Book Summary – Serpent & Dove – Serpent & Dove – Book 1
- Jason Montero
- Sep 5
- 26 min read
Updated: Sep 6
Book summary by chapter of Serpent & Dove. Includes spoilers from the opening ritual to the end of the book. In a city where faith burns hotter than justice, a witch and a witch hunter strike an impossible pact that redraws the soul’s constellations. Lou is caged fire and Reid, stone carved by doctrine; their collision sparks a dangerous alchemy—love. The universe holds its breath as the heir to two deadly legacies must choose whether her blood will be the weapon or the salvation.
Introduction – Serpent & Dove
In a world where faith is a weapon and magic is a death sentence, Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin throws us headfirst into a tale of secrets, forced bonds, and forbidden love. From the first chapter, tension crackles between Lou—a witch hiding from her past—and Reid, a devout witch hunter who’s never questioned his mission. Every step they take is shadowed by danger… and the terrifying possibility of connection.
This full chapter-by-chapter summary unravels a pulse-pounding story where survival clashes with destiny. Blood spells, rooftop escapes, forced vows, and hidden betrayals all collide in a universe where no one is exactly who they claim to be. Lou’s pain runs as deep as her magic, and the fire around her is often lit by the choices she can’t take back.
And yet, beneath the lies and battles, one question echoes louder than any incantation: how far would you go to protect someone you love? If you want to follow the saga from the very beginning, don’t miss the main entry: Reading order of the Serpent & Dove Series ➤
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Chapter Navigation
Chapter 1 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Bellerose and the Secret of the Ring
Lou and Coco infiltrate the Bellerose, a luxury brothel in Cesarine, to meet Babette, a courtesan informant. Their goal is to recover a magical ring in the possession of Pierre Tremblay, an aristocrat connected to the suspicious death of his daughter, Filippa. As they wait, the air is thick with hidden tensions and lurking danger. Babette reveals that Madame Labelle, the brothel's owner, is negotiating with Tremblay for the ring but demands more money to share information. The protagonists access a secret room from which they spy on Labelle and Tremblay's conversation through peepholes in portraits. They discover the ring is hidden in Tremblay’s home, where he keeps it out of fear of witches. During the scene, Lou struggles to maintain her male disguise while avoiding two unwelcome acquaintances. Her wit and magic are tested as she plans her next move to claim the ring.
Chapter 2 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Plan to Steal the Ring
Lou meets with Bas, a charismatic thief and former lover, in a patisserie to map out the infiltration of Tremblay’s house. She explains that the magical ring grants immunity against enchantments, making it invaluable. Despite Bas’s flirtatious and provocative tone, there’s evident tension: Coco deeply distrusts him. As they talk, the presence of chasseurs—witch hunters—in the streets reinforces the mission’s risk. Ever cautious, Coco reminds Lou that Andre and Grue, two thugs from the past, also recognized her, further compromising her safety. Later, as the city prepares for the royal parade, Lou accidentally runs into Reid, a burly chasseur, who mistakes her for a man due to her disguise. Though she escapes, the encounter lingers. Lou retreats to a rooftop to watch the prince’s procession, sensing a strange shift in the air: magic is near.
Chapter 3 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Witch Attack and the Mother Revealed
Reid, a devout chasseur, senses magic during the prince’s parade. He alerts his comrades and protects the crowd, but chaos soon erupts: three witches attack, using spells to control human bodies like puppets. The scene is chilling and brutal, clearly a distraction. Reid realizes the real target is the royal family. Climbing a building for better visibility, he spots Lou, still in disguise, fleeing swiftly across rooftops. On the ground, an elderly witch creeps toward the royal carriage. Reid intervenes just in time, but is stunned when the old woman transforms into a beautiful, pregnant young woman. He realizes he’s faced none other than the Dame des Sorcières, Morgane le Blanc, the Church’s most feared figure. Later, during a meeting with the Archbishop, Reid is reprimanded but given a new mission: investigate an anonymous report about a witch in the West End.
Chapter 4 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Robbery at Tremblay’s Mansion
Lou, Coco, and Bas disguise themselves and prepare to infiltrate Tremblay’s mansion to steal the magical ring. Using blood magic, Coco senses a powerful presence but can’t identify its nature. Still, they proceed. Lou uses her magic to break the gate’s lock, sacrificing a finger in the process. Coco subdues the dogs with lavender and blood, while Lou enchants the guards into unconsciousness. Inside, Bas finds the secret vault, and Lou sacrifices another finger to open it. They discover the ring hidden among drawings of Tremblay’s daughters. Lou claims it while Bas steals jewelry. When chasseurs arrive with guards, Bas flees, leaving Lou behind. Drained and injured from magic use, Lou realizes she underestimated the risk. Though she now possesses the ring, the cost was steep and danger looms.
