House of Flame and Shadow
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Overview
In the aftermath of Vesperus’s destruction, Bryce clashes with Nesta and Azriel over the lost chance to interrogate the Asteri for vital answers. Refusing to be taken into custody, Bryce demonstrates sharpened, Silene-augmented power and draws a hard boundary against Azriel. She reactivates the crystal sarcophagus as a gate and escapes into it with the Starsword and Truth-Teller, severing her uneasy alliance to pursue her own path back to Midgard.
Summary
Bryce freezes in shock as Vesperus’s body burns away in Nesta’s strange silver fire. Bryce snatches up the Starsword and Truth-Teller, furious that Nesta killed the Asteri before Bryce could extract more information about how to defeat the Daglan.
Nesta, drenched in Vesperus’s ichor and still armed with Ataraxia, explodes at Bryce for nearly unleashing something catastrophic. Azriel backs Nesta up and orders Bryce to open the passage out, insisting Bryce will return with them immediately—an order that Bryce interprets as a threat of imprisonment and interrogation.
Refusing, Bryce unleashes her power from the star in her chest and the Horn in her back, carving a sharp, laserlike line into the stone at Azriel’s feet. She swears on her mate’s life that she will not reveal this place, but Azriel warns that others will pry the truth from her no matter what.
To prevent that, Bryce channels her power into the crystal sarcophagus, turning it into a dark, gaping gate. Seeing panic on Azriel’s face, Bryce backs toward the opening; Nesta calls her a monster, and Bryce answers that love can make someone that way. As Nesta’s silver flames surge toward her, Bryce leaps into the closing darkness, taking the Starsword and Truth-Teller with her and falling toward home—Midgard.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanDefies Nesta and Azriel, unleashes enhanced power, opens the sarcophagus gate, and escapes toward Midgard.
- Nesta ArcheronKills Vesperus, condemns Bryce’s actions, and lashes out with silver fire as Bryce flees.
- AzrielTries to force Bryce to leave with him, warns of interrogation, panics when Bryce opens the gate.
- VesperusDead Asteri whose destruction triggers the confrontation and Bryce’s decision to escape.