Chapter Thirty-Two Summary
⚠️ 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
Kierse returns to Graves's brownstone after visiting Nate during the full moon. At breakfast, she shares a wedding invitation from Nate and Maura. Graves calls a meeting in the library. Before the meeting, Kierse asks Graves for a favor: can he cure the incubus curse so Maura and Nate can have children? Graves admits there is no known cure but suggests the cauldron might heal magical ailments if they obtain it. This deepens Kierse's commitment to the heist.
Twenty minutes later, the team assembles in the library. Schwartz arrives—a massive mer with webbed fingers and blue scales, bearing a Caribbean accent. He reports on the security surrounding the cauldron: top-of-the-line vaults, biometric sensors, anti-tampering technology, and a team of mercenary monsters. Kierse is impressed and daunted. The cauldron itself is surprisingly small, possibly a chalice rather than a full-sized cauldron.
Graves explains the four Tuatha de Danann artifacts: the spear (never defeated), the sword (reveals truth), the cauldron (feeds an army and heals the injured), and the stone (proclaims the true king). When Kierse pushes him on what happens if all four are united, Graves says they can perform great magic—the kind not seen since the gods left.
Gen asks directly what the cauldron does. Graves reveals it can give magic where there is none, heal broken magic, and even change a half-blood into a pure blood. He offers each member of the team a chance to use the cauldron once they steal it, creating a powerful incentive for everyone present. Kierse is conflicted: she has just accepted being half-Fae and is unsure if she wants to become fully Fae.
The anonymous owner, called the Curator, has never met any of the security team. Graves suspects the Curator knows the team will try to steal the cauldron and is setting a trap. Graves decides to proceed anyway: he will attempt to buy the cauldron at auction, but if that fails, the team will execute a proper heist. Kierse will serve as the distraction, wearing a revealing dress reminiscent of the one she wore to Imani's party, while Laz gathers intel and Schwartz provides inside access.
Key Events
- Kierse returns to the brownstone and shares Nate and Maura's wedding invitation with Gen.
- Kierse privately asks Graves for a cure to the incubus curse; Graves says none exists but hints the cauldron might help.
- Schwartz, a mer security expert, arrives and reports on the extreme security around the cauldron.
- Graves explains the four Tuatha de Danann artifacts and the cauldron's potential to transform a half-blood into a pure blood.
- Graves reveals the anonymous owner known as "the Curator" and admits he suspects a trap.
- Graves formulates a two-part plan: attempt to buy the cauldron at auction, with Kierse as a distraction, and fall back to a full heist if purchase fails.
Character Development
Kierse shows deepening loyalty: she advocates for Maura and Nate without being asked, and she struggles with the personal implications of the cauldron's power. Her willingness to consider what she might gain from the cauldron—even while uncertain—adds complexity to her identity as a half-Fae.
Graves reveals more of his grand strategy and his willingness to share power with his team. His offer of the cauldron's use to each member underscores his leadership style: he binds people through shared stakes, not just obligation. His admission of uncertainty about the Curator shows he is not omniscient.
Schwartz (Augustin Saint-Fleur Schwartz) is introduced as a capable, earthy, and warm presence. His mer physiology—webbed fingers, scales, comfort in salt water—adds a new element to the team's diversity. His history with Laz suggests a long-standing trust.
Gen continues to ask direct, practical questions, cutting through mystery to focus on the cauldron's actual function. Her ease with Anne the cat reinforces her intuitive, perhaps magical, nature.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Hidden Knowledge and Revelation: This chapter revolves around uncovering the cauldron's true capabilities—healing, granting magic, and changing blood—moving it from a simple artifact to a transformative object.
Identity and Transformation: The cauldron's power to turn a half-blood into a pure blood directly challenges Kierse's recent acceptance of her dual heritage. The question of whether she would choose to change lingers silently.
Trust and Loyalty: Kierse asking a favor for Maura demonstrates trust in Graves, while Graves sharing his doubts about the Curator shows reciprocal trust. The team's bond is tested by the offer of the cauldron's power.
Heist as Chess Match: Graves recognizes that the Curator expects a theft, so he plans to play along while executing a deeper strategy. The heist becomes a game of layered expectations.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter reshapes the entire second half of the novel. It raises the personal stakes for Kierse through Maura's curse, introduces a high-stakes magical artifact whose powers could solve multiple character problems, and sets up the central conflict: a heist against an unknown, possibly omniscient foe. It also deepens the lore of the Tuatha de Danann, connecting this story to a larger mythological framework. Schwartz's addition gives the team a critical insider, and Kierse's role as the distraction—using her physical presence and previous notoriety—promises explosive scenes ahead.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does Kierse ask Graves for, and what is his initial response?
Kierse asks Graves if there is a cure for the incubus curse affecting Nate and Maura, who want to have children. Graves initially says there is no known cure, but then adds that the cauldron might be able to heal magical ailments if the team can obtain it.
2. Who is Schwartz, and what role will he play in the heist?
Schwartz (Augustin Saint-Fleur Schwartz) is a mer from Haiti who works in security. He has infiltrated the company protecting the auction items and provides the team with detailed security schematics, inside access, and information about the anonymous owner known as the Curator.
3. What are the four Tuatha de Danann artifacts, and what specific power does the cauldron possess beyond feeding an army?
The four artifacts are the spear (never defeated), the sword (reveals truth), the cauldron (feeds an army and heals the injured), and the stone (proclaims the true king). Beyond feeding and healing, the cauldron can give magic where there is none, heal broken magic, and change a half-blood into a pure blood by altering the makeup of their blood.