Chapter 5 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Capture, Escape, and Suspicions
Tremblay’s mansion is surrounded by chasseurs after the robbery. Reid notices Madame Labelle among the crowd and detects tension between her and Madame Tremblay. Célie, Tremblay’s daughter, appears visibly shaken. As chasseurs interrogate those present, Reid sees a curtain move—Lou is still inside. Jean Luc leads the chase, but she escapes across the roof. Reid doubts she’s a witch, remembering their earlier encounter, though evidence suggests otherwise. One thief is caught and shouts Lou’s name, exposing her identity. From below, Reid watches her flee, noticing her injured hand and dropped wig. He orders guards to seal all exits. As chasseurs ascend, Lou mysteriously vanishes. Meanwhile, other guards report another escaping woman with scars—possibly the witch they seek. Furious at the double escape, Reid vows to find Lou and make her talk, while trying to restore order.
Chapter 6 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Angelica’s Ring
Lou barely escapes the chasseurs thanks to the power of Angelica’s ring, which renders her invisible when held in her mouth. With broken fingers and the ring clenched between her teeth, she climbs down the mansion walls as guards search in vain. In an alley, she reunites with Coco, who reveals she too was spotted and must flee before she’s caught. They discuss the ring, a legendary artifact once belonging to the witch Angelica, now imbued with protective magic. Before parting, Coco promises to seek help, though Lou fears for her safety. Soon after, Lou is ambushed in the alley by Andre and Grue, who beat her brutally to steal the ring. Refusing to give up, she fights back fiercely and escapes once again to the Soleil et Lune, where she hides in the shadows, battered and bleeding.
Chapter 7 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Two Calls: Wrath and Envy
Reid trains furiously in the chasseurs’ courtyard, tormented by his failure to capture the witch. Jean Luc, his former friend turned rival, mocks him relentlessly, bringing up Célie and the red-haired thief with biting sarcasm. Ansel tries to intervene but only worsens the tension. Overwhelmed by guilt and pressure from the Archbishop, Reid struggles to remain calm, repeating childhood teachings to control his anger. Despite the public humiliation, he submits to the Archbishop’s authority, who punishes him by ordering him to attend a theater performance with a foreign dignitary—a disguised form of reprimand. On the way to the theater, Reid bears the weight of others’ disappointment and his own, knowing his status, reputation, and the respect of his peers are now fragile, corroded by envy, pressure, and failure.
Chapter 8 Summary – Serpent & Dove – A Mutually Beneficial Agreement
Lou wakes injured and trapped in the Soleil et Lune during a morning performance. Her bruised face and bloodied dress make her stand out among the actors. As she tries to slip away, Reid catches her. A chaotic chase ensues, ending onstage, where they crash together. The audience misinterprets the scene as abuse, prompting the Archbishop’s intervention. Lou is taken backstage, wrapped in a sheet, while the crowd demands justice. Outraged by the scandal, the Archbishop decides the only way to protect Reid’s reputation and the Church’s sanctity is to force a marriage between him and Lou. She resists, but soon realizes that agreeing to the marriage is the only way to avoid prison—or the stake. Reid consents only if she does. Seeing him as a potential shield, Lou answers firmly. She agrees, sealing her fate with a calculated yes.
Chapter 9 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Ceremony
Lou and Reid’s wedding is held before a deceived crowd, fed a story by the Archbishop that paints Lou as a wayward woman seeking redemption. Lou plays along convincingly to maintain the ruse, while Reid wrestles with guilt over Célie, duty, and public disgrace. Tension spikes when Lou uses magic to play a subtle trick on the Archbishop, causing a humiliating incident. Though Reid grows suspicious, she denies involvement with a sly grin. They’re then taken to the Doleur for Lou’s baptism, required to formalize their religious union. The ritual nearly becomes fatal when the Archbishop holds her underwater too long, triggering Lou’s fury. Despite the violence, the ceremony ends. Both accept the marriage with resignation, signing a pact that marks the start of a dangerous and unexpected alliance.
Chapter 10 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Consummation
Lou arrives at the Chasseurs’ Tower as Reid’s official wife. Though injured, sarcastic, and defiant, she faces the rigid, male-dominated environment with her usual boldness. She refuses to sleep in the same bed as her new husband, choosing the bathtub instead. To simulate the legal consummation of the marriage, she uses a self-inflicted cut to stain the sheets with blood. Reid, confused and unsettled by her presence, struggles to maintain composure as their interactions brim with tension and provocation. Lou explores the room, finds love letters, and searches for anything she can use to blackmail or protect herself. Though constantly clashing, their relationship evolves through arguments, brushes, and fleeting moments of connection. The threat of confinement infuriates Lou, and she makes it clear she won’t obey. Her free spirit challenges every rule—even in the enemy’s stronghold.
