Bryce Quinlan, a 23-year-old half-human, half-Fae, works at an art gallery in Crescent City, which secretly houses a vault of forbidden magical books. The planet of Midgard is ruled by the Asteri, god-like beings who have controlled the world for 15,000 years, with the magical Vanir divided into four houses. Bryce lives in Lunathion, a metropolis ruled by seven leaders, including the archangel Micah Domitus. Tensions rise when a human terrorist, Philip Briggs, is set to be released from prison, which infuriates Bryce’s best friend, Danika, leader of the Pack of Devils, a powerful wolf shifter pack. Danika plans to protest Briggs’ release.
Before the council meeting, Danika visits Bryce, and the two share a moment discussing their matching tattoos, which read, “Through love, all is possible.” That night, after attending a pizza night with the Pack of Devils, Bryce is set for a date with a wealthy but arrogant human, Reid, though she has feelings for Danika's second-in-command, Connor. However, Bryce becomes frustrated with Reid’s behavior and leaves, spending the night partying with Fury and Juniper. The next morning, she finds her world shattered when Danika and the entire Pack of Devils are brutally slaughtered by a demon. Bryce chases the creature and fights it off but is detained by fallen angels Isaiah and Hunt Athalar, who suspect Briggs’ involvement. However, Briggs is cleared, as he was still in prison at the time. Bryce is also told she’s connected to Fae royalty through her unknown father.
Nearly two years later, Bryce resumes her work at the gallery and encounters Ruhn, who is revealed to be her half-brother, son of the Autumn King. The two have a strained relationship due to a past falling-out. Meanwhile, Hunt, a fallen angel enslaved to Micah, reflects on his situation and the deal Micah has offered him: to atone for the 2,217 archangels he killed during a rebellion by executing an equal number of targets. Hunt has only completed 82 so far.
Bryce soon learns that Maximus, a vampyr she recently met, has been murdered by the same demon that killed Danika. She is reluctantly enlisted by Micah to help with the investigation, as she is the only one who has seen the demon. To assist her, Hunt and Isaiah are assigned to work with Bryce. Ruhn is also given a task by the Autumn King to find Luna’s Horn, an ancient Fae relic that is connected to Bryce’s investigation. However, Ruhn also struggles with the king's demands, which include an arranged marriage for him to produce an heir.
Bryce’s investigation leads her to the Viper Queen, who provides an alibi for the murders, revealing the Viper Queen’s connection to both Maximus and Danika. Bryce also learns that Danika and Maximus had ties to the Viper Queen, which complicates things further. As Bryce and Hunt piece together the clues, they realize that the demon, known as the kristallos, may be the key to solving the murders. It was created by the King of Hel to track Luna’s Horn, which is believed to still hold power.
Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn join forces to locate the kristallos and the Horn. They discover that the Horn is connected to Ruhn through his Starborn magic and that whoever possesses the Horn will be able to summon the kristallos. Bryce and Ruhn form a fragile alliance, though their past tensions still simmer. The investigation takes a personal turn as Bryce grapples with her complex family ties and her desire to uncover the truth about the demon murders.
Bryce receives a call at work from Jesiba, asking her to retrieve a file. While searching Jesiba’s office, Bryce is unsettled by the sight of the Godslayer Rifle, an artifact capable of killing anything. After completing the task, Hunt contacts Bryce about a murder scene linked to the kristallos. At the crime scene, Bryce struggles with painful flashbacks of Danika’s murder, and Hunt reveals that the archangel Bryce saved was Micah. This revelation fuels Bryce’s anger.
Later, Bryce meets Juniper at the White Raven, where Hunt follows her inside. As she’s about to drink, Bryce reveals she hasn’t touched alcohol since Danika’s death. After a brief argument, the club explodes, but fortunately, no one is seriously injured. Ruhn, after receiving a tip about Bryce’s location, arrives just before the explosion. Ruhn speculates that the bombing was orchestrated by human followers of Briggs, still imprisoned.
Back at Bryce’s apartment, Hunt tends to her wounds. He notices that Bryce has never had her leg injury from Danika’s murder magically healed, realizing she’s still punishing herself. Hunt shares information about Micah offering him freedom in exchange for solving the murders. The two begin to develop a deeper understanding of each other.
The next day, Juniper visits Bryce with pastries as an apology and informs her that Fury has been hired to find and kill the person behind the White Raven bombing. Hunt heads back to the Comitium, and Bryce goes with him later in the afternoon.
