House of Sky and Breath

In the run-up to the ball, Bryce is fed up at getting orders on what to wear and even what to eat at the masque. Though she is going to the ball with Hunt, Cormac is her official escort. Meanwhile, Ruhn is Hypaxia’s escort. At the party, Ruhn searches for the woman he thinks might be Day. Bryce and Hunt’s entrance causes a flurry, both looking resplendent. Bryce openly snubs her father when he greets her, and then proceeds to call Hunt “Prince” before the guests, effectively proclaiming him as a mate. To save face, the Autumn Kin announces that Bryce and Hunt are engaged. Celestina, the Governor, blesses the union. Bryce is happy as “it didn’t get more official than that” (633). Cormac is enraged by Bryce’s actions. Just then a massive screen descends in the ballroom and the Asteri join the celebrations on video chat.

The guests are nervous at the sudden appearance of the Asteri. Rigelus, one of the six lords, congratulates Celestina and Ephraim on their mating and hope it will be “a fertile one” (636). Rigelus congratulates Bryce and Hunt as well; Bryce is dumbfounded that the Asteri already know. She thinks the Asteri secretly spy on everyone. The Autumn King presents Bryce and Hunt to the Asteri. The Asteri bid everyone to celebrate and the scene goes dark. Hunt thinks the Autumn King will make Bryce and him pay for showing him up.

Cormac teleports out of the party, unsettled by Bryce’s announcement. Ruhn and Hypaxia go over to meet Hypaxia’s half-sister, the Hind. Hypaxia greets Lidia as “sister” (641). Lidia is cold towards her, but Hypaxia persists with the conversation. Ruhn steps out, searching for Day, who had said she would meet him at midnight. He finds the Harpy near a fountain.

When Ruhn says “Day” to the Harpy, she doesn’t understand him. This means she is not Agent Daybright. Ruhn is grateful. If Day does seek him out now, she might get intercepted by the Harpy. Ruhn decides to go back inside to avoid endangering Day. On his way back, he can see the Hind observing him at the top pf the stairs to the garden. He is nervous that she has been following him. He quickly leaves the party lest he lead the Hind and the other of the Asteri’s agents to Day. 

Hunt and Bryce look for a place to be intimate at the ball. They find a locked room and break it open. Inside they find Celestina and Hypaxia in a passionate embrace. Bryce and Hunt promise them they will not share this with anyone. Celestina tells them that as an Archangel, she is not supposed to choose whom she loves and marries. That’s why her love for Hypaxia must be hidden for Hypaxia’s safety. As they all walk out, Celestina asks Hunt why he has agreed to become a Prince, a position which is as binding as that of a Governor. Hunt says he would do anything for Bryce. Celestina says Hunt should rethink his choices since “love is a trap … one I can’t figure out how to free myself from” (649).

Tharion is also at the ball with the River Queen’s daughter. The princess is enjoying her expedition, despite her mother’s strict instructions. Tharion realizes that she might feel as stuck in their engagement as him and decides to stop stringing her along. He asks her to dance with one of her bodyguards. The princess does so happily. Tharion flirts with a leopard-shifter.

Hypaxia prepares for the ritual to summon Connor, drawing a six-pointed star between lit candles. A seventh candle is placed at the center of the star. Hypaxia tells Ithan to stay on his side of the star no matter what happens during the summoning and begins to chant a spell.

On the mind-bridge, Ruhn apologizes to Day in case he has gotten her in trouble, but Day tells him she has left Lunathion for now. She was present at the ball and saw Ruhn in the garden, but did not approach him as she saw the threat, meaning the Harpy. She knows Ruhn’s real identity and calls him by his name for the first time. Day seems jealous at Ruhn dancing with Hypaxia at the ball. Ruhn tells her the betrothal is strictly for appearances, and he’s “not the two-timing sort” (655). Ruhn kisses Day. She tells him he reminds her there is good in the world and goes away. Hunt tells Bryce they’re as good as married; he will get a wedding ring for her soon.

Hypaxia senses a strong presence emerge from her chanting. She tells Ithan Connor will arrive soon. The Under-King shows up in the middle of the star instead. He informs them Connor is fine for now, but his future depends on their cooperation. Hypaxia bids him to return, as she did not summon him. The Under-King says he wants to test Hypaxia’s abilities and vanishes. Ithan thinks they’re safe but Hypaxia tells him the Under-King has put wards all around them so they cannot leave the spot. Soon, creatures called the hunting hounds of the House of Flame and Shadow appear around them.

In her dream, Bryce is approached by Apollion, Prince of the Pit, appearing before her in a golden-haired, golden-skinned humanoid form. As it is the night of the Autumnal Equinox, the veils between the worlds is thinnest and he can visit her more easily. He has taken her to the ruins of Parthos, one of the cities of Midgard which predates the Asteri. Apollion tells Bryce he is speaking to her while Aides is distracted rallying Hel’s armies to invade Midgard. Aides hates the Vanir and will not like Apollion giving them important information, but Apollion thinks Bryce must learn certain truths.

It was on Aidas’s behest that Apollion killed Pelias, Bryce’s ancestor, and Sirius, the seventh Asteri. Theia, the Starborn Queen, was Aidas’s “great love” (666). When Pelias murdered Theia so he could usurp her kingdom and forcibly marry her daughter, Aidas went mad with rage. Theia had been an ally of the Princes of Hel against the Asteri. Bryce is in disbelief. She asks Apollion why he sent the Reapers after him and Ruhn. Apollion denies doing any such thing. He asks her to join him, as he had earlier asked Hunt. The Princes of Hel have always found it easy to talk to Hunt since “Orion was bred to be receptive to our kind” (667). That is why Hunt is so good at hunting demons. Apollion asks Bryce to use her powers to open the door to Hel so together they can finish the war against the Asteri. Bryce refuses. Apollion asks her to come find him in Hel when she is ready to learn the truth.

At the Aux training center the next day, Bryce tells Hunt, Ruhn, Tharion, Declan and Cormac about her encounter with Apollion. She doesn’t mention the bit about Hunt being bred to be receptive to Princes of Hel. Cormac teaches Bryce to teleport. She manages small runs, but loses steam with each successive teleportation. The friends figure out Bryce loses energy because her power needs to be charged. According to Declan, Bryce is like the Death Gate in the Bone Quarter, able to absorb energy. However, unlike the Gate, which can store power, Bryce runs out of it periodically.

Cormac is unhappy at Bryce breaking their engagement without telling him first. She promises not to keep secrets from him, but suspecting she is still hiding facts, Cormac teleports behind her and holds a knife to Bryce’s throat. Bryce tells him all about Emile, the one thing she has hidden from Cormac. Cormac apologizes to Hunt and Bryce for threatening her.

Meanwhile, Ithan and Hypaxia manage to work out their way through the Under-King’s wards and escape his hunting hounds. He tells Bryce that the Under-King wants to meet her at Urd’s temple. If she doesn’t show up there in an hour, the Under-King will feed Connor and the Pack of Devils to the Gate.