Dread on the Mountain Path

Briar, a young woman hardened by neglect and abuse, trudges up the fog-shrouded mountain toward the infamous Ivy Institute. Her father, eager to be rid of her, has abandoned her at the forest's edge. Starving, exhausted, and haunted by the threat of death, Briar's every step is a battle against her own failing body and the unknown dangers lurking in the woods. The oppressive atmosphere mirrors her inner turmoil—resentment toward her father, fear of the Institute's reputation, and a stubborn will to survive. When a shadowy presence emerges from the mist, her body finally gives out, and she collapses, teetering between relief and terror as darkness claims her.

Shadows and Blue Skin

Kage, a death demon whose touch is lethal, has been watching Briar's struggle. Against his nature and better judgment, he intervenes, carefully carrying her to the Institute's healers without letting his skin touch hers. His actions draw suspicion from the staff, but he insists on her care, revealing a rare protectiveness. The healers are baffled by Briar's condition—she is alive but unreadable to their magic. Ziv, the formidable combat instructor, arrives, intrigued by both Kage's involvement and Briar's mysterious resilience. The scene is charged with tension, as Kage's lethal power and Ziv's authority clash, both men sensing something extraordinary about the unconscious girl.

The Institute's Chosen

Briar wakes in the Institute's infirmary, disoriented but alive. She is met by Ziv, whose imposing presence is softened by unexpected gentleness. Their conversation is a dance of suspicion and vulnerability—Briar, used to being exploited, is wary of kindness, while Ziv is both curious and protective. She learns she was summoned to Ivy for her unique ability, though the details remain vague. The Institute, a place of power and danger, is both a prison and a potential refuge. Briar's hunger and trauma are ever-present, but so is a flicker of hope that her life might change.

Hunger and Healing

Ziv provides Briar with food and basic necessities, treating her with a respect she's never known. Their interactions are fraught with the tension of unspoken attraction and the scars of Briar's past. She is given a room—more a cell than a sanctuary—where she must navigate the Institute's social hierarchy and her own anxieties. Kage, ever the silent guardian, lurks in the shadows, drawn to Briar in ways he cannot explain. The Institute's routines begin to shape Briar's days, but the threat of being used for her power looms, and the wounds of her upbringing are slow to heal.

The Death Demon's Dilemma

Kage is tormented by his growing attachment to Briar. His curse—death by touch—makes any closeness impossible, yet he cannot stay away. He becomes her unseen protector, watching over her at night, wrestling with jealousy and longing as Ziv grows closer to her. The Institute's dangers are many, and Kage's presence is both a shield and a source of tension. He suspects a deeper connection—perhaps even a fated bond—but the cruelty of such a destiny, to love what he cannot touch, is almost unbearable.

Silver-Eyed Protector

Ziv takes charge of Briar's training, determined to make her strong enough to survive the Institute and the deadly tournament known as the Undertaking. His methods are harsh but effective, pushing Briar to her limits. Their bond deepens, complicated by the revelation that Ziv is a fallen god and that Briar is his mate. The physical and emotional intensity between them grows, but Briar's trauma makes intimacy a slow, painful process. Ziv's protectiveness borders on possessive, and his rivalry with Kage simmers beneath the surface.

The Headmistress's Game

Syrinx, the banshee headmistress, is a master of manipulation. She sees Briar as both a weapon and a threat, orchestrating tests and challenges to probe her abilities. The Institute is a nest of rivalries, secrets, and power plays, with Syrinx at the center. She pits Ziv and Kage against each other, hoping to exploit their connections to Briar. The other students are wary, some openly hostile, and Briar must learn to navigate this treacherous environment while uncovering the truth about her own power.

