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When your gift is outlawed, it’s best to keep a low profile, avoid catching the eye of the authorities, and steer clear of the empire’s dark mages.
I broke all three rules in a single day. I nearly exposed myself while saving a pregnant stranger from death. I struck a deal with the city guard captain. And I joined a special combat unit tasked with hunting down people like me.
I need to get out of this mess before I give myself away. But that’s getting harder every day, especially with the squad commander watching my every move.
Chapter 1
“Six o’clock at the town hall,” Melanie reminded me for the fifth time, shoving a bag of rolls into my hands. “And don’t even try saying you’ve got stuff to do, responsibilities, or whatever. At our age, we need to have some fun. Otherwise, we’ll grow old without ever knowing the joys of youth. When was the last time you just went out for a walk? Huh?”
I let out a heavy sigh and shot my friend a look that should’ve made any decent girl at least a little embarrassed. But this was Melanie. The concept of embarrassment was completely foreign to her. She just crossed her arms defiantly, ready to bombard me with arguments. Though, let’s be real—she’d probably prepared her case long before she even started this conversation. Like, a week ago.
Arguing with Mel when she’s made up her mind is pointless. So, with another resigned sigh, I took the baked goods I’d ordered ahead of All Saints’ Eve and gave a reluctant nod.
“I’ll be there. I promise.”
Melanie, geared up for a debate, opened her mouth to add something—probably another dozen reasons why I should go—but then stopped herself. She knew full well that I always keep my promises, which is exactly why I rarely make them.
“It’s gonna be an amazing night,” she assured me with fiery enthusiasm, her mood instantly lifting as she mentally fast-forwarded to the near future. Her sky-blue eyes—typical of most healers—sparkled before clouding over with a dreamy haze, and a wistful smile touched her lips. “I’m definitely pairing up with someone tonight. Everyone’s gonna be there…”
I didn’t have the energy for that kind of excitement. I’d only agreed to go to the festival for Mel’s sake, and I had zero intention of pairing up with anyone. Though, honestly, I probably should start thinking about a match. Graduation’s coming up, then the diploma, internships, and I hadn’t even considered potential candidates yet.
“We’ll be blessed with grace, and we’ll be kissing…” Melanie went on, lost in her fantasies. “The Sunari will shower us with golden dust…”
“I’m not kissing you,” I cut in, making sure there was no misunderstanding.
Melanie flinched, stared at me like I’d lost my mind, and grimaced as she came crashing back to reality. Now it was her turn to give me a reproachful look—and, I’ll admit, she was way better at it than I was.
“With guys, obviously,” she clarified, but noticing my skeptical smirk, she waved a hand dismissively. “Why am I even explaining this to you?”
I decided not to push the topic further. After thanking Mr. Thurston one more time, I hurried out of the bakery, claiming I needed to get ready for the celebration.
The moment I stepped outside, a biting blizzard wrapped me in its far-from-friendly embrace. I hunched over, tucking my chin into my collar to keep the snow from sneaking down my neck. It didn’t help much.
I couldn’t remember a storm this bad in years. Maybe even longer. In this part of the empire, snow usually arrived right on schedule—the first day of winter. But this early, a whole week before All Saints’ Day? No way. I’d never seen an anomaly like this.
The folks of Gorenville weren’t expecting it either. Over the past few days, they’d bought up every last piece of warm clothing and accessories from old stock, making Mr. Staverson a very happy man. And leaving me very disappointed. By the time I got around to worrying about my own wardrobe, all I could scrounge up was a short, tattered rabbit-fur coat that had long since become a moth motel, and the last remaining scarf, which I now doubled as a headwrap. Even with my modest stipend as a magic academy adept, I had enough to cover the cost. I even had some left over for a decent pair of boots—which, predictably, were nowhere to be found. I could’ve dusted off last year’s coat like Rose did, but it was hopelessly small on me. Same with the boots.
Switching the bag of rolls to my other hand, already numb from the cold, I shoved the free one into my pocket and whispered the simplest warming spell I knew. Honestly, a pair of gloves would’ve worked a lot better. But the store was out of those too. They promised a new shipment by the end of the month, but with this weather, I doubted the materials would even make it here. And something told me that by summer, I wouldn’t exactly need gloves.
All I could do was pick up the pace and get to the Mountain Haven as fast as possible, deliver the rolls, and then warm up by the fireplace with a book and some hot broth.
“Tris! Trissi!”
Amid the howling of the crazed northern wind, I couldn’t immediately tell where the shout came from. And it took me even longer to spot the tall young guy calling me—the star of our entire department, Theodore Etkloner. The son of the town mayor, a total heartthrob, and a dark mage with serious potential, he was every girl’s dream in this city. Heck, even I’d had a crush on him once. Physically, he was… perfection. Tall, with broad shoulders and the lean, toned build of someone who spent hours training, he could capture a girl’s heart with just a glance from those eyes that seemed to grow darker by the day. His hair had already taken on a deep shade, and judging by his latest magical assessment, it would only get darker soon. That’s just how it works with dark mages.
