After Cressida’s forces take the capital, Soren’s army helps secure the city through mass arrests, forced loyalty oaths, torture, and executions. Rune remains a tightly guarded prisoner because Cressida needs the last living Roseblood alive to resurrect Elowyn and Analise. During a secret visit protected by Seraphine’s silencing spell, Seraphine tells Rune that some witches are increasingly uneasy with Cressida’s rule, but fear keeps them obedient as long as Cressida has Soren’s army and the promise of her sisters’ return.

Rune suggests that revealing the truth to Soren could turn him against Cressida, since he likely does not know Rune is imprisoned or that Cressida plans to kill her instead of marrying him to Rune. Seraphine warns that Cressida would retaliate and argues they cannot wait for Soren’s return. Seraphine proposes a different escape plan, while also explaining that Cressida must soon revisit the hidden bodies of Elowyn and Analise to renew or complete the resurrection spell, and that Rune will probably be taken there when the time comes.

That evening, at one of Cressida’s lavish dinners and public show trials, prisoners from the old regime are dragged in for judgment while the court eats and watches. Rune waits for Seraphine’s signal and realizes Seraphine has put Rune’s guards to sleep. When the Commander’s captured spymaster is brought in, Juniper is visibly shaken, abruptly leaves the banquet hall, and gives Rune the opening to slip out. Rune plans to flee immediately, steal a blade so she can draw blood for Ghost Walker, and escape the island under Seraphine’s protection from sibyl sight.

In the corridor, Juniper reveals that the prisoner is Harrow, a girl her parents claimed to have sold away long ago and whom Juniper believed dead. Rune nearly abandons her, prioritizing survival over rescuing an enemy, but stops when Juniper says Harrow is close to the Blood Guard captain and may know Gideon’s location. Realizing Cressida could torture Harrow to find Gideon, Rune changes course and agrees to save Harrow. In exchange, Rune orders Juniper to deny having seen her, committing herself to one last dangerous rescue instead of escape.