Chapter 11 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Interrogation
Reid faces judgment from his fellow chasseurs in the training yard following the scandal of his marriage to Lou. Each blow feels like a sentence, and his dignity falters as Jean Luc relentlessly taunts him. Despite the strain, Reid defeats him, but the humiliation lingers. The Archbishop demands an interrogation of Lou for her potential ties to witches. When Reid searches for her, he finds she has disobeyed and left without permission, igniting his fury. Upon her return—dressed in pants and as defiant as ever—conflict is inevitable. Lou mocks Reid’s authority, but he insists on taking her to the council. During the interrogation, she challenges the chasseurs but ultimately cooperates, naming enemies like Andre, Grue, and Madame Labelle, which raises further suspicion. Despite the tension, Reid defends her, revealing a growing conflict between his duty and his emerging feelings for her.
Chapter 12 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Forbidden Infirmary
Back at the Tower, Lou is determined to act. After giving the council a partial version of her story, she’s confined under Reid’s orders, with Ansel assigned as her guard. With wit and provocation, Lou convinces the young chasseur to show her around the Tower. Her goal: to uncover what’s hidden on the upper floors. Sneaking in, she finds the infirmary, and what she sees surpasses her worst fears—patients deformed, infected by magic, subjected to cruel experiments. There, she reunites with Coco, disguised as a healer. Together, they confirm the Church is experimenting with poisons, especially hemlock, to paralyze witches. The visit exposes the chasseurs' brutality and reinforces Lou’s need to strengthen her magic. Though Coco urges her to flee with the coven, Lou chooses to stay and prepare. She knows Morgane is coming—and when that moment arrives, she refuses to be a victim.
Chapter 13 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Escape
Lou learns that Bas has been captured and will be hanged if he doesn’t reveal information about witches. Desperate, she plans his rescue. Using magic, she seduces Ansel and the guards into unconsciousness and reaches Bas’s cell. With a kiss and a spell, she erases all memory of herself and Coco from his mind, setting him free. Exhausted, she also wipes Ansel’s memory before narrowly escaping discovery. She hides in a library, pretending she was studying scriptures. Coco appears to reinforce the cover story with finesse. Though Reid and Jean Luc are suspicious, they find no concrete evidence. Alone, Reid confronts Lou for lying about Coco. Their heated argument bursts with repressed anger, jealousy, and tangled emotions. Lou stands her ground: she won’t be a sacrifice. She’s chosen to act, to fight—and if she must burn to do it, so be it.
Chapter 14 Summary – Serpent & Dove – God, Have Mercy
After the library incident, Lou attends Mass with Reid to ease suspicions and uphold appearances. Amid sarcastic whispers and biblical verses, she feigns devotion as the Archbishop solemnly leads the service. Despite the sanctuary’s grandeur, Lou feels trapped in a hostile space, surrounded by chasseurs and believers who plead for mercy with the same mouths that cry for blood. During the sermon, the Archbishop urges Reid to keep a closer watch on her, and Jean Luc intensifies the tense atmosphere. As redemption prayers echo, Lou questions the faith of those around her—including her husband and the child singing sweetly. She reflects on the human soul’s reflection, struggling to understand how hatred and compassion coexist. Though she masks it with indifference, she feels more alone than ever, aware that her place in the temple is a lie built on her own hypocrisy.
Chapter 15 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Madame Labelle
Reid tries to relieve his tension with exercise while Lou mocks a pious book. In an unusually intimate gesture, he shows her a hidden stash in the wall and gives her a treasured book: La Vie Éphémère. Though skeptical, Lou shows interest in the story. Their dynamic softens briefly until Ansel interrupts with urgent news—Madame Labelle is at the Tower, demanding to speak with Lou. Reid objects, but Lou insists. Upon arrival, Madame Labelle throws provocative hints, and a growing tension fills the room as she demands privacy. Just before the chasseurs remove her, she lunges at Lou to whisper a warning. Chaos erupts, the Archbishop appears in fury, and orders her expulsion. While Reid tries to shield Lou, she’s left desperate to understand Labelle’s message, sensing it could change everything.
Chapter 16 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Cold in My Bones
Lou awakens, shaken by a nightmare in which she’s bleeding, running, and being hunted by her mother among pine trees. The danger feels real even as she wakes to find the window open and the room cold. Though all seems quiet, the threat of her mother hangs heavier than ever. Remembering Madame Labelle’s cryptic warning, Lou realizes that her hiding place in the Tower won’t protect her. She resolves to prepare for battle, to grow stronger and arm herself. Unable to find peace in bed, she lies beside Reid on the floor, seeking his body’s warmth. Though he sleeps unaware of her turmoil, his presence offers brief comfort. Lou promises herself that come morning, she’ll train harder—because when her mother comes, there will be only two options: fight or die.
