A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Harper, her brother, and Grey find Rhen close to where Grey wounded him. The monster charges toward them, 10 feet tall and snarling, and Harper is struck with the idea that it’s “terrible and beautiful and somehow entirely Rhen […] yet not at all” (432). The monster plucks Harper off her horse and attacks her brother and Grey. Harper shouts to Rhen, reminding him of the time they spent together. The monster brings her back to the ground, letting her down gently, and then calms, resting his head against her chest.

Chapter 52 is only a short thought, with Rhen recognizing Harper by name once again and realizing she has come back.

In Harper’s presence, Rhen remains docile, and the group returns to the palace to find much of the army has stayed and is ready to fight. The people are amazed to see that Harper seems to have tamed the monster, but Rhen feels threatened by the soldiers, grabbing Harper and flying away. She shouts for him to bring her back, but instead “he lets go” (447).