Kai spends the morning on a rooftop feeding Paedyn apple because he has tied her wrists behind her back. During the night, Paedyn tried to pick the lock on her ankle, got hold of a knife, and held it to Kai's throat in another escape attempt, so Kai bound her to stop her from attacking him while he slept. As they talk, Kai estimates they are about halfway through Dor and may reach the Sanctuary of Souls in a couple of days, while Paedyn bitterly notes that every step brings her closer to whatever death awaits her in Ilya.

When it is time to leave, Paedyn points out that she needs her hands free to climb down. Kai cuts the bindings, and the brief moment of closeness between them exposes how strongly he is still drawn to her despite telling himself their earlier intimacy was only an act. They climb down the building together, and Paedyn links her arm through Kai's as they continue along Dor's poorer outer streets, where fewer people might recognize them.

As they travel, Paedyn tears down a wanted flyer with her face on it, and Kai studies the sketch long enough to remark that it does not give her enough freckles. Soon after, a burly stranger notices the chain on Kai's ankle and assumes Paedyn is simply his troublesome partner. Kai encourages that misunderstanding to avoid suspicion, but the stranger later returns with three other men after recognizing Paedyn from the flyer and identifying Kai as the Enforcer who escaped Rafael's prison with her. Realizing they are outnumbered, Kai and Paedyn run.

The chain makes escape difficult, and the chase through Dor's alleys quickly shows they cannot outrun the men for long. Paedyn pulls Kai into a smoky gentleman's club, and Kai decides their best chance is to disappear into the crowd by acting like they belong there. He hides Paedyn under a floppy hat, tells her to remove her recognizable vest, and seats her on his lap at a gaming table while he joins a card game to avoid drawing attention.

While they maintain the disguise, the act becomes emotionally charged. Paedyn wraps an arm around Kai's neck to whisper, and Kai notices his own reaction to her closeness. When another woman offers to replace Paedyn on Kai's lap, Paedyn sharply refuses, and Kai teases her about looking jealous before admitting that she simply looks good. Their cover holds only briefly, because the chapter ends with two familiar pursuers bursting into the club and spotting the room.