Three days before the Unity Trial, Meryn has been isolating herself in her room, studying the ancient book about the Sturmfrost Queens instead of training with her pack. She has been skipping Alpha training sessions with Stark since their argument two days prior. She briefly considers asking Killian for help with the book's revelations but decides against it, wary of how he might react to a narrative contradicting his family's official history, and mindful of Stark's warning to be careful.

Izabel visits Meryn's room to check on her. Meryn admits she is still grieving her mother's death deeply—the recent improvement in her mother's condition had given her hope that things might get better, especially for Saela. Meryn then shows Izabel her engagement bracelet from Killian, and Izabel reacts with elated excitement, noting that Meryn will become queen. To celebrate, Izabel organizes a small gathering in the castle kitchens with their close friends: Tomison, Nevah, and Venna.

In the kitchens, the group drinks emberwine and bakes a celebration cake. Tomison and Izabel bicker flirtatiously while working together, and the friends tease each other about their romantic lives—Nevah is seeing a woman named Zadie, and Venna has earned a reputation among the Rawbonds. In a quieter moment, Nevah reveals to Meryn that she lost a man named Collin, her partner since age sixteen, and that during the Purge Trial she might have given up if Meryn and the others hadn't stood by her side. Meryn relates to the feeling, remembering how Igor once pulled her off the streets.

Tomison makes a toast to their "future queen," adding dark humor about surviving the Unity Trial. The group laughs and bonds, and Meryn feels the emotional weight on her shoulders lift. They accidentally burn the cake but salvage what they can, enjoying each other's company late into the night.

After the others leave, Venna stays behind under the pretense of cleaning. She updates Meryn on her covert investigation into the king's activities within the castle. Venna hasn't found anything concrete yet but senses something just out of reach. Meryn asks her to keep looking, aware that once the Trials end, survivors will be sent to the front, and their time to uncover the truth is running out.