Half an hour after Rune leaves his apartment, Gideon goes to the new Blood Guard headquarters and sends most of the soldiers to the main harbor. He does this under false pretenses, knowing Rune will avoid the Arcadia and the heavily guarded harbor because he already named that route aloud. By misleading his own forces, Gideon tries to buy Rune as much time as possible to flee with Aurelia and Meadow.

Alone in the supply room, Gideon studies an old map of Cascadia and thinks through a new plan to protect Rune permanently. He realizes Cressida will eventually discover that Rune is the living fourth Roseblood, which means Rune will remain in danger as long as Elowyn and Analise's preserved bodies exist. Gideon decides to search for the sister queens' bodies, starting with Thornwood Hall, and either destroy them with dynamite or hide them somewhere Cressida can never reach.

Before Gideon can leave, Laila confronts him after the search of the harbor turns up no witches. Hurt and furious, Laila demands to know why Gideon lied to her. Harrow arrives with other soldiers and condemns Gideon, but Gideon rejects her bitterness and argues that suffering does not have to turn people into monsters. When Laila realizes Gideon knows where Rune is and still refuses to betray her, Gideon admits his guilt and orders the reluctant soldiers to arrest him.

Gideon is taken to the palace, where Noah beats him with a revolver and formally accuses him of sympathizing with witches for helping the Crimson Moth escape. Noah sentences Gideon to a public execution, intending to make him an example. Even as Noah mocks him for loving Rune and being abandoned by her, Gideon accepts the consequence of his choice.