Chapter 17 Summary – Serpent & Dove – A Clever Little Witch
Lou wakes feeling empty, her face tired, mind stuck on memories of her sixteenth birthday—the day she nearly died on an altar for her coven’s sake. Though she’s changed, the threat still looms. Reid invites her to the theater for distraction, and she accepts, despite her somber mood. In her search for a weapon, she questions Ansel and Jean Luc, using wit and sarcasm to manipulate them—unsuccessfully. During practice with Coco, she attempts to strengthen her magic, struggling to visualize new patterns. She learns her power relies on intuition and balance, often fueled by secrets or sacrifice. The session is cut short by Father Orville, who sedates Bernard with an injection. Lou watches helplessly as her magic pales before the looming reality of her greatest enemy—her mother.
Chapter 18 Summary – Serpent & Dove – La Vie Éphémère
Lou and Reid attend the theater to see La Vie Éphémère, dressed in matching outfits that suggest growing intimacy. Despite the elegant setting, Lou remains on guard, hiding beneath a cloak. During the play, she recognizes an actress from her past: Estelle, a Dame Blanche who could expose her identity. Tension mounts between Lou and Reid when he learns she’s been seeking a knife for protection. As the play progresses, their closeness grows—until a gesture from Estelle betrays Lou. After the show, Estelle confronts them, recognizes Lou, and launches a magical ambush. Reid is attacked but recovers and restrains Estelle. Lou, frozen by fear, doesn’t intervene. Reid saves her and declares that Estelle, being a witch, will burn. Devastated, Lou realizes her secret is on the brink of exposure and her world is crumbling.
Chapter 19 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Witch Killer
Lou returns to the Tower burdened by unbearable guilt as she follows Reid carrying Estelle’s lifeless body. The entrance scene is brutal: chasseurs rejoice as they test a new syringe designed to suppress magic. Reid uses it coldly, and Estelle collapses without resistance. Lou watches in horror as they drag her to the dungeons, unable to erase the image of blood or the nickname now haunting her: witch killer. At dawn, the sun refuses to rise, mirroring her despair. From her window, she watches Estelle’s public execution, condemned by the Archbishop. Despite Ansel’s pleas, Lou forces herself to witness it, aware of her cowardice. The fire consumes her sister, and Lou, in tears and rage, suffers a magical seizure so intense her body convulses. As Estelle dies in peace, Lou collapses, broken by her betrayal.
Chapter 20 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Soul Ache
Lou wakes after three days unconscious, silently cared for by Reid, who never left her side. Though grateful, the memory of the burning torments her. Tension flares when they confront the tragedy. Reid fails to grasp her pain, and his coldness rekindles Lou’s fury as she demands empathy for Estelle. When Reid says witches aren’t people, Lou asks if he would burn her. He hesitates—but answers yes, if she were a witch. Alone, Lou bathes, trying to wash away her guilt, recalling the magical pattern her mother saw in her—meant to destroy the Lyons. She reflects on her survival and the lives she’s taken to stay safe. Coco comforts her with gentle words, saying her pain stems from the soul. Ansel offers support too, but Lou fears for everyone. The weight of her choices is beginning to crush her.
Chapter 21 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Time to Move On
Lou suggests to Reid that they leave the Tower to visit the patisserie where they first met. Though hesitant, he agrees, and together they venture into a wintry stroll, hidden beneath Lou’s cloak. Laughter returns to their faces for the first time since the tragedy. At the patisserie, Lou pretends Reid is “Bas” to get free sweets from Pan, her old friend, who jokingly threatens Reid if he doesn’t take care of her. While sharing desserts, they play a game of questions to get to know each other better, revealing fears, flaws, and embarrassing memories. Lou begins to trust Reid, sensing warmth beyond his role as a chasseur. They wander under the snow, buy new coats, and Lou dances in the snowfall like a child. Reid, initially awkward, joins her playfully. Amid laughter and tenderness, Lou wonders if a future between them is possible. But when darkness returns at nightfall, Bernie is gone—and their peace dissolves once more.
Chapter 22 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Guest of Honor
On the eve of Saint Nicholas, King Auguste hosts a ball to honor Reid, whom he considers a hero. Coco dresses Lou in an elegant white gown, carefully styling her hair, while Ansel escorts them to the castle. Lou refuses to be formally announced and sneaks in through a side door, afraid of being recognized. In the ballroom, she sees Reid with Célie—charming and beautiful. Jealousy surges, but she’s interrupted by Prince Beau, who shamelessly flirts with her. She introduces herself as Madame Diggory, and he laughs until realizing she’s serious. Boiling with anger, Lou seeks out Reid, but he’s gone. She spots him disappearing through a door with Célie. Following them, she’s stopped by the Archbishop, who blames her for ruining Reid’s destiny. Ignoring him, Lou discovers Reid and Célie talking in a garden. She secretly listens to their painful exchange, where Reid rejects his former love and confesses he might come to love Lou.
