House of Sky and Breath

At Bryce’s apartment, Ruhn and Bryce find Tharion and Ithan talking on the couch, a white cat next to them, whom they have assumed was another of Bryce’s pets. Ithan and Tharion haven’t realized this, but the cat is actually Aidas, one of the two Princes of Hel. The planet Hel is a dreaded dimension where demons live. All portals to Hel have been sealed, but the creatures keep trying to enter Midgard. Bryce and Ruhn brace themselves for an attack. Hunt reaches Bryce’s apartment.

Aidas, known as the Prince of the Chasm, asks Bryce why she hasn’t learnt to use all her powers yet. Bryce is perplexed. Aidas tells her she has the light of none other than Theia, the last Starborn Queen. It is through Theia she has inherited her power, rather than her through her father. Moreover, Bryce, and not Ruhn, is the true heir to the Starsword. Aidas assumes Bryce has the other of Theia’s gifts as well. It is time for Bryce to learn her powers because “the war approaches its crescendo. And your power isn’t ready” (177).

Contrary to what Bryce and Ruhn think, Prince Pelias, their ancestor who wed Theia’s daughter Helena was “no true prince” (177).