Chapter Twenty-Two Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Days after their last meeting, Alyce finds an appointment with Aurora on her schedule and waits eagerly, though the princess arrives over an hour late. Aurora explains that her mother insisted on discussing a new suitor: Elias, a younger son of Ryna, whose birth-star charts supposedly match Aurora's. Elias will be coming to the palace, but Aurora is uninterested and remains determined to break her curse herself through the forbidden summoning ritual.

Alyce has gathered the needed ingredients, including a deathknot from her apothecary Hilde. She warns Aurora about the danger, but Aurora argues that waiting and hoping is what killed her sisters and that she would rather take control of her own fate, even at the risk of death. Reluctantly, Alyce agrees. They draw the ritual diagram on the damp floor, scatter herbs, and boil the deathknot in a kettle. Aurora suggests adding her own blood because it carries the curse, and then Alyce's blood because it carries Vila magic. Alyce hesitates, fearing her power, but Aurora convinces her.

When Alyce's emerald blood drips into the brew, the room erupts in blinding white light, violent wind, and green flames. A face appears in the fire—the same Vila Alyce saw in a cursed mirror—and speaks a cryptic summons: “Find me, my pet.” The ritual ends as suddenly as it began, leaving the Lair destroyed. Alyce pretends not to know what happened, though she recognizes the Vila. The ritual fails to reveal the Vila's magic, and both women are left shaken, with only a lingering sense of hope and fear.

Key Events

Alyce discovers Aurora's appointment and waits anxiously; Aurora arrives late, soaked from a storm.
Aurora reveals that her mother is pushing a suitor, Elias of Ryna, whose star charts match hers.
Aurora insists on performing the summoning ritual to break her curse, despite Alyce's warnings.
They prepare the ritual: drawing the diagram, scattering herbs, and boiling a deathknot.
Aurora proposes adding her blood (carrying the curse) and Alyce's blood (carrying Vila magic).
The ritual triggers a violent reaction: blinding light, wind, green flames, and a face in the fire that speaks.
The room is destroyed; the ritual fails to reveal the Vila's magic.
Alyce lies about not knowing what happened, but she recognizes the Vila from an earlier mirror encounter.

Character Development

Alyce shows significant internal conflict. She is torn between her growing attachment to Aurora and her fear of her own Vila magic. She repeatedly warns Aurora about the danger, yet ultimately gives in to Aurora's insistence, even allowing her blood to be added. Her fear is palpable—she dreads that her power might harm Aurora or destroy everything. After the ritual, she lies to Aurora, unable to admit that she recognizes the Vila, and she privately acknowledges that she too had wanted to hope. This chapter deepens her vulnerability and her struggle with self-acceptance.

Aurora emerges as determined and reckless. She rejects the idea of passively waiting for a suitor or a fate decided by others. Her speech about taking control of her own life, even at the cost of death, shows a fierce agency. She is also surprisingly trusting of Alyce, offering her blood without hesitation and even suggesting Alyce's blood as a catalyst. Her hope is palpable, but so is her naivety about the risks.

Their relationship evolves from wary allies to something more intimate, marked by physical closeness and shared vulnerability. Alyce's observation of Aurora's beauty and her own internal scolding reveal her growing feelings, while Aurora's willingness to trust Alyce with her life suggests a deepening bond.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Agency vs. Fate: Aurora's determination to break her curse herself contrasts with the star-chosen suitor and her mother's plans. She refuses to let fate or others decide her future.
Fear of One's Own Power: Alyce's reluctance to use her blood stems from a deep fear of her Vila magic. She worries it will cause harm, a fear that proves justified when the ritual goes awry.
Forbidden Magic and Blood Magic: The summoning ritual is explicitly forbidden, and the use of blood—both Aurora's cursed blood and Alyce's Vila blood—acts as a powerful, dangerous catalyst.
The Vila's Influence: The face in the fire and the cryptic message “Find me, my pet” suggest the Vila is not merely a past curse but an active, malevolent presence. The ritual inadvertently strengthens the connection between Alyce and the Vila.
Hope vs. Despair: Both women enter the ritual hoping for a breakthrough, but the outcome is ambiguous. The destruction and the Vila's appearance leave them with more questions than answers, yet a glimmer of hope remains.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it marks the first active attempt to break Aurora's curse and directly invokes the Vila's magic. The ritual's violent outcome reveals that the Vila is not just a historical figure but a living, communicating entity with a personal interest in Alyce. The cryptic message “Find me, my pet” sets up a new quest and deepens the mystery of Alyce's heritage. Additionally, the chapter solidifies the emotional bond between Alyce and Aurora, moving their relationship from tentative friendship to something more intimate and dangerous. The destruction of the Lair and Alyce's lie create a rift of secrecy that will likely have consequences in future chapters.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Aurora insist on performing the summoning ritual despite the risks?

Aurora believes that waiting and hoping is what killed her sisters. She is tired of having her fate rest in someone else's hands and would rather take control of her own life, even if it means dying in the attempt. This reflects her desire for agency over her own destiny.

What does Alyce's reaction to the ritual reveal about her character?

Alyce is deeply afraid of her own Vila magic. She hesitates to add her blood, fearing it will cause harm. After the ritual, she lies to Aurora about recognizing the Vila, showing her reluctance to confront her true nature. Her internal acknowledgment that she too wanted to hope reveals a longing for connection and a desire to break free from her isolation.

How does the ritual's outcome affect the relationship between Alyce and Aurora?

The ritual brings them physically and emotionally closer—they cling to each other during the chaos—but it also introduces a new layer of secrecy. Alyce's lie about the Vila creates a barrier, while Aurora's hope remains unfulfilled. The shared experience deepens their bond, but the unresolved mystery and Alyce's hidden knowledge may strain their trust in the future.