree, protects their identities, and warns her about Nick.
- AvaNick’s angry accomplice; gives up the Iris role and engagement ring to maintain cover.
- MariahLegendborn ally who recognizes Bree, then becomes part of the group’s identity swap.
- BiancaAuction host who accepts Nick and Bree’s false identities and orders guests back inside.
- LawsonWarlock guard whose presence forces Bree and Nick to continue acting like a couple.