Rune finds Gideon half-dressed in Ava’s custody, with a bloody spellmark burning across his chest. The sight shocks her, but she quickly tries to improvise a rescue by claiming that Cressida has sent for Ava to witness the signing in Prince Soren’s study. Rune hopes to get Ava out of the room long enough for Gideon to escape before Cressida returns.

Ava immediately questions Rune’s story. Rune, flustered by the rushed lie and the dangerous situation, cannot make the explanation convincing. When Ava says she does not believe her, Rune makes a desperate move for Gideon’s pistol on the sink.

Ava orders Gideon to restrain Rune, and he obeys at once, wrenching Rune’s arms behind her back. Ava then commands Gideon to kill the Crimson Moth. Gideon turns Rune to face him, slams her against the mirror, and closes both hands around her throat, choking her while Ava watches without sympathy.

As Rune struggles to breathe, she realizes Gideon may truly be carrying out the chance to kill her that he had originally come for. With her vision blurring and panic rising, she remembers the pistol beside the sink. Fighting through the lack of air, Rune finally manages to reach the weapon, grab it, and fire a single shot, though the chapter ends before revealing what the bullet hits.