Chapter Fifty-Three

On the battlements, Harry faces the Black Court elders. A mummified elder he dubs “Cleo” tests the castle with a blast of white fire, which the wards effortlessly absorb. Malvora vampires answer with suppressive gunfire, exposing the fortress’s weakness to modern weapons and forcing Harry, Bear, Fitz, and Matias to keep low.

Toot-Toot reports the enemy plan: half the ghouls and armed Malvora circle to the rear to scale the walls, while Renfields advance at the front gate with backpacks—likely explosives. The Black Court hangs back, waiting to exploit the breach once mortals clear the way.

Harry orders Toot-Toot to summon nearby allies to hit from a block north when the gate goes and sends word to hold the inner door. He places Fitz and Matias to defend the stairwell and calls on Bob to contain and absorb the blast’s energy at the gate—even though doing so will drop the gate itself.

Bear realizes Harry intends to fight the heavy hitters on his ground. Harry confirms the plan: scatter the lesser forces first, then destroy the Black Court inside the main hall, where the castle’s power favors him. Bear readies her axe as they brace for the detonation.

The Renfields’ charge goes off, the runes blaze, and the transformed gate collapses just as planned. Ghouls howl and surge, Malvora and their shock troops move, and the coordinated assault on the breached castle begins as Harry’s trap is sprung.