The Inheritance Games, #4
The Brothers Hawthorne
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
CHAPTER 77: JAMESON
Overview
Jameson secures the final box, but Zella reveals that she, not Branford, holds Jameson’s secret and uses it to force a choice between victory and Avery’s safety. Jameson chooses Avery, but Avery refuses to let Zella control them and destroys the secret without reading it.
Avery’s bold move saves Jameson from exposure but triggers the Game’s violence rule, allowing Zella to turn Avery’s defiance into a potential forfeiture of the key. The chapter shifts the contest from a race for the prize to a battle over rules, leverage, and sacrifice.
Summary
Jameson climbs the chain toward the final silver box despite bruises, injured ribs, and bleeding hands. Branford remains below with what Jameson believes is Jameson’s secret, but Jameson focuses on reaching the prize and tears the wired box free.
Jameson drops the chest to Avery, who catches it, then climbs partway down before jumping to the floor. When Avery offers Jameson the final key, Zella steps in and demands it, revealing that Branford does not have Jameson’s secret after all.
Zella explains that she switched the parchment while traveling with Branford and now possesses Jameson’s secret. Threatening to read it aloud, Zella pressures Jameson to have Avery surrender the key, implying that the secret could endanger Avery if she hears it.
Jameson decides that protecting Avery matters more than winning and tells Avery to give Zella the key. Avery refuses silently, attacks Zella, wrests the parchment away, and burns it in a candle flame without reading it.
Rohan orders the fight to stop, but Avery finishes destroying the secret before he reaches her. Zella then invokes the Game’s rule against violence, pointing out that Avery’s expulsion would require any key Avery holds to be surrendered, and Rohan confirms the rule applies.
Who Appears
- Jameson HawthorneClimbs for the final box and chooses Avery’s safety over winning the Game.
- Avery GrambsCatches the chest, refuses surrender, and burns Jameson’s secret without reading it.
- ZellaReveals she stole Jameson’s secret and exploits Game rules after Avery attacks.
- RohanFactotum who stops the fight and confirms the rule requiring key surrender.
- Simon Johnstone-Jameson, Viscount BranfordDiscovers Zella switched the secret he believed he held.