Chapter Twenty-Eight

Harry arrives at Lara’s New Year’s party in the Gold Coast, noting the city’s partial recovery after Ethniu’s devastation. Wearing a tailored tux under his duster, he feels self-conscious and senses a recurring, unsettling presence overhead in the snowy night. Bear, his bodyguard, detects nothing but asks about his prior meeting with Lara as they enter the Drake.

Inside, the party is smaller and less formal than Halloween’s, with many of House Raith present and a few outside dignitaries, including two Summer Sidhe. Freydis greets Harry and Bear, offers a private sitting room to avoid awkward encounters, and mentions Lara is finishing a meeting with Etri. After a brief exchange, Bear steps out to call Vadderung, leaving Harry alone.

Left to brood, Harry replays Murphy’s death and his own mistakes. Lord Raith enters and icily acknowledges Harry’s impending marriage to Lara, then probes for weaknesses by referencing Murphy and suggesting Lara cannot escape her predatory Hunger. He implies Harry will eventually become prey and needles him by invoking guest-right and past enemies like LaChaise and Drakul.

Harry controls his anger and says little, recognizing Raith’s needling as calculated. Freydis rushes back, tense, as Raith withdraws with a final barb. She relays that Lara is ready for him following her Etri meeting and has arranged an executive suite for their private discussion.

Harry concludes Raith intended to rattle him before the dangerous experiment he plans with Lara. Deciding the party’s decorum keeps Raith from acting directly, Harry sets aside the provocation and follows Freydis to meet Lara and proceed with their risky plan.