Oraya arrives late to the feast on purpose, uneasy about the revealing gown and the attention it will draw. Inside the transformed church, she is struck by the luxury, the magic, and especially the overwhelming abundance of blood, which sickens her more than she expects. As other vampires watch her with hunger and curiosity, Oraya steadies herself with the memory of Ilana and looks for Raihn, only to be met by Vincent instead.

Vincent notices her clothing, calls it unwise, and asks her to dance. Oraya confronts him about what his soldiers did to Raihn, and Vincent refuses to apologize, framing Jesmine's torture as the work of a general protecting the kingdom during war. Even so, he asks Oraya to indulge him as a father who thought he had just lost his daughter, and Oraya agrees. While they dance, Vincent praises Oraya's performance in the trial, tells her not to be ashamed of surpassing expectations, and answers her question about the Rishan by admitting he will soon travel again.

The dance becomes unexpectedly intimate and emotional. Vincent recalls the first time he made Oraya smile and speaks with unusual openness about how proud he is of her, saying that if he helped shape even a small part of who she has become, it would be his greatest accomplishment. His rare vulnerability frightens Oraya because it sounds like a farewell or a response to some unseen danger, but Vincent dismisses her concern and finishes the moment with one more dance before returning to his duties as king.

Outside in the gardens, Oraya sees Angelika and Ivan speaking with the mysterious man she met by the river and realizes he is Bloodborn. He introduces himself as Septimus of the House of Blood, reveals that he has been gambling on the contestants, and needles Oraya with smug familiarity. Raihn arrives, clearly hostile toward Septimus, and the prince deliberately provokes him by mentioning someone named Nessanyn and implying that Raihn may have to kill Oraya in the trials.

Raihn leads Oraya away and explains that Septimus is one of the princes of the House of Blood and that the Bloodborn entered the Kejari to gain influence while the House of Night is divided by war. When Oraya asks about Nessanyn, Raihn calls the name an insult to an old friend and warns her that Septimus is dangerous. The tension between Oraya and Raihn shifts back into charged attraction when Raihn tells her he is not dangerous with her, admits he hates the feast, and invites her somewhere more fun. Oraya agrees immediately, choosing his company over the celebration.