As Hunt departs the temple’s inner sanctum, Bryce confronts Ruhn about whether the Autumn King is behind the murders and demon attacks. Ruhn insists the king is not responsible, arguing he wouldn’t summon a kristallos while also tasking Ruhn to find Luna’s Horn. Ruhn frames the king’s motive as opportunistic—seeking Fae ascendancy, not orchestrating the killings.

Emotions flare over their fraught history. Bryce declares that their temporary alliance changes nothing between them: Ruhn will track the Horn, and Bryce will find the murderer. When Bryce throws his past slur back at him, Ruhn protests but she storms out, ending the exchange on cold terms.

Hunt waits at the doors, says nothing, and accompanies Bryce back to the gallery. Barraged by Jesiba’s messages, Bryce is forced to handle a client: an overfamiliar leopard shifter who buys an Embrace statue and ignores boundaries until Bryce shuts him down. After he leaves, she turns to research.

Hours in the gallery databases produce nothing new on Luna’s Horn, and even Lehabah has no gossip. Ruhn returns to the Fae Archives to keep digging, while Hunt takes the roof to brief Micah and Isaiah about the Horn and gives Bryce space.

Remembering the Viper Queen’s advice to look where it hurts, Bryce finishes compiling Danika’s known locations from her final days. Exhausted by sunset, she walks Syrinx home. Hunt shadows her from the sky without a word. She collapses into bed early, the list tucked away and no fresh leads in hand.