House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, #3)

by Sarah J. Maas

Locking him inside the House of Flame and Shadow.

And Hunt knew he’d treasure this moment forever: the moment when Lidia Cervos pulled out her gun and fired it right between the Hawk’s eyes.

From the massive stone archway, a metal grate began to descend, preparing to seal the city. Trapping those responsible for the station attack inside—or trapping them.

They had made it, and the closure of the city gate had sealed in any land-bound cars or patrols.

“Most of the imperial security forces are at the train station, and the city is under lockdown. Irithys made it out—she vanished into the countryside.

“Mordoc and two dozen dreadwolves also made it out of the southwestern gate before it shut. I think they’ve figured out you’re headed for the coast.”

Then she bounded off into the trees, a streak of sunlight that was there and gone. Like she’d never been.

Lidia wasn’t coming. The realization clanged through Ruhn like a death knell.

There was nothing waiting for Lidia but a straight, lethal plunge to the water hundreds of feet below.

A gunshot cracked like a thunderhead breaking. Pain ruptured through her chest, bone shattering, red washing over her vision. Lidia let out a choked, bloody laugh as she died.

“The knife can Unmake things. Made and Unmade. Matter and antimatter. With the right influx of power—a command from the one destined to wield them—they can be merged. And they can create a place where no life, no light exists. A place that is nothing. Nowhere.”

While they’d been rebuilding what was left of her body, she’d flatlined twice. Even with the firstlight potion having healed the wounds to her heart.

a hole as big as a fist had already been shot through her heart.

Lungs: repaired. Ribs: rebuilt. Cracked skull: patched together. Brains stuffed back in.

When Tharion had carried her back from the coast, she’d been completely dead.

He’d awoken last night, drenched in sweat, convinced he was back in those dungeons. It had taken him switching the lights on to accept the reality of his surroundings. Those initial seconds in the pitch black, when he couldn’t tell where he was, were unbearable. He wished Bryce were with him. Not just to sleep beside him, and to remind him that he’d made it out, but … he needed his best friend.

Baxian had taken it well, though he clearly remained in shock about the Hind’s involvement. Hunt didn’t blame him. He still had trouble believing it himself. But Baxian had been working with Lidia for even longer than Hunt—it’d probably take longer to adjust his image of her.

this halo, inked by Rigelus, felt different. Worse. Alive, somehow.

I was cursed by a demon. By a prince who intercepted my ship and the books on it.”

“He still believes they’re a weapon, and that I’ll one day grow tired enough of living that I’ll hand them over and reveal all their supposed secret weapons.”

“When Apollion found my ship, he was ripe with power. He’d just consumed Sirius. I don’t think he intended it, but when his magic … touched me, something transferred over.”

“You arrived here intentionally.” “Guilty as charged,” she said,

Light falling into darkness, droplets of starlight raining from the highest beam into the shadowy band at the bottom, devoured by the darkness below. Like the fading light of day—of dusk.

The Hind lay before him—the fucking Hind. How could he feel such relief about someone he hated so much? How could he hate someone whose life mattered more to him than his own?

“They’re not my brothers,” Lidia whispered. Her fingers curled on the glass. “They’re my sons.”

Hunt had noted his dead-eyed stare. A male prepared to face his end. Who might think he deserved it.

Please put the twins first today. Just as you have every day for the past fifteen years.”

“I’ll contact Brann and Actaeon’s adoptive parents to see if they can come in, too.”

“I have received reports that the Viper Queen of Lunathion has put a bounty on your head for three million gold marks.” Athalar, the bastard, let out a low whistle. “Five million if you’re alive, so she can punish you herself.”

“My so-called sister in the Istros is demanding your return as well. She is threatening war upon me—me—if you are not handed over. Presumably to be executed.”

“I’d hardly call the Princes of Hel evil, when they’ve refused to let the Asteri win all these years. When they’ve gone out of their way to try to help us, even though it’ll cost them. Hel owes us nothing, yet they’re so convinced of the importance of ridding the universe of the Asteri that they’ve been at this for thousands of years. I’d say that’s a pretty solid commitment.”

do not know you, Bryce Danaan, and so far have seen little to recommend you as a reliable ally. My people have managed to evade the Asteri’s influence for millennia now—to remain safe down here, fighting against them as best we can. And yet you have informed me that even here, we are not untouched. Even here, in my domain, the Asteri’s parasite infects us all.”

“Have you thought about an evacuation?”

“To the home world of the Fae.” Hunt shifted, wings rustling. “You mean leave this planet completely?” The Ocean Queen didn’t take her eyes from Bryce’s as she said, “Yes. Use the Horn, allow as many through as you can, and then seal the way forever.”

If there is anyone who understands how futile it is to stand against the Asteri, it is I.”

we have always been here. Midgard has always had magic, as all nature has inherent magic. The Asteri just did not deign to recognize it.”

“I refuse to open a gate like that. I won’t help you condemn the majority of Midgard’s people while a select few dance off into the sunset.”

“Against my better instincts, I will deposit you and yours in Avallen, as requested. Consider that my last gift.”

“when you realize that I am right and fleeing is the best option, I ask only this in exchange for my services: take as many of my people as you can.”

“You’re my home, Hunt. Our love spans across stars and worlds, remember?” She smiled slightly. “I’ll always find you.”

“I do not recall granting you leave to bring all these fugitives onto one of my city-ships.”

A male who’d lost his mate. It was, rumor claimed, worse than losing one’s soul.

He wondered what Baxian would have preferred: to have never known Danika, or this, to have had their centuries together cut so brutally short.

“The Ocean Queen has made it very clear that if I do not resume my duties as Agent Daybright, the protection she has given them will … cease.”

Then Sasa met Bryce’s stare. And said without an ounce of fear, “We will find Irithys.” The sprites burned to a deep, true blue. “And fight with her against the Asteri when the time comes.”

“Aside from dangling the Autumn King’s notes in front of Morven, I don’t have a solid game plan for dealing with him. Or a solid backup plan should he not go for the notebooks.

“No law applies here,” Hypaxia cut in, “as the Fendyr heir was not a legal slave. Just as you said.”

“Morganthia’s first act as queen was to order my execution. Her second was to undo my mother’s animation spell for my tutors.”

“Mourn for your people instead, now beholden to an unhinged queen and her coven.”

Jesiba was second in command of the House of Flame and Shadow?