Three days after the second Trial, Kai reflects on the public replay of the mountain fight and feels newly clear-headed because Ace is dead. He dwells on the fact that Paedyn knowingly left Ace to him, giving Kai the chance to take revenge for Ace nearly killing both Jax and Paedyn. Kai’s thoughts also reveal that during the Trial he secretly used Blair’s power to redirect a deadly branch away from Paedyn, causing Braxton to be killed instead.

Kai admits that killing does not disturb him; instead, it makes him feel more alive. Even so, Paedyn’s mercy and trust affect him more deeply than violence does, because Kai wants to be worthy of her. To avoid thinking too much about those feelings, Kai spends the following days exhausting himself in physical training and in sessions with Damion, the king’s Silencer, using pain and effort as distraction.

Later, Kai sits with the king and Kitt in the king’s study while they discuss guard matters, the Resistance, and the Trials. The king focuses on Paedyn’s victory and makes clear that he sees it as unacceptable for a “Slummer” to win. When Kai says Paedyn won fairly, the king turns the conversation into a warning, reminding Kai that Kai is expected to win the Trials and threatening consequences if he fails.

Kai leaves the study furious, but Kitt follows and challenges Kai’s behavior. Kitt tries to defend the king by arguing that the king’s harsh treatment has a purpose, which provokes Kai into describing the abuse he endured as a child, including being cut and forced to confront his fears until he became a weapon. After lashing out that the king shaped him into a monster for Kitt’s future benefit, Kai regains some control, tells Kitt he will serve him loyally, and warns Kitt that he must learn to think for himself instead of relying on the king.