On the street, Bryce hands Hunt a suspect list and explains her late-night digging: she checked Maximus Tertian’s dating profile on Spark and tracked down his girlfriend at a nail salon. The girlfriend confirmed Maximus wasn’t connected to Danika and had been only lightly questioned by the 33rd.

Crucially, the girlfriend does the Viper Queen’s nails, providing Bryce a tenuous link: if Maximus boasted, she would have known of any tie to Danika; instead, the closest connection was through the Viper Queen. With Tertian’s body found just beyond the Queen’s borders and her people pulled in, Bryce suspects the Viper Queen might even have summoned the demon.

Hunt pushes back, insisting they use official channels to contact the Viper Queen and warning it could take time. Bryce counters by suggesting they quietly watch the Autumn King, believing he may know more than he admits. Hunt balks at the illegality and danger, demanding Bryce loop him in before making moves.

Back at her building, Bryce reflects on Fae politics and her father’s power, doubting he killed Danika yet certain he would do anything to keep his crown. Determined to act, she arms herself, leaves her apartment looking occupied, and slips out via the rear stairwell to avoid Hunt’s notice.

Riding her scooter through the city’s glowing arteries, Bryce heads into the dark warrens of the Meat Market and waits by a warehouse, surrounded by vendors and the ominous trade in flesh. Hunt dives from the sky, shattering cobblestones as he lands, and snarls, “I am going to kill you,” catching her before she can proceed.