Our Vicious Oaths Ending Explained: Spoilers, Character Outcomes & Unanswered Questions

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

The Ending in Brief

The novel’s final narrative chapter (Chapter Thirty-Nine) shows the long-awaited confrontation between Malachizrien Diamundis and Rishaud Timmu on the battlefield outside Zahzah. Rishaud has murdered the four vassal kings and declared the Six Kingdoms dissolved, leaving only his Hyperion dominion. Malachi and Kadeesha, now married and expecting a child, reject his claim. They publicly reinterpret the prophecy that has driven the conflict, insisting that Kadeesha alone is the prophesied high queen and that her firstborn son—fathered by Malachi—will inherit the mantle. The parley breaks down, and the two armies clash as Malachi and Rishaud engage in a magical duel. The provided material ends as the battle begins, leaving the final outcome unresolved.

The Climax: Parley and Battle

The climax unfolds in two stages: the tense parley and the immediate eruption of war. Rishaud arrives with his army, presenting the severed heads of the vassal kings as proof of his absolute authority. He claims Kadeesha as his wife and the child she carries as his heir, citing the Celestials’ will. Malachi counters that the prophecy names no specific male as high king, and that his marriage to Kadeesha—completed the previous night before a cleric—makes him the rightful ruler. Kadeesha reinforces this by declaring the prophecy was always about her alone, and that her child of dual royal blood can only be a boy, thus crowning Malachi as the Celestials’ chosen high king.

The parley’s formalities end when both clerics confirm that sufficient propriety has been observed. Malachi unleashes a maelstrom of shadows against Rishaud’s golden sunfire. The magical collision sends tremors across the field, and both armies surge forward. The narrative cuts off as the battle begins, with Malachi and Rishaud circling each other, each king assessing the other.

Major Character Outcomes

Kadeesha Mercier

Kadeesha enters the final battle as the Aether queen, married to Malachi, and pregnant with a child of dual royal blood. She has rejected Rishaud’s claim and publicly reframed the prophecy to center herself. Her arc moves from a reluctant war prize to a sovereign who insists on fighting for her own throne. She remains determined to kill Malachi after Rishaud is dealt with, though her feelings for him have complicated that vow.

Malachizrien Diamundis

Malachi has evolved from a vengeful king who planned to use Kadeesha as bait to a husband and father-to-be who publicly defends her and their child. He has married Kadeesha, accepted the Marking that binds them, and now fights to protect his court and his family. His earlier plan to kill her has been abandoned, though his ambition to conquer the Six Kingdoms remains.

Rishaud Timmu

Rishaud is the primary antagonist, having killed the vassal kings and declared himself the sole sovereign of Nimani. He seeks to reclaim Kadeesha and the prophesied child, believing the Celestials have ordained him as high king. His arrogance and cruelty are on full display during the parley, but his claim is publicly challenged by Malachi and Kadeesha. His fate is not resolved in the provided material.

Samira and Leisha

Samira, healed from her near-fatal wound, stands ready to fight at Kadeesha’s side, wielding a black shortsword. Leisha, now a noble, also joins the battle. Both sisters refuse to be sidelined, reinforcing their loyalty to Kadeesha.

Yashira and Nychelle

Yashira, Kadeesha’s mother, has reconciled with her daughter and stands with the Apollyon court. Nychelle, Malachi’s aunt, supports the war effort. Both appear as queen mothers at the wedding ceremony, symbolizing the union of the two courts.

Trystin and the Cadre

Trystin, Malachi’s cousin, is present but is being shuffled away from the front lines with civilians, much to his displeasure. The Cadre—Dedrick, Shionne, Jakobi, Kiyun, and Zayvier—fight alongside Malachi, with Zayvier defying orders to stay behind.

Resolved and Unresolved Threads

Resolved

• The marriage: Kadeesha and Malachi complete their marriage rites before a cleric, solidifying their alliance and the legitimacy of their child.

• The prophecy’s interpretation: Kadeesha publicly redefines the prophecy to center herself, undermining Rishaud’s claim.

• The vassal kings’ fate: Rishaud kills them, eliminating any hope of a united southern front against him.

Unresolved

• The battle’s outcome: The novel ends as the battle begins; we do not know who wins or who survives.

• Kadeesha’s vow to kill Malachi: She still intends to kill him after Rishaud is dealt with, but her feelings and the Marking complicate this.

• The child’s fate: The pregnancy is confirmed, but the child’s birth and role in the prophecy remain open.

• The fate of the Six Kingdoms: Rishaud has declared them dissolved, but the war’s outcome will determine the future political structure.

• The Cleric’s Rebellion: Led by Rishaud, its ultimate fate is tied to the battle.

Theme Resolution

Prophecy as a Tool of Control

The prophecy is revealed to be a weapon wielded by Rishaud to justify his conquest. Kadeesha and Malachi reclaim it, using its ambiguity to legitimize their own rule. The novel suggests that prophecies are malleable, subject to interpretation by those in power.

Bodily Autonomy and Reproductive Agency

Kadeesha’s pregnancy is a central point of contention. She initially plans to terminate it, but the tea is left untouched when Rishaud’s arrival interrupts. The battle forces her to confront the prophecy’s implications for her body and her child.

The Moral Cost of Vengeance

Malachi’s quest for vengeance against Rishaud and the southern courts has led to war and mass casualties. Kadeesha’s own desire for revenge is tempered by her concern for innocent fae. The ending highlights the destructive cycle of vengeance.

Oaths, Bargains, and Binding Promises

Oaths are magically binding throughout the novel. Kadeesha’s vow to kill Malachi, Malachi’s oath to protect her, and the marriage vows all carry weight. The final battle is partly a clash of competing oaths and claims.

Power, Rulership, and Legitimacy

The ending questions what makes a ruler legitimate: divine prophecy, marriage, or conquest. Kadeesha asserts her own claim to the throne, while Rishaud relies on the Celestials. The battle will decide who holds power.

Epilogue and Back Matter

The novel does not include a narrative epilogue. The final chapters are back matter: a Dramatis Personae listing the characters, a promotional section for N.E. Davenport’s other works, and publisher information. The “Keep Reading” chapter is purely marketing, not story content.

Reasonable Interpretations

The ending is deliberately ambiguous, leaving the battle’s outcome open. One interpretation is that Kadeesha and Malachi will win, given their combined magic and the prophecy’s shift in their favor. Another is that the battle is a pyrrhic victory, with heavy casualties on both sides. The unresolved nature of Kadeesha’s vow to kill Malachi suggests that even victory may not bring peace. The novel may be setting up a sequel, as the prophecy’s full implications—especially the child’s role—remain unexplored.

Reader Questions and Answers

1. Does Kadeesha kill Malachi at the end?

The provided material does not show this. Kadeesha still intends to kill him after Rishaud is dealt with, but the battle’s outcome is unknown.

2. Who wins the final battle?

The novel ends as the battle begins, so the winner is not revealed.

3. Is Kadeesha really pregnant?

Yes, the thistlegrass test confirms her pregnancy, and Malachi scents it. The child is of dual royal blood.

4. What happens to Rishaud?

His fate is unresolved. He is alive and fighting at the end, but the battle’s outcome is unknown.

5. Does the prophecy come true?

The prophecy’s fulfillment is uncertain. Kadeesha and Malachi reinterpret it to suit their claim, but whether the child will be born and inherit the mantle is left open.

6. Is there a sequel planned?

The back matter promotes other books but does not confirm a sequel. The unresolved threads suggest the possibility, but nothing is certain.