Chapter 23 Summary – Serpent & Dove – A Dangerous Game
Lou hears the entire conversation between Reid and Célie, including his confession that he might love her. Moved, she returns to the ballroom, heart pounding. Reid finds her and, seeing her, says she looks beautiful. Though Coco interrupts with awkward questions, Lou pulls him aside. In the same garden she’d spied on, Reid admits he wants their marriage to work. Lou confesses she overheard them and feels the same, though she struggles with the idea of complete honesty. Reid accepts this, asking only for no more secrets. Lou thanks him, feeling unworthy, but he assures her he’s glad to have met her. Back at the ball, Lou drinks champagne and pulls him onto the dance floor. Despite his clumsy start, they dance, growing closer. Later, Lou argues with Coco over her flirtation with the prince, but the tension eases. In the carriage, Lou and Reid share electrifying closeness. Though love is risky, a flicker of hope makes her dream of a different ending.
Chapter 24 Summary – Serpent & Dove – A Matter of Pride
For the first time, Reid and Lou share a bed, and the tension is almost unbearable. Restless, Lou starts a conversation that reveals Reid’s origins—his abandonment as a child and how the Archbishop raised and trained him to become a chasseur. Reid recounts his difficult entry into the order, even defeating Jean Luc, which sparked lasting resentment. When Lou mentions Célie, discomfort rises, revealing an awkward courtship and lingering emotions. The topic shifts to witches and their powers, and Lou challenges Reid’s rigid beliefs, sharing forbidden knowledge learned from a friend. They discuss the source of witches' power and how it’s passed on. As physical closeness builds, Reid promises not to touch her without consent. The chapter ends with power games, romantic tension, and a silent promise between them.
Chapter 25 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Blood, Water, and Smoke
During the Saint Nicholas festival, Lou sets out to surprise Reid with a gift—a dagger—from a blacksmith in the East End. Unknowingly, she walks into a trap set by Abe, Grue, and Andre, seeking revenge for being exposed. Outnumbered and trapped, Lou faces mortal danger, trying to control her panic and find a way out. Using her cunning and magic, she manipulates sand and fire patterns. Grue steals the Angelica ring, but Lou regains control, using the forge around her to burn and weaken them. In a desperate final act, she kills them with a knife. When Reid bursts into the smoky, blood-filled forge, she pretends no magic was involved. He comforts her, and amidst the chaos, they kiss, embracing their connection.
Chapter 26 Summary – Serpent & Dove – About My Home
After the attack, Lou and Reid return to the Tower. Drained and emotionally raw, she takes him to the Soleil et Lune theater where she lived for two years. In the attic she still calls home, Lou shares parts of her story, omitting the most painful details. Reid asks about her childhood, her mother, and the scars she bears. Lou gives half-truths, admitting her mother is alive and their relationship is violent. She confesses her life as a thief was her only escape. Reid struggles to stay calm, increasingly concerned. Lou fears that if he knew everything, he’d reject her. Still, through knowing glances and charged silences, fragile trust begins to bloom. Emotional tension turns into emotional intimacy, and they acknowledge how much they need each other.
Chapter 27 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Where You Go
Lou takes Reid to the roof of the Soleil et Lune, where they gaze at the starry sky. Amid the cold and vastness, they share a moment of vulnerability. Reid gives her a ring that once belonged to his birth mother—an item he’d carried since being found. Lou, deeply moved, accepts and realizes just how much she loves him. When he recites a biblical passage, his words of devotion stir a powerful longing in her. For the first time, she desires him completely, without barriers. Despite his inexperience, Reid responds with tenderness and passion. Their union is both physical and emotional, filled with soft gestures, intimate words, and disarming connection. Lou teaches him how to touch her, and he learns quickly. Between pleasure and whispered confessions, they give themselves to each other, merging their wounds into something new. Beneath the stars, they find their sanctuary.
Chapter 28 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Monsieur Bernard
The day after their union, Lou and Reid enjoy the Saint Nicholas festival until a surprise encounter with Madame Labelle disrupts their peace. Upon seeing Lou’s ring, Madame Labelle changes demeanor, delivering veiled warnings only Lou understands. Reid doesn’t realize she’s his biological mother. Lou deduces the truth and realizes Madame Labelle is a witch. Tension escalates when Labelle warns that “she” is in the city. Lou freezes—her mother has found her. Back at the Tower, they encounter Monsieur Bernard, transformed into a monstrous shadow. Reid kills him to protect Lou. Devastated, Lou weeps for the loss. In their room, she prepares to tell Reid everything, but before she can, the Archbishop bursts in with urgent news. Reid leaves, and Lou is left alone with the Archbishop.
