Inside the palace prison, Rune heads toward the interrogation rooms using a map she memorized months earlier when she and Alex had once planned to break Seraphine out. She cannot cast Ghost Walker because she has no casting knife or any other sharp object to draw blood, so her options are limited as she moves through the halls.

Before Rune can continue, Prince Soren stops her. He looks worn and relieved to see her, and Rune initially tries to tell him important news about Cressida’s plans. Instead, Soren pulls her into a kiss, and Rune recoils, pushes him away, and tells him their relationship is over.

When Soren invokes their bargain and claims that Cressida’s victory means Rune now belongs to him, Rune finally tells him the truth: Cressida never meant to give Rune to him, and their entire romance was staged because Cressida needed his army. Rune explains that she deliberately arranged their first meeting, which humiliates and enrages Soren rather than persuading him.

Soren corners Rune, grabs her by the throat, slams her into the wall, and starts tearing at her clothes while claiming he will take what he is owed. Hurt, trapped, and unable to use magic, Rune notices the pistol at his hip. Remembering Gideon’s instruction that if someone tries to hurt her and there is no other way to stop them, she should shoot, Rune takes Soren’s gun, lifts it to his head, and fires.