Gideon realizes Rune’s magic differs sharply from Ava’s and Cressida’s. Instead of binding or humiliating him, Rune’s spell gently encourages others to overlook him, allowing him to move through Larkmont unnoticed. Rune urges Gideon to flee through the east-wing stables on her horse, but explains that she must get back to Soren’s locked bedroom before Cressida discovers she is missing and realizes Rune helped him escape.

Although Gideon knows every delay increases his risk of recapture, he decides to help Rune return to the bedroom. He tells himself he is doing it for Alex, because Rune still clearly mourns Gideon’s brother and only saved Gideon for Alex’s sake. When Gideon asks how Rune escaped, she says she dropped from Soren’s balcony and cannot climb back up alone, so she leads him to the palace garden below the prince’s private rooms.

In the garden, Gideon notices fresh marks on Rune’s lips and neck and reacts bitterly to the evidence of her intimacy with Soren. Their exchange turns hostile and sarcastic, but it shifts when Gideon reveals that Cressida told him she plans to resurrect her dead sisters, Analise and Elowyn. Rune appears genuinely surprised and insists resurrection requires the life of a living family member; because she believes Cressida is the last surviving Roseblood, Rune argues that such a spell should be impossible unless Cressida is either lying or has found another relative.

With no other route available, Gideon lifts Rune up to Soren’s balcony. As he helps her, both of them reaffirm that they remain enemies and promise no future mercy. Rune pulls herself inside and disappears into the darkened room, while Gideon forces himself to harden emotionally, leaves the garden, and finally escapes Larkmont.