House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Eighty-Six
Overview
With the city falling silent under demon assault and true night approaching, Bryce calls Hunt from near the Heart Gate to deliver what she believes are her final goodbyes—to her parents, Fury, Juniper, Ruhn, and Hunt himself. Her messages reveal hidden depths of pain, including a past suicide attempt, and her love for Hunt. Despite Hunt's desperate pleas for her to retreat, Bryce sets down her sword and phone and charges toward the open Gate alone.
Summary
As night falls over Crescent City, Declan monitors audio feeds showing the screams across districts going silent—not from rescue, but from death. The demon-filled voids in the Gates remain open, and Hunt fears that true darkness will bring even worse horrors from Hel. On the video feed, Bryce crosses into the Old Square but does not seek safety. Instead, she pauses near the Heart Gate, ducking into a shelter alcove and collapsing to the ground with Danika's sword in hand—a soldier taking one last rest before a final stand.
Bryce pulls out her phone and calls Hunt's number, expecting it to go to audiomail. When Hunt's phone rings in the Summit conference room—still in Sandriel's possession—Ruhn demands the Archangel hand it over. Sandriel, after a moment of deliberation, gives Hunt the phone. Bryce is shocked to hear his voice. Hunt urges her to retreat to her apartment and wait for reinforcements, but Bryce insists it will be too late.
Instead of following his orders, Bryce begins delivering her final messages. She asks Hunt to tell her mother, Ember, that she loves her and credits her for everything she is. She asks him to tell Randall—not the Autumn King—that he was the only father who ever mattered, a statement that visibly shames the Autumn King. She sends messages to Fury, apologizing for lying, and to Juniper, thanking her for stopping Bryce from jumping off a roof—a revelation that shocks both Hunt and Ruhn, who never knew Bryce had been suicidal. She tells Hunt to relay her forgiveness to Ruhn, confessing she forgave him long ago but didn't know how to say it, and that she hid the truth about herself out of love for him.
In the most intimate moment of the call, Bryce tells Hunt she was waiting for him—placing her hand over her heart. Hunt, in tears, tells her he was waiting for her too. He desperately begs her to retreat before more demons come through. Instead, Bryce forgives Hunt for the synth incident, ends the call, sets down Danika's sword and her phone, and sprints toward the Heart Gate as true night descends. Hunt leaps from his seat, screaming her name.
Who Appears
- BryceExhausted and wounded, delivers emotional final goodbyes before charging toward the Heart Gate alone.
- HuntWatches Bryce on the feed from the Summit, desperately begs her to retreat, and exchanges mutual confessions of love.
- RuhnBryce's brother; demands Sandriel give Hunt the phone; devastated to learn Bryce's secrets and her forgiveness.
- SandrielArchangel holding Hunt's phone; reluctantly hands it to him after Ruhn's demand.
- DeclanMonitors city audio and video feeds, placing Bryce's location on the main screen.
- Autumn KingWatches silently as Bryce pointedly names Randall, not him, as her true father; appears shamed.
- FuryPresent at the Summit; cries as Bryce's apology message is relayed.