The handsome Etkloner was my first love—and my first heartbreak. I’d overheard him talking with his buddies, shamelessly rating the girls in our department. Including me. I guess that day I learned I’m not great at forgiving. Like, at all.
I would’ve forgotten him for good, but for the past three months, Theo had been paying way too much attention to me. He wouldn’t leave me alone, whether at the academy or outside it. Given everything, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what he wanted from me. Definitely not some grand, pure love—or even a fleeting, shady fling. He had plenty of girls for that without me. My magic? Unlikely. Dark mages usually went for stronger light sources than my mediocre abilities. And he had plenty of options there too. Sure, technically light mages made the choice, but everyone knew these pairings were usually set up before graduation—and on the dark mages’ terms. So, what then? A choice? Come on. I didn’t have a choice. And I never would.
“I’m in a hurry,” I said, not even turning my head in his direction, and not caring if he heard me over the wind.
If he did hear, he ignored it.
“Melanie said you’re coming to the festival tonight!” Theo called out, catching up and matching my pace. It was half a question, half a statement. “I’ll be there too.”
Wow, breaking news. I was already starting to regret the promise I’d made to Melanie.
“I’m in a hurry,” I repeated, emphasizing each word and barely glancing at my classmate.
Theodore Etkloner’s face twisted into a scowl, his eyes narrowing. It was clear this guy wasn’t used to being turned down. And proving my point, he grabbed my sleeve and yanked so hard I nearly dropped the now half-frozen rolls.
“Little light, don’t forget I’m a dark mage. I’ve got every right to demand.”
“I’m still just an adept,” I shot back, not bothering to listen to his reasoning or conclusions. I flashed a smile, ready for whatever speech he’d prepared. “If you wanna demand something, go talk to Master Snorri. He’ll be happy to hear you out and explain exactly where you can shove your demands. So let go of my sleeve and get lost before the guards show up and remind YOU of the rules. Besides… I’ve got the right to choose, as a member of the smaller magical caste.”
“You think they’ll actually give you a choice?” Theo smirked triumphantly, and somehow… disgustingly. His expression only confirmed my grim suspicions.
And in that moment, I realized more clearly than ever—I wouldn’t be given a choice. Not even a token one. Who’d dare cross the son of Mr. Etkloner, the mayor and distant relative of the empress? Exactly—no one. My options were to agree or… throw away all seven years of training at the magic academy, with no hope of ever working in my field. No hope of ever getting into a university.
“There’s always a choice, Mr. Etkloner,” I snapped, yanking my arm so hard that a tuft of fur from my sad, gray coat stayed in his hand. I turned on my heel and marched toward the inn where my aunt Rose worked, not looking back, not regretting a single word, not…
I hate them! The cursed Etkloner family seemed hell-bent on driving me and Aunt Rose out of this town.
First, they revoked my aunt’s healer license, forcing her to work as a delivery girl and dishwasher at the only place that would hire her—the Mountain Haven inn. They were squashing the immense potential of a powerful healer. And with the grueling work, in a few more years, she’d need a healer herself. Right now, any magical practice on her part could land her in jail with a fine she’d never be able to pay.
How does a mage feel when they’re forbidden from using their magic? Like a bird locked in a cage, with its wings tied. My heart broke every time I caught her instinctively reaching out to heal someone’s wound or ease their pain, only to stop herself, remembering the ban. And I felt guilty. Because I was the anchor keeping her in this town. Me, and the fact that she’d spent every last penny to get us our papers.
After that, Mr. Etkloner turned his efforts to blocking my admission to the local magic academy, and later, getting me expelled. I got lucky there, though. The head of the school was Master Bimar Snorri, the strongest dark mage around, who… well, let’s just say he didn’t care much for anyone’s demands when it came to his adepts. In his fair opinion, magically gifted minors needed training to avoid harming others with their abilities. Plus, as a mage who answered only to the Council of Magical Magistrates, he could spit in Etkloner’s face and face no consequences. Meanwhile, Aunt Rose and I couldn’t even file a request for an investigation or to reinstate her license, given our… complicated situation.
I was incredibly grateful to Master Snorri for his help. He coolly advised me to show my thanks through diligent study. So I tried my hardest, dedicating all my time to learning and helping Aunt Rose at the inn when I could—though she scolded me for it, reminding me that such work wasn’t fitting for a mage. She seemed to have lost hope herself, yet every evening, she’d rub her swollen joints, aching from cold water and hard labor, knead her hands, and channel just a bit of magic… The healing was quick. But it never lasted long.
