After Vincent is thrown from the balcony, Oraya rushes to him and finds that he is still barely alive despite his catastrophic injuries. The sight shatters her lifelong image of him as untouchable, because the powerful, terrifying father who raised her now lies broken and helpless in the sand.

Vincent reaches for Oraya and uses his last strength to apologize. He says he had meant to tell her something, tells her that he loves her and has loved her from the first moment, and admits that he made many mistakes but that Oraya was never one of them. Oraya cannot answer in time; she only manages to tell him she loves him after he has already died.

Vincent’s death overwhelms Oraya with grief that quickly turns into rage. Her Nightfire erupts uncontrollably, engulfing her as she guards Vincent’s body like a wild animal. She loses command of her magic so completely that the flames pour from her in destructive waves while people shout and try to restrain her.

Raihn is the one who finally reaches her and holds her still. Oraya hates him for killing her father and betraying her, yet she instinctively knows him and responds when he begs her to breathe and come back to him. As the fire subsides, Oraya becomes dimly aware of the Rishan warriors around them, including Cairis and Ketura.

When the Nightfire fades, Raihn notices something wrong at Oraya’s throat and chest: red ink has spread across her skin. Cairis steps closer, recognizes the mark, and blurts out the revelation that changes everything—Oraya is an Heir.