Tisaanah and Max both narrate Part 2, with chapters alternating their perspectives.

Max meets with Nura right after Tisaanah signs the blood oath. Nura tries to persuade him to help Tisaanah adjust to the magic she has absorbed, but he refuses: “‘She’s made her choice, Max. Now you just have to make yours.’ ‘There is no choice,’ I spat, and started for the door” (286).

After the energy transfer, Tisaanah lapses in and out of consciousness. During her dream state, she relives Max’s early memories of being a young soldier visiting his home and of his youngest sister, Kira, Max’s favorite sibling. The entity inside Tisaanah’s head guides her through Max’s memories and promises more. The text marks Reshaye’s speech with curly brackets: “{I’ve got a lot of stories to tell you, Tisaanah…} I opened my mouth to answer, but couldn’t speak. {So many stories.} The world froze. Then dissolved into blackness. {Do you like them? I’ll have yours soon, too}” (293).

Unaware of how much time has passed, Tisaanah sees flashes of her own past as well. The voice inside her head grows more insistent. It wants to understand her as well as it knows Max: “{I loved Maxantarius very much.