Chapter 29 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Olde Sisters
Lou struggles to process Reid’s words of love as the Archbishop coldly accuses her of deception. Despite her fear, she stands firm. The Archbishop insists she attend a Christmas performance. In the square, the Olde Sisters take the stage, performing a dark version of Saint Nicholas’s story—transforming it into a satire about a holy man seduced by a witch. As the play progresses, the crowd grows uneasy, and Reid appears with a troubled look. Lou realizes the play’s true purpose when an actress impersonates the Archbishop with uncanny accuracy. The climax reveals that this man fathered a child with a powerful witch—the Dame des Sorcières. The actress portraying the daughter points directly at Lou, exposing her as the heir. Reid tries to reach her, but Lou is already caught between the past revealed and the rage unleashed.
Chapter 30 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Secrets Revealed
Chaos erupts in the square after the revelation. Paralyzed by fear and confusion, Lou is shielded by Reid, who—with the chasseurs—fights off invading witches. The Archbishop tries to escort her to the Tower, but Lou refuses to flee and demands to fight. Reid manages to pull her into a building, where tension rises. A witch appears in her room, and after a fierce battle, Lou defeats her using magic and Angelica’s ring. But a stronger witch confronts her, and after a brutal fight, Lou is overpowered. When she tries to protect Reid, the witch threatens his life unless Lou surrenders. Weakened and out of strength, she gives in to save him. The witch injects her with a paralyzing drug. Reid, witnessing her sacrifice, looks at her with hatred, believing everything was a lie. Lou, heartbroken, confesses her love before losing consciousness.
Chapter 31 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Forgetting
Lou wakes in Ansel’s arms after receiving an incomplete dose of the antidote. Still weak and disoriented, she rises when she sees Reid losing his battle against the witch. With her powers dulled by the drug, Lou tries to help but fails—until she remembers she can channel her magic through Reid. In an act of faith and love, she uses an exchange pattern and transfers her power to him, allowing him to overpower and subdue the witch. In a final moment of resolve, she kills her enemy with the Balisarda, saving Reid’s life. The silence that follows is unbearable. Reid, shattered by the revelation of her true identity, pushes Lou away with cruel words and total rejection. He no longer sees her as his wife. Heartbroken, Lou flees aimlessly. But before she can escape, a third injection hits her, and she collapses into the arms of Morgane, her mother, who whispers that it’s time to go home.
Chapter 32 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Beating a Dead Witch
Paralyzed by confusion and rage, Reid stares at the body of the witch Lou killed to save him. Ansel tries to bring him to his senses, reminding him that Lou is in danger and needs help. But Reid, blinded by resentment, refuses to listen. Fueled only by fury, he lashes out at Jean Luc when he insinuates that Lou is a witch. The Archbishop appears and orders Reid to join the search for Lou, but he refuses. Amid the tension, Jean Luc is ordered to form a team to capture her before dawn. Reid climbs the stairs with Ansel, overwhelmed by emotion. They argue, and Ansel confronts him, saying that if he doesn’t act, Lou will die. Finally, Reid admits he loves her, despite all the pain. He decides he won’t let anyone harm her. Together with Ansel, he vows to find her—even if it means going against everyone.
Chapter 33 Summary – Serpent & Dove – No Fury Like a Witch Scorned
Reid returns to his destroyed room and, desperate to find Lou, begins planning. Ansel suggests finding Coco—just as she appears. Coco, revealing herself as a blood witch and Lou’s old friend, confirms that Lou was taken by Morgane. They attempt to track her with a spell, but the trail vanishes in the Forêt des Yeux. In an unexpected twist, Madame Labelle arrives and reveals that she too is a witch. Under pressure, she admits that Lou is the daughter of the Archbishop and Morgane, conceived as part of a revenge plan to destroy the crown and the Church. Reid learns he himself may be Madame Labelle’s lost son. Past and present collide as secrets of betrayal, broken alliances, and ancient magic surface. They all set out to find Lou, aware that Morgane intends to sacrifice her at Modraniht. With the truth revealed, Reid leads the group, determined to save her.
