Hunt languishes in his cell, racked by nausea and the agony of regrowing wings, haunted by Justinian’s crucified body and Viktoria’s entombment. With no visitors and little hope, he braces for execution, counting days by the atrium’s light on the hall TV.

Sandriel arrives and projects Hunt’s confiscated phone onto the screen, revealing Bryce’s unsent messages and a slideshow of their recent photos. The images trace their growing closeness, underscoring the ordinary life Hunt briefly tasted and lost. Sandriel mocks his “simple, sweet wishes,” claiming he squandered a path to eventual freedom through impatience.

She belittles Bryce and half-breeds, then implies that Hunt’s survival and his confiscated belongings now being in her hands mean his future belongs to her. Hunt realizes he is alive because Sandriel has claimed control, and that the life he wanted with Bryce has slipped away.

Elsewhere, Bryce meets Ruhn at a bar to thank him for looking out for her. She admits feeling foolish about Hunt and mentions the Autumn King’s visit. Ruhn invites her to a sunball watch at his place; after hesitation, Bryce agrees to try on a “trial basis,” opening the door to a tentative sibling reconciliation.