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

by Sarah J. Maas

and knife, Bryce needs to find the starlight Helena took from the Starsword—the last third of Theia’s power—which is stashed somewhere on Avallen?” “Yes,” Aidas said simply. “But how do I make them open that portal to nowhere—and what the Hel does that mean, anyway?” Bryce griped. Thanatos said roughly, “We’ve been wondering that for eons.” Aidas dragged a hand through his golden hair. “Ultimate destruction was the best any of us could guess.” “Fantastic,” Bryce grumbled. Yet Hunt asked, “If Avallen is one of the stronger thin places, why did the Asteri even allow the Fae to live here?” “The black salt, in such high quantity, keeps them away. They never realized that its presence drew us as much as it repelled them,” Apollion said with satisfaction. “It has the same properties that made us immune to the thrall of their black crowns.” Bryce tensed at that, glancing at Hunt, but her mate asked, setting aside his own questions for now, “Did Helena know the Asteri were repelled from this place?” Aidas nodded. “Once she figured it out, it confirmed her decision to hide Theia’s power here.” Bryce angled her head. “But why did the mists open for Helena to get through in the first place?” “The black salt only repels the Asteri; the mists repel everyone else. But certain people, with certain gifts, can access the power of thin places—on any world. World-walkers.” Aidas gestured gracefully to Bryce. “You are one of them. So were Helena and Theia. Their natural abilities lent themsel...