Chapter 65

Raeve reveals to Kaan that she is blood bound and was ordered to kill Ahvi, then confesses the origins of her hidden healing runes, leading to the disclosure that Arkyn—a figure from her past—is responsible. Ahvi offers to break her blood bind, but only if she returns to the mineshaft south of Gore where it was sewn, forcing Raeve to confront a traumatic location.

The chapter opens with Pyrok having a pin removed from his chest while Roan tends to him and Raeve cleans her jacket. Kaan arrives and requests privacy with Raeve. Alone together, Raeve preemptively confesses her blood bond to Sereme and reveals she received an order to kill Ahvi in the village, though the order made no mention of him being a child. She explains her binder uses the bind to control her through pain and torture. Kaan surprises her by saying he already knew—he possesses a pet waif that feeds him information in exchange for memory sips. When Kaan presses about her hidden healing runes, Raeve's composure fractures. She reveals the runes came from someone named Fallon, spoken of with emotional weight, and mentions Arkyn in her distress. Kaan vows to hunt Arkyn down and break her blood bind. Downstairs, Ahvi interrupts Kaan's preparations by offering to dissolve the blood bind himself, claiming he can "untangle the knot" using time's malleability. However, he insists they must return to the place where the bind was sewn—an abandoned mineshaft on the outskirts of Gore, south of the city. When Raeve resists, Ahvi manipulates her by noting the bind has nearly killed her twice and invoking their life debt. He also reveals he convinced the Tri-Council to let him keep Gruffin by claiming he has a shield that protects him. Raeve realizes Ahvi has read her mind enough to know she won't force him anywhere against his will, leaving her trapped: if she refuses, she violates her own principles of freedom. She agrees, though deep dread fills her at the prospect of returning to Gore.