A Room of Her Own

Briar's room becomes a symbol of her tentative autonomy. She receives clothing, bedding, and small comforts, but the sense of being watched and controlled never fully leaves. Ziv's efforts to provide for her are both touching and overwhelming, and Briar struggles with feelings of unworthiness and fear of debt. The room is also a site of vulnerability—she is attacked, injured, and forced to rely on others for help. Yet, it is here that she begins to reclaim small pieces of herself, hiding treasures and asserting boundaries.

The Demon in the Shadows

Kage's nightly presence under Briar's bed is both a comfort and a torment. He is her silent shadow, protecting her from threats she cannot see. The truth of their bond becomes undeniable—Kage is also her mate, though his curse keeps them apart. The revelation is bittersweet, offering hope of connection but also the agony of impossible love. Kage's loyalty is absolute, and his willingness to die for Briar is matched only by his fear of hurting her. The triangle between Briar, Ziv, and Kage is fraught with longing, jealousy, and the cruel irony of fate.

Training and Torment

Briar's days are consumed by brutal training—first with Ziv, then with the other instructors and students. She is tested, attacked, and pushed to the brink, her immunity to magic both a shield and a target. The other students resent and fear her, and the instructors are relentless. Briar's resilience is forged in pain, but so is her sense of self. She begins to experiment with her power, trying to turn magic back on her attackers, but success remains elusive. The threat of the Undertaking looms ever larger, and the Institute's true nature—as a crucible for killers—becomes clear.

The Bond of Blood

The tension between Briar and Ziv erupts in a passionate, transformative union. Their bond is sealed by blood and sex, marking them as mates in body and soul. The experience is overwhelming, healing old wounds and awakening new strengths in Briar. Ziv's possessiveness is tempered by tenderness, and Briar's sense of belonging is finally realized. Yet, the bond also brings new dangers—jealousy, vulnerability, and the ever-present threat of loss. Kage's role as the other mate is acknowledged, deepening the emotional complexity of their connection.

The Tournament Revealed

The true purpose of the Institute is laid bare: the Undertaking, a deadly tournament where students are pitted against each other for the gods' amusement. Briar is both a secret weapon and a sacrificial pawn, her immunity to magic making her uniquely valuable and uniquely vulnerable. Ziv and Kage vow to protect her, but the rules of the game are merciless. Syrinx's ambitions and the machinations of the gods threaten to tear them apart. Briar must decide whether to embrace her power or be destroyed by it.

The Void's Awakening

Briar learns she is a void—immune to magic, and potentially able to absorb and redirect it. The history of other voids is dark, marked by madness and violence, and Briar fears what she might become. Syrinx's interest in her is revealed to be both personal and political, and the Institute's true nature as a factory for weapons is exposed. Briar's struggle to control her power mirrors her struggle to claim her own identity and agency. The threat of being used, or destroyed, by those in power is ever-present.

Enemies in the Halls

As Briar's reputation grows, so do the dangers. She is framed for murder, attacked by students and staff, and nearly killed by a nest of venomous snakes planted in the training arena. Ziv and Kage's efforts to protect her are heroic but not always enough. The Institute is a nest of vipers, both literal and figurative, and Briar must learn to trust her instincts and her allies. The lines between friend and foe blur, and the cost of survival becomes ever steeper.

Poison in the Sand

Briar is gravely injured during training, poisoned by a snake in a calculated attempt on her life. Ziv's blood saves her, but the experience is a stark reminder of her fragility and the lengths her enemies will go to destroy her. The incident forces Ziv and Kage to confront their own limitations and the reality that they cannot always protect her. Briar's recovery is slow, and the trauma lingers, but so does her determination to survive and fight back.

The Goddess Arrives

A goddess arrives at the Institute, freezing time and confronting Briar directly. She reveals that Briar has been traded—her fate decided by powers far beyond her control. The goddess's beauty and cruelty are overwhelming, and Briar is powerless to resist as she is handed over to a monstrous black dragon. The Institute, once a prison, is now a lost home, and Briar's future is more uncertain than ever. The intervention of the gods shatters any illusion of safety or autonomy.

