Chapter Sixty-Eight

Summary

• Hunt Athalar, a powerful warrior, is held captive in a white cell with chrome bars nullifying his magic.
• Outside of his cell, in the Comitium atrium, Justinian, one of his partners, is being slowly tortured on an iron crucifix and has lost his wings. Viktoria, another partner, is trapped in a blood-streaked glass box and forced to watch Justinian’s agony.
• Isaiah, a former companion of Hunt, visits him in his cell. He denounces Hunt for his participation in a failed plot against Micah and Sandriel, causing the brutal punishment of Justinian and Viktoria. Hunt replied that he tried to stop it, but Justinian and Viktoria would not quit.
• The plot, as explained by Hunt, was to kill Micah and Sandriel using a powerful substance called ‘synth’ that could give someone extraordinary powers but had the risk of tearing the user to shreds. While Hunt had a plan to get an antidote, he admitted to having doubts about the plan and trying to call it off.
• Isaiah ends the conversation stating that the Governor knew Hunt tried to stop the plan, explaining why Justinian and Viktoria were being punished while Hunt was not and indicating, perhaps, a different fate for Hunt. Isaiah says goodbye, not certain if they will have the chance again.
• The scene shifts to Bryce, Hunt’s love interest, who is trying to cope with her emotions regarding Hunt after having been devastated by the revelation of his betrayal. Bryce’s father, the Autumn King, visits her and the pair discuss the Horn of Teledriel, a significant artifact which Bryce was earlier looking for. The Autumn King stresses the importance of tracking down the Horn despite recent revelations about the kristallos being accidentally summoned. Bryce dismisses the King's concerns as bias favoring the Fae race.
• The conversation shifts to personal matters: their familial relationship and the past, particularly concerning Bryce’s mother. The Autumn King admits regret for his actions that scarred Bryce's mother and declares that he would have made her queen, but Bryce refutes these claims and indicates her doubt on his sincerity.
• At the end of the conversation, the Autumn King warns Bryce that she is more like him than she might think, just before leaving, leaving Bryce to ponder his words and Hunt’s situation.