With Rune trapped in the powder room, Gideon raises his gun but hesitates when he sees that she has been crying and drinking heavily. Rune immediately recognizes him and needles him about stalking her again, then asks what Alex would think of him now. Gideon throws Alex's death back at her, blames Rune for moving on to Prince Soren, and tries to harden himself by reminding himself that Rune deceived him and helped Cressida.

When Gideon mentions Alex again, Rune hurls the whiskey bottle at his head and makes a run for the door. Gideon catches Rune, slams her against the wall, pins her wrists, and presses his gun to her temple. Rune says Alex should never have taken the bullet meant for Gideon and that Gideon should have died instead. Her words reopen Gideon's grief and anger, and he relives the moment Cressida shot Alex when Gideon refused to go with her. Gideon uses that pain to justify his mission, telling himself that killing Rune is the only way to cut out the weakness she created in him.

Even with the gun against her head, Rune refuses to beg and dares Gideon to pull the trigger. Gideon notices more clearly that Rune is drunk, upset, and far from the composed courtly version of herself. His anger becomes entangled with desire and old tenderness, which makes him even more furious with himself. Before he can act, guards are heard in the corridor outside, and Gideon realizes a gunshot would expose him and likely deliver him back into Cressida's hands. He threatens to kill Rune if she calls out, and Rune stays silent.

As the danger outside recedes, Gideon questions Rune about supporting Cressida again and about marrying Soren. Rune answers that the Republic wants witches hunted and killed, so she has no reason to wish it well. Gideon argues that she will hate becoming Soren's ornament, and he accuses her of drinking to endure the prince. When Gideon says that the Crimson Moth is not meant to be caged, Rune snaps. During the struggle, Gideon shifts his hold, Rune knees him in the groin, and Gideon collapses. Rune takes his gun and says the blow is for Gideon handing her over to be purged. Then the door opens and Cressida Roseblood enters, leaving Gideon disarmed and at the mercy of the woman he fears most.