Torn from Home

Briar is seized by the dragon and carried away from the Institute, her screams echoing as she is torn from the only place she has ever known. Ziv and Kage are left behind, helpless to save her. The chapter ends on a note of heartbreak and suspense, as Briar's journey takes a new and terrifying turn. The bonds of love and loyalty are tested, and the story's emotional arc crescendos in loss and longing. The promise of continuation hangs in the air, as Briar's fate remains unresolved.

To Be Continued

The narrative closes with the promise of more to come. Briar's journey is far from over, and the challenges she faces—both internal and external—are only beginning. The Institute, the bonds of love, the awakening of power, and the machinations of gods and mortals alike set the stage for a sequel filled with danger, desire, and the relentless pursuit of freedom and selfhood.

Characters

Briar

Briar is a young woman forged in hardship, marked by neglect, abuse, and exploitation. Her immunity to magic—being a void—makes her both a target and a prize. Psychologically, she is a study in trauma: wary, self-effacing, and slow to trust, yet fiercely determined to survive. Her relationships with Ziv and Kage are fraught with longing, fear, and the desperate hope for belonging. Over the course of the story, Briar evolves from a passive victim to an active participant in her own fate, learning to wield her power and claim her place in a world that would use or destroy her. Her journey is one of self-discovery, healing, and the painful birth of agency.

Ziv

Ziv is the Institute's head combat instructor, a fallen god whose power and presence are both awe-inspiring and intimidating. His silver eyes and scarred body speak of battles won and lost, both physical and emotional. Ziv's relationship with Briar is complex—he is her trainer, her mate, and her would-be savior. His protectiveness borders on obsession, driven by a deep sense of responsibility and a fear of loss. Psychologically, Ziv is haunted by his own fall from grace, struggling to balance his violent nature with the tenderness Briar awakens in him. His rivalry with Kage is both a source of tension and a crucible for growth, as he learns to share the burden and blessing of loving Briar.

Kage

Kage is a death demon whose touch brings instant, agonizing death. Isolated by his curse, he is both feared and pitied, a pariah among monsters. His connection to Briar is immediate and profound—he is her other mate, though fate's cruelty keeps them apart. Kage's psychological landscape is one of longing, jealousy, and self-loathing, tempered by a fierce loyalty and a willingness to sacrifice everything for Briar's safety. His rivalry with Ziv is less about competition and more about the agony of loving what he cannot have. Kage's journey is one of silent suffering, unrequited love, and the hope that one day, he might be free to touch and be touched.

Syrinx

Syrinx is the enigmatic and ruthless headmistress of Ivy Institute. A banshee with a talent for reading people and exploiting their weaknesses, she is both a mentor and a threat to Briar. Syrinx's motivations are complex—she seeks power, prestige, and victory in the Undertaking, but her interest in Briar is also personal, shaped by her own history with voids. Psychologically, Syrinx is a master of control, using fear, charm, and calculated cruelty to maintain her dominance. Her relationship with Ziv is adversarial, marked by mutual respect and underlying hostility.

Briar's Father (Gary)

Gary is the embodiment of parental failure—cruel, greedy, and utterly lacking in empathy. He sells Briar's immunity to magic to the highest bidder, using her as a tool for his own gain. His psychological makeup is one of narcissism and cowardice, and his eventual punishment at Ziv's hands is both brutal and cathartic. Gary's role in the story is to set Briar on her path, his betrayal the wound that both cripples and motivates her.

Elora

Elora is the legendary void whose story haunts Briar's own. She was able to absorb and redirect magic, but her power led to madness and destruction. Elora's fate—killed by Syrinx—serves as both a warning and a challenge to Briar, who fears becoming like her predecessor. Psychologically, Elora represents the dangers of unchecked power and the thin line between victim and monster.

