Chapter Sixty-Two

Summary

• Bryce takes the rest of the day off work and is flown home by Hunt after going to the medwitch's office. They rest together until they receive a call from Micah demanding their presence at his office.
• Hunt is concerned about the meeting with Micah, expecting it to be unpleasant. He briefly considers telling Bryce to leave the city but quickly dismisses the idea. Bryce's wound is still tender and so Hunt carries her to Micah's office.
• At the Governor's office, Hunt and Bryce find a tense situation with Micah, Sabine, and others waiting for them. Hunt suggests that Bryce doesn't need to be at the meeting, but Sabine insists she stay.
• Micah confronts Hunt about assaulting Amelie Ravenscroft. Hunt admits to the act but states it was done independently and that Bryce wasn't involved.
• Sabine demands Hunt be punished for his actions, specifically demanding "The Living Death," a severe punishment involving the removal of an angel's wings. Micah agrees to the punishment but specifies that Hunt's wings will be able to grow back over time.
• The punishment is carried out in front of everyone present, much to Bryce's distress. The severed wings spurt blood on the floor of Micah's office.
• After the punishing ordeal, Bryce lashes out at Sabine, blaming her for what Hunt was subjected to. They trade insults, Bryce tells Sabine that she isn't worthy of being Danika's mother, while Sabine retorts that Danika was a coward.
• Sabine reveals that she spoke with the Under-King in the afterlife to try to get answers from her daughter, Danika about her death. Sabine states that Bryce had traded her place in the afterlife via a bargain with the Under-King to guarantee Danika's passage to the afterlife. The revelation leads to escalated tensions and emotional exchanges.
• Hunt is taken out of Micah's office and his wounds are dressed in bandages that will promote quick growth. He is taken back to Bryce's apartment to recover.
• Bryce recalls her meeting with the Under-King and her decision to trade her place in the afterlife for Danika. She reflects on her choices and resolves to make things right.