I’d started at the academy much later than my peers, so now I was two, even three years older than most of my classmates, which put a certain strain on socializing with them. While the majority of adepts in my group were sixteen or seventeen, I’d already turned nineteen. Though it didn’t affect my magical potential much—I was still a solid average. On the upside, I’d made friends with some of the city guards during practical training. Now, they often stopped by the Mountain Haven for broth and the latest gossip.
The third and, in my opinion, most unfair and despicable blow was the unofficial ban on marriage for my aunt. Sure, it wasn’t written anywhere, but potential suitors wouldn’t even glance at the most beautiful woman I knew. Not even widowers. And though she was thirty-five now, she still looked my age. A trait of our family line.
Of course, the ban came with an alternative. But I’m pretty sure Aunt Rose would rather die an old maid than accept the vile propositions from the mayor to share his bed. Even with all the privileges he promised alongside the status of official mistress—including reinstating her license. And Mr. Etkloner was confident she’d cave.
Idiot. He had no idea that in dealing with the honorable Metrouz AssaashesTrev, who’d shortened her surname by half and her status by tenfold to become simply Ms. Rose Trev, he was also dealing with a long lineage of stubborn, proud bearers of ancient blood. Even if that bloodline was nearly wiped out, forced to hide their Kirainya, their abilities, their magic. Even under threat of death, my aunt would never betray her ancestors or disgrace herself by accepting such a shameful offer.
On top of that, Mr. Etkloner’s son, Theodore, had taken an interest in me—clearly not someone with high moral standards either.
Which didn’t bode well for me at all.
Lost in these thoughts, which did nothing to lift my festive spirits, I didn’t notice I’d crossed the bustling town center, leaving the festival preparations behind. I turned into an alley, intending to take a shortcut to the inn. I’d even made it halfway. But then I stopped dead, as if I’d hit an invisible wall.
My insides twisted, like a spasm. With immense effort, I managed to draw a breath, and my legs were already carrying me in the direction I needed to go.
Instinctively knowing the path, I crossed a few small, deserted intersections in mere moments and found myself in the inner courtyard of one of the many identical rental houses. Residents didn’t stick around long in this remote town, preferring the capital. And houses like this, staring out with dark, lifeless windows, were becoming more and more common.
Magic prickled at my fingertips, and I pinpointed the source of the surge without error.
A call of life.
My gaze landed on a bloodstain, bright red against the pristine white snow.
My own scream caught in my throat, turning into a choked sob. It felt like I was the one drowning.
The crunch of snow under my boots. The howl of wind through bare branches. No one around to call for help. And blood. Blood that seemed to be everywhere.
“Gods, how could this happen?” I groaned, already moving.
I started acting long before I remembered I didn’t have a license and was, in essence, just an adept. All adepts are supposed to do is call for guards and healers. But I’d be a terrible student if I couldn’t tell right away—by the time healers got here, this person would need undertakers.
“Seblima,” I still notified the guards and healers, dropping the bag of rolls into the snow. “Estret kvat,” I chanted on the move, casting a spell to stop the bleeding and slow vital processes. It wasn’t the most draining spell, but my head spun a little from nerves and miscalculating my energy reserve. This was my first time in a situation like this, and… I was terrified. Terrified to the point of trembling and screaming that I’d do something wrong and cause harm instead of help. Next, I cast a scanning spell, “Estret puera”—alive. But not for long.
The spell also relayed nearly all the information I needed to continue treatment. Most importantly, I’d already done everything in my power, and further healing should be left to stronger mages. Especially since my head was spinning badly now, and my legs buckled as I got closer. She was still trying to breathe, still searching for something to focus on with her eyes, so I added one more pain-relief spell.
The girl’s throat was torn open. Clearly, she’d been attacked by wild animals. Except… in my memory, there’d never been a single wild animal attack on a person in this town.
Judging by her clothes, jewelry, delicate hands, and porcelain-like skin, the girl was obviously from a wealthy family. Which made the wound on her neck, the blood-matted blonde hair, and the confusion in her eyes look even worse. What in the dark was she even doing here?
I cast another spell to sustain life. If I hadn’t been so scared and shocked, I would’ve noticed it right away. During the first scan. But only now did I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle a scream. There were two lives in this body. And one was definitely going to end. There was nothing I could do about it, no matter how much my heart ached, no matter how much the magic rang in my ears, demanding I act.
I gave in, closing my eyes, intending to summon the power Aunt Rose and I had so carefully hidden. I fished a small, sharp pin from my pocket and, with a precise motion, sliced the skin on my wrist. A dark, almost black drop of blood fell onto the girl’s lips. And I infused it with power, magic, life.