Bryce investigates Danika’s final week, while Ruhn discovers that Danika was at Luna’s Temple when the Horn was stolen. Ruhn and Bryce discuss the possibility that the murderer and the thief are two different people. Ruhn also finds a theory that Starborn magic might be able to reactivate the Horn. They consider visiting the Oracle for answers but decide against it.
When Bryce and Hunt arrive at the Comitium, they run into Sandriel, the visiting archangel, and Micah, who asks Bryce on a date. Hunt is frozen by the sight of his dead lover’s twin, but Bryce quickly pretends to be a photographer, distracting him. Later, Hunt is ordered by Micah to assassinate someone, reminding him of who is truly in control.
Hunt visits the Oracle, who offers no answers about the Horn. She reveals that the Horn can be used to open the Northern Rift and allow the princes of Hel to return. The Oracle also warns Hunt to stay away from Bryce. Hunt later reports his visit, and the team speculates on how the Horn might be repaired. Ruhn decides to consult a medwitch. Meanwhile, Bryce recounts her past experience with the Oracle, which left her cast out by her father.
Hunt visits Briggs in prison, where Briggs denies involvement in Danika’s murder but hints that his followers might have been behind the bombing. Hunt reflects on his past as a revolutionary, beginning to empathize with Briggs. Meanwhile, Bryce shares her suspicions that Sabine may have stolen the Horn to weaken Micah’s regime and frame humans for the bombing.
Ruhn consults a medwitch who suggests that combining science and magic might repair the Horn. At the same time, Hunt’s team detects temperature fluctuations near the wolf district in Moonwood, possibly linked to the kristallos. Hunt theorizes that the kristallos might be using the sewers, but their investigation yields no answers.
Bryce and Hunt travel to the Istros River, where they meet Tharion, a mer Captain of Intelligence, who agrees to watch for dumped bodies. They also confront Sabine at the wolves' den, but she denies stealing the Horn. They suspect she might be behind the kristallos attacks.
The kristallos attacks Bryce and Hunt, but they manage to fight it off. Ruhn learns that the demon’s venom nullifies magic, which could explain the vulnerability of the wolf pack. The group theorizes that Sabine may have orchestrated the attack.
Later, Sabine interrupts Bryce and Hunt’s quiet moment, demanding they end the investigation. She reveals that Bryce made a bargain with the Under-King to ensure Danika’s soul’s passage. As Hunt recovers, Bryce searches through Danika’s files and uncovers a flash drive containing disturbing footage of synth trials.
Bryce discovers that Danika had been cautious about synth, aware of its dangerous side effects, especially for the Vanir. Ruhn uncovers that an antidote might involve kristallos venom. Bryce speculates that Danika took the Horn to stop someone from using it to repair Luna’s Horn.
At the Meat Market, Bryce follows a tip about synth. She later confronts Hunt, who admits that he came to stop the deal, realizing the drug’s dangers. Micah arrives and reveals a devastating truth—Hunt knew about synth and Danika’s death, which was caused by a synth overdose.
Fury confirms that Danika’s death was due to synth, and the kristallos demon was an unintended side effect. Hunt is imprisoned, and Sandriel arrives to claim him. In an attempt to save him, Bryce offers herself in exchange for Hunt, revealing her Fae heritage. Ruhn forbids the deal, and Bryce is attacked by a kristallos demon.
Bryce is rescued, and it is revealed that she is Fae royalty. The Summit begins, and Hunt, bound in magic-negating handcuffs, is forced to watch as Sandriel and Micah dominate the proceedings. The Asteri reveal that Hypaxia is the new queen of the Valbaran witches.
At the gallery, Bryce continues researching legal loopholes to free Hunt. Micah arrives, confessing his crimes. He reveals that Danika hid the Horn by grinding it into dust and infusing it into Bryce’s back tattoo, which can activate the artifact. Micah plans to use synth to restore the Horn’s power and open portals, but expects the synth to destroy Bryce in the process.
As the Autumn King orders troops to rescue Bryce, Micah overpowers her, injecting her with synth. Bryce manages to shield herself with a magic book, but Micah forces her to drop it by throwing Syrinx into the nøkk’s tank.
The synth injection doesn’t affect Bryce as expected. As Micah tries to subdue her, Lehabah heroically locks him in the vault bathroom, buying time for Bryce to save Syrinx.