Chapter 34 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Soul Remembers
Lou awakens in a theater cart, trapped by Morgane, who has immobilized her with a modified version of the chasseurs' drug. The space is dark, filled with the scent of eucalyptus. Morgane is pleased with her capture and unveils her plan: to sacrifice Lou at Modraniht to free the witches and take revenge on the crown. Lou is horrified to learn that Morgane possesses Angelica’s ring—the only object that could invalidate the ritual if used during the sacrifice. Fear grips her as she realizes she cannot protect the Lyons without it. The cart arrives at the mythical Chateau le Blanc, stirring memories of her childhood and lineage rejection. Manon, an old friend, appears as her caretaker and loyal sister, but Lou greets her with sarcasm. Morgane brutally reminds her that her existence was planned as a tool—not out of love. Lou faces the harsh truth: neither her mother nor her father love her.
Chapter 35 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Omen
Reid, Coco, Beau, Ansel, and Madame Labelle camp in the Forêt des Yeux under bitter cold and thick fog. Coco feeds her magic with rabbit blood, explaining the unique principles of the Dames Rouges to Ansel. As the group debates resting or pushing forward, Madame Labelle insists they stay hidden from Morgane’s sentinels. A black cat, a dark omen, follows them. Soon, Reid and Coco detect a squad of chasseurs led by Jean Luc in pursuit. The group hides and watches the cat distract the soldiers. Though they narrowly escape, Reid suspects Jean Luc knows more than he lets on. Tensions rise when Coco warns that if Lou dies before the ceremony, the chasseurs might see it as a convenient solution. Reid grows more worried about Lou’s safety, especially if Jean Luc acts. Madame Labelle sends the cat with a mysterious message as the group waits for the right moment to move.
Chapter 36 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Adrift
Lou lies weakened in her old room at Chateau le Blanc, barely conscious after days of poisoning. Manon tries to care for her with food and comfort, but Lou remains emotionally distant. Through their interactions, Lou recalls her life as a thief and fugitive in Cesarine. Manon reveals her younger sister, Fleur, was burned by the chasseurs after using magic to help someone. The news devastates Lou, deepening her understanding of the hatred fueling both sides. Manon begs her not to escape, pleading that she sacrifice herself to save them. Exhausted, Lou promises not to run. In the following days, her body weakens, her wounds are tended, and she’s dressed for the ceremony. When taken to Morgane, she finds the Archbishop—her biological father—tied up. He recites a verse filled with hatred and guilt, and Morgane reveals that Reid is of royal blood—the king’s son. Lou is shocked: Reid’s death would make the ritual even more powerful.
Chapter 37 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Fraternizing with the Enemy
Reid and his group reach the outskirts of Chateau le Blanc, hidden by an ancient spell only Madame Labelle can see. As they wait to enter, Coco reveals her childhood friendship with Lou, shaped by betrayal and distance. She admits guilt for not being there when Morgane attacked. The group disguises themselves with Madame Labelle’s magic, posing as companions of witches traveling to the Modraniht celebration. Reid, under the name Raoul, befriends three witch sisters escorting him. On the way to the castle, he learns that the celebration will end with Lou’s sacrifice. Desperate, he hides his panic while plotting her rescue. Upon arrival, he reunites with already-infiltrated Coco. Though Madame Labelle’s plan remains vague, they must trust her signal. Tension builds as they venture deeper into enemy territory, knowing any mistake could cost them all their lives.
Chapter 38 Summary – Serpent & Dove – Modraniht
Lou is led to the courtyard of the Chateau, surrounded by hundreds of witches celebrating Modraniht. Though the scene is festive, she knows she’s the guest of honor at her own sacrifice. Reid, in disguise, watches from the back of the hall. Lou floats limp beside Morgane’s throne, reduced to a ceremonial symbol. As the witches feast, Morgane begins her speech, declaring her daughter’s death necessary for their liberation. Lou awakens just as Morgane presents a gift: a captured Madame Labelle. Morgane reveals to the witches that she is the traitor and mother of the king’s bastard. Reid watches helplessly as his mother is stabbed before Lou’s eyes. Outside, the ceremony begins, and Morgane prepares for the final sacrifice. Reid plans to strike, but chaos erupts. Morgane proclaims Lou’s death will redeem their people. As she manipulates Lou like a puppet, Reid prepares to intervene.
Chapter 39 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Pattern
Reid drops to his knees before Madame Labelle’s lifeless body, consumed by silent despair. Memories rush through his mind as Morgane threatens him with a dagger—but rage drives him to attack, until she paralyzes him with magic. Lou, suspended in the air, begs for her life as Morgane casts a spell trapping Ansel and Beau. Speaking with the voices of many witches, Morgane invokes the prophecy and prepares Lou for sacrifice. Just as she is about to strike, Coco attacks, giving Reid time to free Lou. But Morgane slits Lou’s throat. Reid falls into a pit of anguish until he sees a golden thread connecting Lou to the Archbishop. Driven by instinct, Reid kills the Archbishop—and Lou revives. Morgane attempts to kill her again, but an arrow stops her. Jean Luc and the chasseurs arrive, sowing chaos.
