Characters Bloodmarked Tracy Deonn

William Sitterson: The Healer Who Defied the Order

Overview

William Sitterson is the Scion of Sir Gawain, a healer whose aether powers allow him to mend physical wounds and even resist mesmer-induced memory loss. In Bloodmarked, William becomes one of Bree’s most trusted allies within the Legendborn Order. Unlike many who serve the Order’s rigid hierarchy, William prioritizes consent, personal choice, and moral integrity—qualities that place him in direct conflict with the High Council of Regents. He acts as Bree’s calm advisor, her medical support, and an emotional anchor during her rebellion against the Order’s oppressive traditions.

Plot Role

William first appears in the opening chapters after Bree’s confinement at the Lodge. He catches her sneaking out to train and accompanies her to the arena, where he heals the burns she suffers from attempting to forge Excalibur. Throughout the novel, William is repeatedly called to mend Bree’s injuries—from a fractured skull after her capture to the demon-inflicted wounds during the battle in the forest. When the Regents drug and mesmer Bree, William uses his aether to clear her mind and restore her resistance. He also heals Alice after she falls into a coma, though he worries his aether may have caused lasting damage. In the final chapters, William runs through a golden barrier too late to save Alice, and later fails to stop Bree from sacrificing herself to the Shadow King. Despite these losses, his role as a healer and conscience remains central.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

William’s primary motivation is to protect others without violating their autonomy. This is explicitly demonstrated when he breaks up with his boyfriend Dylan the day after Arthur Calls Bree. In Chapter 27, he explains that he felt a “pull” in his chest—the Scion bond calling him to duty—and chose to let Dylan go because he believes “we get so few choices” and he must dedicate himself fully to the coming war. This decision reveals his deep sense of responsibility and his willingness to sacrifice personal happiness for a greater purpose.

Another key trait is his moral courage. In Chapter 14, when the Regents drug Bree in the van, William protests loudly, calling the drugging “beyond irresponsible.” He threatens the Mageguard, telling them they will pay. Later, in Chapter 16, he uses aether pain to break through the mesmer that the Regents have used to erase Bree’s memories, directly defying their authority. He does this knowing it could get him in trouble, yet he prioritizes Bree’s freedom over his own safety.

William is also deeply affected by grief. He bonded with Whitty as a Squire, only to have Whitty killed by a demon hours later. In Chapter 27, Bree asks about Whitty, and William admits he felt the Squire’s death through their bond. The memory still haunts him, and he carries that loss as a burden. This personal experience of loss shapes his protective instincts toward Bree and Alice.

Chronological Arc

William’s arc in Bloodmarked moves from being a supportive but cautious ally to an active rebel against the Order. Initially, he follows the Order’s rules, advising Bree to apologize to Lark and to be careful with her public outbursts. After her capture, he shifts into direct opposition: he uses aether to break the mesmer, heals her despite the Regents’ orders, and joins Bree’s team at Gill’s safe house. In the later chapters, he participates in the battle against demons and helps plan the rescue of Alice. By the end, he is part of the failed attempt to stop Bree’s sacrifice, standing alongside Nick and Sel as they realize they could not save her from her own choice. His arc is one of growing defiance and deepening loyalty to Bree over the Order.

Relationships

Bree Matthews: William becomes Bree’s most trusted adult ally. He listens to her vent, offers strategic advice, and stands up for her when others dismiss her. Their bond is built on mutual respect and shared grief. Bree vows to make the Regents pay for breaking William’s spirit.

Selwyn Kane: William and Sel share a tense but professional relationship. William respects Sel’s power but often disagrees with his methods. In Chapter 14, Sel calls for William to heal Bree, and William arrives without hesitation. They work together when needed.

Alice Chen: William heals Alice after her coma, though he fears his magic damaged her permanently. He is protective of her as Bree’s best friend.

Dylan (boyfriend): William ends the relationship after Arthur Calls, prioritizing his duty over personal life. This decision underscores his conflict between love and responsibility.

The Order: William is a critical insider. He sees the Order’s corruption, especially the Regents’ use of mesmer and drugging, and works against them from within. He explains the faction divide between traditionalists and modernists to Bree, and helps orchestrate her escape.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Breaking up with Dylan: Frees him to fully commit to the war but causes him personal loneliness. He questions whether he made the right call, but the decision reinforces his prioritisation of duty.

  2. Healing Bree against Regent orders: When William heals Bree in the van and later clears her mesmer, he directly defies the High Council. This could have led to punishment, but he does it anyway, knowing it is morally right. It strengthens Bree’s trust and enables her to continue fighting.

  3. Choosing to join Bree’s rebellion: William helps her go into hiding with fake IDs and supplies from Gill’s basement. This decision turns him into an active fugitive from the Order, but it also aligns him with Bree’s vision of a new kind of leadership.

  4. Failing to prevent Bree’s sacrifice: In the final battle, William runs through the golden barrier too late to save Alice and cannot stop Bree from offering herself to Erebus. The consequence is profound loss, but it also sets up his continued role in the next book.

Theme and Symbol Connections

William embodies the theme of grief and intergenerational trauma. His loss of Whitty mirrors Bree’s loss of her mother, and his healing powers symbolise the possibility of mending wounds—both physical and emotional. However, his inability to save everyone shows the limits of healing when trauma is systemic.

He is also a symbol of choice versus fate. His decision to break up with Dylan and to resist the Order demonstrates that individuals can choose their path even within a predetermined system. He repeatedly says, “We get so few choices,” highlighting the preciousness of agency.

William’s conflict with the Regents aligns with the theme of institutional racism and trust and betrayal. He sees how the Order’s white-majority leadership uses mesmer and lies to control Bree, a Black girl. His decision to help her rebellion is a direct challenge to that system.

Finally, William represents ancestral legacy as the Scion of Gawain. His healing abilities are tied to his ancestor’s gift, but he uses them for his own moral purposes, not just for the Order. He redefines what the legacy means.

Five Questions and Answers

1. Why does William break up with his boyfriend Dylan?
William breaks up with Dylan the day after Arthur Calls Bree because he feels a strong “pull” in his chest from the Scion bond. He decides he must fully commit to the coming war and cannot maintain the relationship. In his own words, “We get so few choices,” and he chooses duty.

2. How does William help Bree resist the Regents’ mesmer?
After the Regents drug and mesmer Bree repeatedly, William uses his aether to deliberately cause her pain, which breaks the mesmer’s hold and restores her memory. This act of healing through pain allows Bree to remember her true mission and resist further manipulation.

3. What is William’s relationship with his Squire Whitty?
William bonded with Whitty as a Squire, but Whitty was killed by a demon only hours after the bond was formed. William felt Whitty’s death through their connection and still carries the grief. He tells Bree that Whitty was a good man and funny, and that the loss still feels raw.

4. How does William view the Order’s factions?
William explains to Bree that the Order has two main factions: traditionalists who cling to bloodlines and power, and modernists who want reform. He helps Bree understand that the Regents are using Sel as a distraction to bury the truth about the war. This insight guides Bree’s strategy.

5. What role does William play in Bree’s final sacrifice?
During the final battle, William runs through a golden barrier to try to save Alice, but arrives too late. He later stands with Nick and Sel as Bree offers herself to the Shadow King Erebus. He is unable to stop her, and the book ends with him witnessing her disappearance, setting up his role in future conflicts.

For more discussion of the novel’s ending, see the Ending Explained page, or visit the Questions and Answers section.