Arnold

Arnold is one of the Institute's instructors, tasked with testing and breaking new students. He is a tool of the system, more interested in results than morality. His interactions with Briar are marked by cruelty and indifference, serving to highlight the dehumanizing nature of the Institute.

The Goddess

The unnamed goddess who arrives at the Institute is a force of nature—beautiful, capricious, and terrifying. She freezes time, confronts Briar, and orchestrates her abduction by a dragon. Her motivations are inscrutable, but her power is absolute. Psychologically, she represents the ultimate authority, the whims of fate that shape and shatter mortal lives.

The Dragon

The black dragon with a silver belly is both a literal and symbolic force, carrying Briar away from everything she knows. Its presence marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, a reminder that in this world, even monsters serve higher powers.

The Other Novices

The other students at Ivy are a mix of predators and prey, each with their own powers, ambitions, and traumas. They serve as both antagonists and reflections of Briar's own struggles, embodying the Institute's ethos of survival at any cost. Their interactions with Briar are marked by jealousy, fear, and occasional camaraderie, but trust is always in short supply.

Plot Devices

Dual and Triangular Bonds

The story's emotional core is the bond between Briar, Ziv, and Kage—a triangle complicated by curses, trauma, and the rules of fate. The fated mate trope is subverted by the impossibility of Kage's touch and the slow, painful healing required for Briar and Ziv's intimacy. This device drives both the romance and the psychological drama, forcing characters to confront their own limitations and desires.

The Institute as Microcosm

Ivy Institute is more than a setting—it is a character in its own right, a microcosm of a world obsessed with power and survival. Its routines, hierarchies, and rituals shape every aspect of the narrative, serving as both prison and proving ground. The Institute's structure allows for the exploration of themes like abuse, resilience, and the cost of ambition.

The Tournament (Undertaking)

The looming tournament is both a literal and symbolic threat, raising the stakes for every character. It serves as a source of foreshadowing, a ticking clock that drives the plot forward and forces characters to prepare, ally, and betray. The rules of the tournament—deadly, arbitrary, and designed for the gods' amusement—mirror the larger themes of fate and agency.

The Void and Magic Immunity

Briar's immunity to magic is both her greatest strength and her greatest vulnerability. It subverts the usual power dynamics of the fantasy genre, making her both a target and a weapon. The legacy of other voids, especially Elora, provides a source of mystery and dread, as Briar struggles to understand and control her power.

Trauma and Healing

The narrative is deeply invested in the psychological realism of trauma—Briar's abuse, Kage's isolation, Ziv's fall from grace. Healing is slow, nonlinear, and often painful, requiring trust, vulnerability, and the willingness to confront the past. The story resists easy resolutions, instead allowing characters to grow through struggle and connection.

Divine Intervention

The arrival of the goddess and the dragon at the climax is a classic deus ex machina, but it is used to underscore the powerlessness of mortals in the face of divine whim. The gods are not benevolent—they are beautiful, cruel, and indifferent, their games shaping the fates of all below.

Analysis

is a dark, emotionally charged fantasy that explores the intersection of trauma, power, and love in a world where survival is a daily battle. At its heart, the novel is about the search for agency and belonging in a system designed to exploit and destroy. Briar's journey—from abused outcast to empowered void—is both a personal and political awakening, challenging the hierarchies of magic, gender, and fate. The relationships between Briar, Ziv, and Kage are a study in the complexities of intimacy, consent, and healing, refusing to offer easy answers or tidy resolutions. The Institute itself is a metaphor for the systems that perpetuate violence and demand conformity, while the looming tournament and the intervention of the gods highlight the arbitrariness of power and the fragility of hope. Ultimately, the story is a testament to resilience—the ability to endure, adapt, and find connection even in the most hostile environments. The lessons are clear: true strength lies not in power over others, but in the courage to claim one's own story, to love and be loved despite the thorns, and to fight for a future that is not dictated by the whims of gods or monsters.

Last updated: January 7, 2026