House of Flame and Shadow
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Overview
Bryce, desperate for a weapon against the Asteri, pleads with Nesta for the Mask as Rhysand’s power bears down on the portal. To prove her intentions and protect them, Bryce offers her parents as collateral and ultimately strands them in Nesta’s world when Nesta agrees to lend the Mask. Bryce shuts the Rift immediately, then faces an immediate new threat when the Harpy attacks in the snow.
Summary
Bryce begs Nesta through the open portal for the Mask, insisting she needs it to destroy the Asteri. Nesta refuses, warning that Rhysand’s approaching power is nearly there and that the Mask is too dangerous to hand over to someone she does not trust.
As the darkness of Rhysand’s rage closes in, Bryce tries to prove her sincerity by offering collateral: Ember Quinlan and Randall Silago. Bryce presents her parents at the portal and declares she will leave them in Nesta’s world until the Asteri are defeated and the Mask (and Truth-Teller) are returned.
Nesta challenges Bryce about the risk of death and the Mask falling into the Asteri’s hands, but Bryce doubles down, admitting her parents would be safer away from Midgard. When Bryce offers to leave her parents behind even if Nesta still refuses the Mask, Nesta’s anger cools into a hard decision.
Nesta extends the Mask into Midgard and allows Bryce to borrow it. Bryce takes it, feeling its ancient, cruel power resonate with the star in her chest, and thanks Nesta as the threat outside Nesta’s window escalates.
With a subtle signal, Hunt uses his power to shove Ember and Randall through the portal into Nesta’s world. Bryce immediately uses the Horn to sever the connection and shut the Northern Rift, leaving her parents stranded on the other side as Rhysand’s power hits Nesta’s room.
Reeling but armed with the Mask, Horn, star, and blades, Bryce turns to escape with Hunt—only for the Harpy, camouflaged in white, to dive from the mist. Bryce realizes the creature is no longer truly alive, but an empty host driven by a single command: to kill.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanDesperately bargains for the Mask, sacrifices her parents’ safety, seals the Rift, then faces the Harpy.
- Nesta ArcheronRefuses at first, then lends the Mask after Bryce offers her parents as collateral.
- Hunt AthalarSupports Bryce, senses Rhysand’s approach, and blasts Bryce’s parents through the portal before it closes.
- Ember QuinlanBryce’s mother; unknowingly used as collateral and forcibly pushed through the portal into Nesta’s world.
- Randall SilagoBryce’s father; alarmed by the danger and pushed through the portal as it closes.
- RhysandAn approaching, furious power closing on Nesta’s room as the portal remains open.
- The HarpyCamouflaged attacker; an empty host driven by a mission to kill Bryce.