Time passed, and Sidia gradually learned how to move about the castle. She made an effort to meet the various members of the court, trying to establish relationships and friendships. It wasn’t just about socializing, however. How many were under a Blood Oath? Did they have more restrictive terms than Marcus? How exactly did it work?

From what she gathered, everyone had lovely things to say about Severus. A small group had been with him since the very beginning and made up his ...