“Essesh tarim, esesh ssamarhay. Saamah!”
Translated literally from my native tongue, it meant: “I give blood. I give life. Live!”
A flash. Pain just below my heart. It stopped, froze, turned to ice. My head felt light, my body foreign, and colorful circles swam before my eyes.
For a moment, I was scared. What if there wasn’t enough life force in her? What if my own wasn’t enough? But my heart reluctantly thudded once, then again… and again… picking up speed to its normal rhythm.
I sighed with relief, nearly collapsing on top of the dying girl. At the last second, I caught myself, bracing my fists against the snow. My mouth tasted bitter, a temple bell rang in my head, and shivers started to wrack my body. Still, I whispered a healing spell. I couldn’t leave any evidence behind.
But it was worth it. If she survived, that is. I felt no certainty at all.
Where were the guards? Where were the healers? They should’ve been here by now…
A low growl sounded behind me. It hit me like a bolt of lightning, freezing me in place.
Damn it, why did I assume the animals had already left?
From there, I acted purely on instinct. I spun around, throwing up a weak shield as a last-ditch effort—it wouldn’t even protect me from mosquitoes, let alone…—and at the same time, I dodged to the side with an instinctive lunge.
The beast didn’t latch onto me, but its teeth snapped shut dangerously close to my face. Like an iron trap, I swear. It wasn’t intentional, but its paw still grazed my cheek. Only the cold and fear numbed the pain.
I tumbled over, getting to my knees and staring at the creature that craved my blood.
It was a terrifying breed of dog. A Drag of the Dead Gorges.
Horrific spawn of the Dead Lands. They resembled dogs only in body shape; their underbelly and neck were covered in impenetrable black scales. Their powerful jaws could snap not just human bone, but even the bone of a full-grown bull. Their blood-red pupils only added to the terror.
They were deadly, uncontrollable weapons. Impossible to train, they turned on anyone who dared call themselves their master, and… they killed. They killed everything in their path. The only natural check on their numbers in the wild were the giant cats, creatures I hoped to never encounter in my life.
I remembered only one person who’d ever been able to tame these beasts. And he’d been gone from the living for a long time.
The obvious hit me—my magic was like a needle to a giant against this creature. I instantly understood I’d share the same fate as the girl. Even after dodging its first leap and hurling raw magic at the dog’s snout, which felt like a magical bomb exploding in my head, I couldn’t evade the second attack, let alone muster even a scrap of magic… This was the end.
“Thar,” a dark spell thundered through the air, making my stomach churn. Reflexively, but too late, I clamped my hands over my ears. It didn’t help. I felt so sick that for a moment, everything went dark before my eyes.
The dog, mid-leap toward me, erupted in black flames and crumbled into ash, scattering over the white snow, the pale face of the barely alive girl, and the pool of red blood.
It all felt like a bad dream. I just needed to wake up. But I couldn’t even force myself to blink.
Strong fingers closed around my arm, just above the elbow, and yanked me to my feet. A stray thought crossed my mind—completely out of place—that a few more tugs like that, and my poor coat would be completely bald.
I turned a dazed, slightly unfocused gaze on my rescuer, unable to even catch my breath. There was no doubt—he was a dark mage, and highborn at that. It wasn’t just the coal-black eyes and hair or the overly tanned skin that gave it away, but also the intricate black patterns on his neck, trailing down beneath the collar of his uniform jacket. A combat squad… here? So far from the border with the Dead Lands? This couldn’t be good!
Around me, healers, guards, and mages were already bustling about, but I couldn’t breathe, staring into the black eyes set in a highborn face that looked like it had been carved by a master sculptor, devoid of any emotion. And I knew I was done for. Now I’d have to answer for everything under the full weight of the law. If it were just the guards, the academy rector would handle it, and they’d likely brush the matter aside and close the case. But with a combat squad, I’d have to deal with them personally. And they didn’t care about intentions, even the best ones. There was a violation, and punishment would follow. I didn’t even want to think about what using blood magic would cost me. If they noticed. Because I had no idea how long he’d been standing there or if he’d seen my little trick with the pin. If he had… if, by the Great Foremother, he had seen… I was doomed.
“You’ll need to come with me,” the officer stated matter-of-factly, skipping the usual protocol of at least introducing himself and stating his military rank. But what difference did it make? His slightly hoarse, low voice sent shivers down my spine.
What was the point of arguing? All I could do was nod resignedly, biting my lip to keep from crying right there. And still clutching the pin in my hand.
“Do you understand that you’ve broken the law?” the man asked coldly, clearly doubting my mental capacity—and my ability to grasp the full scope of my predicament.
I nodded again. And I didn’t regret it one bit. If even a single human life was saved, any risk was worth it.