Raeve wakes from a blank, unnatural sleep to find herself shackled by the ankles and suspended by bound wrists in a small stone room. She is covered in blood, badly injured, missing most of her weapons, and disturbed by signs that her blackout turned violent, including flesh stuck between her teeth and the wrecked state of her inner lake. The sound of metal-clattering boots makes Raeve realize who has captured her before she sees him.

Rekk Zharos steps into view and confirms Raeve’s fear: he killed Essi as bait to draw Raeve in, and he now treats the murder as a professional tactic rather than a personal act. Raeve burns with grief and fury, especially when Rekk reminds her that she bit off part of his finger during whatever happened while she was unconscious. During their exchange, Rekk reveals that he knows Raeve is a dual-bead, showing that her hidden nature has become a direct vulnerability.

Rekk questions Raeve about her false identity and her real name, then turns the interrogation toward what he truly wants. He explains that he followed a runed note handed to Raeve by the musician at the Hungry Hollow, which makes Raeve realize Levvi betrayed her and led Rekk to her rooms. That discovery deepens Raeve’s guilt because her haste and carelessness helped create the path that ended with Essi’s death.

Rekk admits he is disappointed that the rune led only to Raeve rather than to the Elding or The Flourish. He offers Raeve a chance to avoid being handed over to The Crown and made an example of by the Guild of Nobles if she gives him someone with close ties to the Elding or reveals The Flourish’s location. Raeve immediately rejects the offer because giving up those connections would endanger others, including people tied to Sereme and Ruse, and would strengthen the Crown.

When Raeve refuses, insults him, and spits in his face, Rekk abandons persuasion and turns to torture. He cuts open the back of her skinsuit and lashes her repeatedly with his iron-tipped whip, tearing her flesh while demanding nothing further. Raeve endures the whipping by holding onto her grief for Essi, seeing the pain as punishment for failing her, and fighting to keep the violent force inside her from surfacing again until she finally loses consciousness.