House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Eighty-Eight
Overview
Bryce channels Starborn light through the Horn to seal the Heart Gate, revealing her true heritage to all. Ember explains Bryce hid her gift to protect Ruhn, enraging the Autumn King. Sandriel informs the Asteri, putting Bryce in mortal danger. Hypaxia dissolves Hunt’s halo, freeing him to act.
Summary
Hunt watches as Bryce drives blazing starlight into the Heart Gate. White light floods the square, demons flee, and the portal’s void vanishes. Across the conference room, witnesses—Jesiba, Fury, Ruhn, and others—gape as the Gate’s glow deters demons, though the city’s other Gates remain open.
The Autumn King calls Ember on speaker. Ember reveals she has long known Bryce is Starborn and that Bryce used her light to blind attackers years ago. She explains thirteen-year-old Bryce chose to hide her gift to preserve Ruhn’s status, even after the Autumn King discarded her. Ruhn is devastated; the Autumn King erupts in rage.
Hunt and Ruhn realize the implications: Danika tattooed the Horn onto Bryce because only the Starborn line can wield it. The synth healed the Horn, but it functions only because Bryce herself is Starborn—object and wielder united. If Bryce wills it, she could open portals anywhere, a threat the Asteri would not tolerate.
Sandriel slips her phone away and coolly admits she has “taken care of a problem,” tipping off the Asteri to Bryce. She notes Bryce hasn’t made the Drop, making her easy to kill. As demons hold back from the still-glowing Gate, Hypaxia’s magic quietly pours into Hunt, dissolving his halo. Hunt rises, power unleashed, focusing on Sandriel as the new danger closes in on Bryce.
Who Appears
- Hunt AthalarWitnesses Bryce seal the Gate; realizes the Horn-Starborn link; freed by Hypaxia removing his halo; prepares to strike Sandriel.
- Bryce QuinlanChannels Starborn light through the Horn to seal the Heart Gate; exhausted; her heritage becomes public and paints a target on her.
- Ruhn DanaanReacts to Bryce’s revelation; learns she hid her gift to protect his title; recognizes the Horn’s dependence on Starborn power.
- The Autumn KingFurious at learning Bryce is Starborn; confronts Ember; shatters a pitcher in rage.
- Ember QuinlanAdmits she knew Bryce was Starborn; reveals Bryce concealed it to protect Ruhn; denounces the Autumn King.
- SandrielSecretly alerts the Asteri about Bryce and the Horn; asserts Bryce can be killed before the Drop; becomes Hunt’s target.
- Queen HypaxiaSubtly channels magic to dissolve Hunt’s halo, freeing his power and signaling him to act.
- Declan EmmetRuns communications in the conference room; allows the Autumn King’s call to play over speakers.
- Jesiba RogaWatches the broadcast, shocked by Bryce’s Starborn display and the Gate’s sealing.
- Fury AxtarObserves the event remotely, stunned by Bryce’s revealed power.