Serena wakes in Koen’s bed to piano music and slowly realizes what happened during the night: she had another violent fever episode, with claw marks on her arms and a partial shift in her eyes and hands. When Koen questions her, Serena stops lying and explains that she has cortisol surge disorder, a degenerative Were illness that is usually treatable in Weres but has not responded to treatment in her hybrid body. She admits that Dr. Henshaw told her two months earlier that she likely had six months to live, meaning her remaining time is now even shorter.

Koen presses for the full truth, and Serena explains why she kept the illness secret. Serena says she left because she woke in Ana’s room during a fever and feared she might eventually hurt Ana or force Misery to choose between Serena and her daughter. Koen reveals that he found Serena’s farewell letters to Ana, Misery, and Lowe when he feared she might not survive the night. Forced to say the words aloud for the first time, Serena tells Koen, “After I die,” and Koen responds with absolute certainty that he will not allow that outcome.

Koen takes Serena to Dr. Sem Caine for an examination and forwards Dr. Henshaw’s records. Sem checks Serena, reviews the data, and confirms that Henshaw’s diagnosis and prognosis appear accurate; Serena’s body is under extreme metabolic and cardiac stress, and Sem is surprised she is still alive. Koen demands treatment and becomes openly furious when Sem can offer only supportive care such as IV fluids, easy-to-digest food, and cold baths to manage Serena’s pain and nightly fevers.

After the appointment, Koen withdraws into anger, but Serena stops him and tries to make him understand that she has already accepted her death. Koen refuses that acceptance, insisting that Serena’s death will happen only “over my dead body.” Serena argues that their future was impossible anyway because of Koen’s covenant and her illness, but Koen asks what would have happened if neither obstacle existed, forcing Serena to acknowledge their mutual feelings without fully saying them. The chapter ends with Serena embracing Koen and confessing that if this were her last day, she would be happy to have spent it with him, while Koen silently holds her close.