Chapter Twenty-Seven

Before dawn on New Year’s Eve, Harry uses stealth and muffling spells to meet Lara alone on the castle roof. Two predators size each other up, banter about fame and Harry’s “Perfect Idiot Hypothesis,” and acknowledge the fragility of civilization after the recent war. Lara presses to define their arranged marriage.

They confront fears of coercion: Harry refuses becoming Lara’s addict and vows to fight it; Lara admits concern that Harry could magically subjugate her. They settle on being associates who share information, favors, and latitude—“associates with intentions.”

Lara then discloses the White Court’s origin: Laris of Arretium and his circle opened a portal to the Outside; a mad god, the Hunger, was bound into Laris but possessed him, violated Thana, and sired Sethre. Sethre’s descendants carry larval Hungers, biologically immortal but imperiled by appetites. The White Council likely holds the ancient spellbooks.

Realizing Hungers are Outsider larvae and remembering his starborn power over Outsiders, Harry sees a possible way to help Thomas. He proposes a cautious but risky experiment, with Lara herself as the live subject, to test an idea that might curb the Hunger.

Lara agrees to arrange private time during the New Year’s Eve party and to work on the Etri peace. After she departs, Harry questions her sincerity but prioritizes surviving to save Thomas and heads to his lab to prepare.