Chapter Seventy-One
Contains spoilersOverview
Hunt is marched to Sandriel’s custody, only for Bryce to intervene, offering an enormous payment and even her own life to save him. Sandriel refuses, melts Bryce’s amulet, and reveals Bryce is the Autumn King’s daughter. Ruhn invokes Fae law to claim Bryce and stop the exchange. Hunt is taken, and Bryce is later ambushed by a kristallos demon at the Black Dock.
Summary
Awaiting transfer, Hunt steadies himself in his cell as his wings regenerate and gorsian shackles are fitted. In the Comitium lobby, Sandriel and Pollux oversee his send-off, with angels gathered to witness. Hunt is forced past Justinian’s rotting body, a cruel reminder of Micah’s punishment.
Bryce bursts in and pleads for time. She presents a bank check from Jesiba Roga for ninety-seven million marks and offers her Archesian amulet to buy Hunt’s freedom. Sandriel melts the amulet and refuses the deal.
Desperate, Bryce offers her own life in exchange. Ruhn arrives with Flynn and Declan as Sandriel reveals Bryce’s secret parentage: she is the Autumn King’s daughter. Ruhn invokes ancient Fae law to claim Bryce as kin, blocking the trade. As Hunt is forced out, he tells Bryce to stop looking for him and is loaded into the transport.
Afterward, Bryce and Ruhn clash over his intervention; Flynn and Declan confront Ruhn for keeping Bryce’s identity secret. Ruhn, driven by fear of a prophecy and a need to protect Bryce, resolves to speak with her.
Bryce rides to the Black Dock to grieve and speak to Danika across the river. In the stillness, a kristallos demon ambushes her from the shadows, tackling her into the Istros.
Who Appears
- Bryce Quinlan
Tries to buy Hunt’s freedom, offers herself, revealed as Autumn King’s daughter, then ambushed.
- Hunt Athalar
Prisoner transferred to Sandriel; rejects Bryce’s hope to protect her; taken under heavy guard.
- Sandriel
Archangel receiving Hunt; refuses Bryce’s offers, destroys the amulet, exposes Bryce’s lineage.
- Ruhn Danaan
Arrives with allies; invokes Fae law to claim Bryce as kin; argues with her afterward.
- Pollux Antonius
Sandriel’s Hammer; escorts and taunts Hunt, oversees loading him into the transport.
- Tristan Flynn
Witnesses the standoff; shocked by the reveal; confronts Ruhn for secrecy.
- Declan
Supports Ruhn; stunned by Bryce’s parentage; questions Ruhn’s secrecy.
- Isaiah
Observes grimly in the lobby as Hunt is taken away.
- Naomi
Acknowledges Hunt with a restrained farewell in the lobby crowd.
- Justinian
Remains crucified in the lobby, a brutal warning to all.
- Kristallos demon
Surprise attacker at the Black Dock; tackles Bryce into the river.