From Blood and Ash

The Castle Teerman is in lockdown. Back in her room, Penellaphe, Rylan, and Tawny discuss what could have killed the woman, Malessa Axton, a Lady in Waiting. Tawny worries that a Craven is in the castle, but Penellaphe reminds her that the bite marks do not match those of a Craven. Malessa was bitten by something with two fangs, and it left no blood behind. Vikter suspects an Atlantian is among them.

Penellaphe sneaks down to the banquet hall in the hopes of finding answers. She reads a passage from the book The History of The War of Two Kings and the Kingdom of Solis. Atlantians, Penellaphe learns, are deadly predators who are indistinguishable from mortals. When Atlantians mature, the “ill-spirits in their blood become active,” there is a “disturbing increase in strength,” and they gain the ability to quickly recover from wounds (93). To protect Atlantians, a special ritual bond between an Atlantian and the now extinct wolven was performed, thus explaining why Atlantians evolved to develop fangs. Atlantians thirst for the blood of mortals, and as long as that need is met, their aging process slows down considerably. Atlantians can pass on these ill-spirits to mortals through what is called a poisonous kiss, turning the mortal into a Craven.