With the Summit still watching, Lehabah makes a final stand. She uses her fire magic to break the nøkk’s tank, unleashing a flood of water onto Micah. As she burns brighter than ever, she declares her lineage and sacrifices herself to protect her friends.
Knowing Micah will escape, Bryce painfully drags herself and Syrinx to Jesiba’s office, where the Godslayer Rifle is stored. As Micah bursts in, she swiftly assembles the weapon and fires a precise shot through his head—killing him instantly.
To ensure he can never return, she takes Danika’s sword, dismembers his body, and burns the remains before vacuuming up the ashes. Watching from the Summit, Hunt is in awe of Bryce, realizing she is the most important person in his life and that he would find her no matter how long it took.
Despite receiving a lethal dose of synth, Bryce remains unharmed. Hypaxia reveals that she had given Bryce an antidote weeks earlier and has been channeling her healing power into her from afar.
When reinforcements arrive, Bryce blocks the door, dismissing their help by claiming a simple gas leak. The enchantments in the vault have protected the library’s sacred books, and the nøkk is dead.
Back at the Summit, Ruhn and Hunt fear that Bryce will be executed for killing a Governor. However, in the chaos, Hypaxia quietly removes Hunt’s magical restraints, knowing their captors have far bigger problems to deal with.
As demons flood into the city, Bryce rushes home with Syrinx, arms herself with weapons, and battles through the Old Quarter toward the Meadows, where unprotected humans are seeking shelter. The leaders at the Summit refuse to intervene, leaving the mortals to fend for themselves. Watching through video feeds, Hunt and the others witness Bryce’s efforts. She calls Jesiba for backup, but reinforcements are scarce. Despite Sabine’s orders, Ithan volunteers to help. As the shelters prepare to lock down, Bryce pushes Ithan inside before he gets trapped outside with her. With the demon battle moving elsewhere, she decides to head for the Old Square Gate. Exhausted, she calls the Summit to say her goodbyes, forgiving Ruhn and refusing pleas to seek safety. Upon reaching the Gate, Bryce reveals her hidden Starborn heritage, unleashing blinding light to seal the portal. Witnesses at the Summit are shocked, including the Autumn King, who demands answers from Ember. It is revealed that Bryce’s power had remained undetected because Starborn light is a gift, not a measurable power. Danika knew the truth and secretly tattooed Luna’s Horn on Bryce, as only she could wield its magic. Sandriel, viewing Bryce as a threat, orders the Asterian Guard to kill her. Meanwhile, Hypaxia secretly dissolves Hunt’s slave halo, freeing him to kill Sandriel in a swift act of vengeance. Hunt then commandeers a helicopter to rescue Bryce before the Guard bombs the Gate. Already wounded, Bryce finds herself trapped under rubble as a missile nears, but Hunt, despite being unable to fly, throws himself in the way to shield her. Though alive, he is gravely injured, prompting Bryce to consider making the Drop to gain enough power to heal him. She desperately searches for an Anchor and, against all odds, hears Danika’s voice from beyond the grave. Ignoring warnings that a dead soul cannot serve as an Anchor, Bryce makes the Drop, drawing power from the countless souls who made wishes at the Gate. As she falls deeper, the city’s Gates activate, dispelling demons and healing the wounded. The Summit watches as her power rewrites the fate of Lunathion, though the Autumn King doubts she will survive the ascent back. Danika urges her on but cannot guide her return. Bryce flatlines, but Hunt revives her with CPR, and she finally awakens. Returning to her apartment, she realizes her firstlight has healed the city but could not bring back the dead. Their reunion is interrupted by a call from Ember and another from Rigelus, who removes Hunt’s slave tattoo and grants him citizenship—but also delivers an implicit threat, warning them to live quietly and never use the Horn. Later, Bryce and Hunt meet with Fury and Ruhn, who reassures her that he never cared about being king, only about having his sister back. The siblings mend their relationship, discovering their shared telepathic gift. As Bryce walks Syrinx along the Bone Quarter dock, the Under-King grants her a final vision of the wolfpack in the afterlife, allowing her to say a silent goodbye to Connor. With the past finally behind her, she heads home with hope for the future. Meanwhile, Jesiba and Aidas meet in Oracle’s Park, discussing Bryce’s immense power and its connection to Queen Theia. Their cryptic conversation hints at deeper plans, setting the stage for what’s to come.
Thanks Super Summary
Comments