Chapter Forty-Five

On the castle roof, Harry Dresden, with Bear, watches increasingly angry protests outside his home. Will attempts a dialogue but is rebuffed by leaders consumed by grief and fear. Bear warns that delaying decisive action invites greater violence, while Harry resists harming civilians he’s sworn to protect.

Will reports the crowd demands total evacuation and that the situation is escalating toward a violent mob. Harry refuses to abandon the refugees living in the castle. Bear frames the conflict as territorial and cautions that Harry must either prove strength or flee, foreshadowing an inevitable confrontation.

Compounding pressure, Will delivers a letter: the federal HBGB task force will inspect the castle for hazardous materials before the end of May, with potential eviction either way. Harry, increasingly frustrated, agrees to schedule it late in the month rather than yield.

A new group arrives: Artemis Bock leads counterprotesters from the supernatural-friendly community, carrying peace signs and “Coexist” placards. Their presence causes the original protesters to hesitate, but it also turns the scene into a powder keg with real human targets on both sides.

Harry warns Bock that police can’t control the crowd and he may not protect them fast enough. Bock insists on standing together to deter persecution. Harry extracts a promise they won’t start anything and orders Bear to coordinate with the Knights to keep the gates ready, prioritizing swift refuge for Bock’s people if violence sparks.

As tensions hang, the protesters pull back slightly, but Bear predicts a rapid downturn. Harry commits to doing whatever he can, preparing to shelter allies within the walls while bracing for a potential flashpoint.