A Curse So Dark and Lonely

While Harper watches her mom sleep, she argues with her brother about where she has been, with him accusing her of working with the creditors. Finally, Harper’s mom wakes just long enough to tell them she loves them. Tearfully, Harper watches as her mom releases a breath “and then […] doesn't take any more” (373).

Rhen meets with the queen of the northwest nation, who easily overpowers him in a verbal sparring match. The queen believes Harper and her kingdom are a myth, and she gives Rhen’s people a week to flee Emberfall before she takes the kingdom by force. Before leaving, she tells Rhen that he is not the true heir of Emberfall and that the war will be long and bloody. Later, Rhen meets with Grey and Lilith on the palace’s highest balcony. He runs Lilith through with a sword to keep her from interfering and then orders Grey to evacuate as much of the kingdom as he can before jumping off the palace in an attempt to die pre-transformation with the certainty that “this is permanent. This is forever” (386).