As Mira collapses with her throat slashed, Violet rushes to her side and presses against the wound, desperately trying to keep her alive. Theophanie throws the dagger at Jack Barlowe's chest and is plucked from the ground by a wyvern before Xaden's shadows or Violet's blade can reach her. Xaden casts a wall of shadow to shield the group from the surrounding battle as dragons—Sgaeyl, Tairn, and Marbh—attack the encircling wyvern. Brennan drops to his knees and uses his mending signet to try to heal Mira, but the wound is so severe that he begins to exhaust his power.

Two red dragons arrive unexpectedly from the south: Sloane Mairi on Thoirt and Dain Aetos on Cath, who followed Sloane after she crossed the wards against orders. Sloane reveals that Aaric told her she'd be needed and carries a sealed parcel addressed to Aaric from Dunne. With Brennan faltering, Dain volunteers his own power for Sloane to transfer. Despite her fear of becoming like venin, Sloane grasps Dain's wrist and channels his energy into Brennan. The transfer works: Brennan's strength returns, and Mira's bleeding stops, leaving a thick scar across her throat. Mira is alive.

Garrick meanwhile retrieves the venin dagger from the Rybestad chest containing Jack Barlowe and escapes via Chradh, the Brown Scorpiontail, who vanishes into thin air—implying the dragon's ability to transport instantly. Xaden orders Garrick to protect Jack, reasoning that Theophanie's attempt to kill him means he holds valuable information the enemy doesn't want shared.

With Mira stabilized, the group splits up for the next phase. Brennan carries Mira's unconscious body to Marbh to evacuate her. Dain and Sloane depart—Dain toward the battle at Draithus, Sloane back across the wards. Xaden washes Mira's blood from Violet's hand and gives her a desperate kiss, urging her to use only Tairn's power, not to turn dark, and to accomplish her mission. He flies south on Sgaeyl toward the besieged city. Violet pockets Aaric's mysterious package and prepares to execute her part of the plan with Bodhi at her side, as Bodhi announces they have a new problem.