Chapter 13 Summary, Key Moments, 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
Rhys and Vivienne arrive at Penhaven College, the small campus where she teaches. Rhys is struck by how cheerful the place looks—redbrick buildings, bright lawns, and autumn leaves—despite the name that echoes his own gloomy homeland. Vivienne remains on edge, scanning for any sign that the curse might still be targeting Rhys. He tries to joke about the danger, but she is not amused, and he carefully descends a short flight of steps to humor her.
They head to her office in the history department. Rhys is surprised to see her as a grown professional, and he feels a sudden, desperate curiosity about her adult life. He asks why she teaches “regular” history rather than witchy history. Vivienne explains that she spent most of her life as a regular person and feels more comfortable there. Her tiny office is cozy, with plants, posters of medieval tapestries, and photos of her with Gwyn and Elaine. Rhys secretly checks for any pictures of a romantic partner, but finds none.
As they talk, Rhys notices a shelf full of books about Wales. Vivienne admits she focused on Welsh history in grad school, but insists it had nothing to do with him. He deflects when she asks if he dislikes Wales, saying he loves the country itself but avoids his hometown because of his father. She finds her library card, and they leave for the library.
On the way, they pass a cluster of buildings where the college’s magic classes are now housed. Vivienne explains that a student once bumbled into an augury class and tried to film it, so the magic classes were relocated and warded to keep regular students out. Rhys asks if she ever socializes with the other witches, and she says no, though she plans to use their resources. They reach the Gothic library, and Rhys notes he never visited it during his own time at Penhaven.
Key Events
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Rhys and Vivienne arrive at Penhaven College; Rhys notes the campus is smaller and cheerier than expected.
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Vivienne remains vigilant for curse-related dangers, while Rhys tries to downplay the risk.
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In her office, Rhys learns she teaches Intro to Western Civilization and sees her collection of Welsh history books.
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They discuss Rhys’s complicated feelings about Wales and his father; he deflects the conversation.
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Vivienne finds her library card, and they head to the library.
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They pass the warded magic buildings, and Vivienne explains the relocation after a student incident.
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Vivienne admits she doesn’t associate with the other witches but will use their resources.
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They arrive at the library, where they plan to research the curse.
Character Development
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Rhys begins to see Vivienne as a fully realized adult, not the nineteen-year-old he remembers. He feels a strong urge to know everything about her, and he checks for signs of a partner, revealing his lingering feelings. He also carries guilt about hurting her enough to trigger the curse, and he struggles to confront his own avoidance of his father and hometown.
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Vivienne shows her comfort in the “regular” world, explaining that she teaches standard history because that’s where she feels most at ease. She is still wary of the curse, but she is also willing to work with Rhys, even if she keeps an emotional distance. Her decision to avoid the other witches hints at a deeper separation from her magical identity.
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The chapter deepens their reconnection: they share small, personal details about their jobs and interests, and for a moment they feel like two strangers getting to know each other—until Rhys reminds himself of the curse.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Home vs. Travel: Rhys loves Wales but avoids his hometown because of his father. His job as a travel guide lets him stay on the move, symbolizing his avoidance of unresolved family issues. Vivienne’s choice to teach regular history suggests she, too, has chosen a path that keeps her separate from her magical heritage.
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Separation and Wards: The magic buildings are physically and magically separated from the rest of campus, mirroring the divide between the witch and non-witch worlds. Vivienne’s refusal to socialize with other witches reinforces this theme of voluntary separation.
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Identity and Belonging: Vivienne’s office and her Welsh history books hint at a connection to Rhys’s past, even as she insists it’s unrelated. The chapter explores how people shape their identities around the places and people they choose—or choose to avoid.
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Past vs. Present: Rhys’s memory of Vivienne is frozen at nineteen, but seeing her as an adult forces him to reconcile the past with the present. The curse itself is a physical manifestation of past mistakes intruding on the present.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in Rhys and Vivienne’s reconnection. It moves them from the chaos of the curse’s immediate effects into a quieter, more intimate setting—her office—where they can talk as adults. The discussion about Wales and Rhys’s father reveals a vulnerability he usually hides, and Vivienne’s explanation of her career choice shows how she has built a life separate from magic. The chapter also sets up the library as the next stage for their research, while the warded magic buildings foreshadow the larger magical community they will have to engage with. By the end, the reader understands that solving the curse will require both of them to confront not only the spell but also the personal history that created it.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Vivienne teach “regular” history instead of witchy history?
Vivienne explains that she spent most of her life as a regular person and feels more comfortable in that world. She also genuinely enjoys teaching introductory Western Civilization, finding satisfaction in introducing students to a subject she loves. Her choice reflects a desire to stay grounded in the non-magical life she knows, even though she is a witch.
- What does Rhys’s reaction to the Welsh history books reveal about his feelings for Vivienne?
When Rhys sees the books, he immediately assumes they might be connected to him, and Vivienne is quick to deny it. His probing and her defensiveness suggest that their past relationship still lingers beneath the surface. Rhys’s curiosity about her life—and his relief at finding no pictures of another man—shows that he still cares for her more than he wants to admit.
- How does the layout of Penhaven College reflect the theme of separation between magic and non-magic?
The magic classes are housed in a separate cluster of buildings, warded to keep regular students out. This physical separation mirrors the broader divide between the witch community and the ordinary world. Vivienne’s decision not to associate with the other witches, even though she uses their resources, reinforces the idea that she has chosen to live on the non-magical side of that boundary.
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