Blood Lies — Janrae Frank

In Blood Lies, book nine of the Dark Brothers of the Light series, Isranon and the Army of the Renunciate spend the winter at the estate of Lord Edvarde near Ildyrsetts. Isranon needs mages for his war against the hellgod, Galee, and must convince the three high mages of Ildyrsetts to come to his cause.

Making matters more difficult for him, his two apprentices, Stygean and Jingen are locked in competition for the affections of Chinisi Cordwainer, niece of the senior mage, Geoffry Cordwainer. It swiftly escalates from words to violence with Isranon trapped in the middle as he struggles to mitigate the conflict.