Chapter 40 Summary – Serpent & Dove – The Forêt des Yeux
Reid flees the temple with Lou in his arms while Ansel and Beau carry a barely conscious Coco. Arrows rain down, and though Morgane blocks some, one wounds her. Coco points out a secret exit, and they all run into the forest. Reid briefly breaks away to rescue Madame Labelle’s body—still alive—and rejoins the group. In the woods, Coco tries to heal her with a mix of blood and honey. Despite her weakness, she stabilizes. Reid desperately begs her to help Lou, but Coco says he already did. She protects the group with a forehead spell. As they flee through the forest, they sense Morgane’s presence, though she never appears. Madame Labelle awakens, and Reid takes her aside to explain how Lou revived: he saw a golden thread connecting her heart to the Archbishop’s and acted on instinct. Madame Labelle realizes the truth—Reid has magic. He is the first male witch.
Chapter 41 Summary – Serpent & Dove – La Voisin
Lou wakes with a weak body and confusion over what she’s heard: Reid is a witch. Still, their reunion is filled with love, relief, and mutual confessions. They both accept their past mistakes and renew their bond with heartfelt words and a tender kiss. Back at camp, the group welcomes them warmly. Coco and Beau bicker over who caught the rabbits for dinner while Lou and Reid watch, more united than ever. The conversation turns serious as they discuss the ongoing threat: Morgane is still alive and more determined than ever. Coco suggests taking them to her coven, where her aunt, La Voisin, can protect them. Though Reid and Madame Labelle have doubts, everyone understands there’s no other choice. Madame Labelle decides to head to the castle with Beau to confront King Auguste and prevent Lou from being blamed. The chapter ends with Coco revealing that her aunt is a powerful and feared witch: La Voisin.
Conclusion – Serpent & Dove
When Lou’s truth is exposed and the last lie crumbles, there’s no turning back. Serpent & Dove doesn’t just tell a tale of witches and hunters—it explores the cost of survival, the wounds of betrayal, and the spark of love where it should never exist. Every choice cuts deeper, and every promise made teeters on the edge of destruction.
Shelby Mahurin crafts a fiery beginning to a saga that refuses to shy away from pain or passion. The shadows of doctrine and the glow of unlikely bonds twist together in a story that beats with raw emotion. Lou and Reid are not flawless heroes—they’re broken souls who choose fire over surrender.
But the real danger is still ahead. Because just when you think you’ve uncovered Lou’s past, the next book reveals an even darker fate. Continue this journey in the next summary: Blood & Honey – Book Summary by Chapter ➤
FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – Serpent & Dove
Why is Angelica’s ring so important to Lou in Serpent & Dove?
Angelica’s ring is more than a magical trinket—it’s a legendary artifact that grants invisibility when held in the mouth and protects against spells. For Lou, it becomes a lifeline in a world where witches are hunted and killed. The ring symbolizes survival, but also heritage and prophecy, tying Lou’s fate to her magical ancestry. Its loss or misuse could mean death—not just for her, but for the ones she loves.
What does Lou discover inside the chasseurs’ forbidden infirmary?
When Lou sneaks into the Tower’s upper levels, she uncovers a dark secret: the Church is performing cruel experiments using poisons like hemlock to disable witches. This moment shatters any remaining illusions about the chasseurs' morality. It also reveals that even institutions that claim holiness can hide monstrous practices. The infirmary marks a turning point where Lou chooses not escape, but resistance.
How does Lou and Reid’s relationship evolve over the course of the book?
What starts as a forced marriage between enemies turns into a complex emotional journey. Lou and Reid clash constantly, but their shared vulnerability and growing trust slowly transform antagonism into intimacy. Their bond challenges everything they’ve been taught about loyalty, sin, and love. Through heartbreak, betrayal, and forgiveness, their relationship becomes the emotional core of the story.
What role does Morgane le Blanc play in Lou’s story?
Morgane isn’t just the villain—she’s Lou’s mother and the orchestrator of a centuries-old vendetta. Her plan to sacrifice Lou during Modraniht forces Lou to confront the darkness of her lineage. Morgane’s presence in the story is terrifying because it embodies the idea that love can be twisted into something cruel when consumed by power. Lou must decide whether blood defines destiny—or if it’s possible to break free.
What does it mean when Lou is called a “witch killer”?
After failing to save Estelle, Lou is consumed by guilt and haunted by the nickname “witch killer.” This moment is more than symbolic—it represents her loss of innocence and the complexity of her moral compass. Her silence isn’t cowardice alone; it’s a coping mechanism in a world where choices are weapons. Lou’s grief becomes a turning point in her evolution from fugitive to fighter.
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