Gideon keeps firing until he runs out of ammunition, using the last of his bullets to buy Rune time to escape with Meadow. As he fights, his thoughts keep returning to Rune: the scent of her magic, their kiss in the library, and the realization that wanting her has become more painful now that he believes he cannot have her. He also notices that Rune’s eyes had looked strangely clouded, like Aurelia’s after a vision, which unsettles him.

Once his ammunition is gone, Gideon surrenders instead of resisting. The guards stop shooting, demand to know where Rune and the child have gone, and arrest him when he refuses to help. He is taken to the Blood Guard’s new headquarters, an old citadel that replaced the building Cressida destroyed.

At headquarters, Gideon is brought before acting captain Laila Creed and the spymaster Harrow. Laila is shocked to see him in chains and furious when she learns he was caught trespassing, exchanging gunfire, and helping abduct Meadow. When Gideon asks to be released and insists he needs to speak with Noah, Laila makes clear that Noah is away and that Gideon must answer to her instead.

Under questioning, Gideon admits that the escaped accomplice was Rune. Laila condemns his continued weakness for her, while Harrow warns that Rune may still be deceiving him and could be pursuing some larger plan for Cressida. Gideon insists he is not helping Rune out of loyalty. Instead, he claims he is using her to reach the Roseblood heir, planning to kill the heir first and then hand Rune over to the Blood Guard as promised.

Gideon argues that, despite his past failures, he remains committed to destroying Cressida and making amends for the damage he caused. He says chains and mistrust only prevent him from carrying out that mission. After pressing him about the risk that Rune is manipulating him again, Laila finally relents. She unlocks his manacles on the condition that he keep her informed of his plans, and Gideon tells Laila and Harrow what he intends to do.