Bryce shares her theory with Hunt that Danika's work at Redner Industries might hold clues about synth and the Horn. She attempts to log into Danika's old Redner work account using various passwords but fails repeatedly. Bryce recaps the web of connections: synth could heal the Horn, obsidian salt is an ingredient in synth and can summon the kristallos, the kristallos was bred to track the Horn, and its venom can eat away at magic. Hunt agrees that helping Ruhn's medwitch obtain kristallos venom for an antidote to synth is important, but he refuses to let Bryce summon a kristallos demon to get it. When Bryce pushes back, Hunt reveals the depth of his concern, saying he can't handle himself if she's in danger. He receives a phone call and leaves, telling her Naomi will take watch, and whispers that "JJ would be proud" of her before going.

The next day, Bryce's quarterly cycle arrives on what turns out to be Danika's birthday. She tells Hunt she has meetings for Jesiba and can't work on the Horn case, though she actually spends the day at the gallery researching Horn texts while keeping Hunt at a distance. She checks her phone repeatedly, hoping someone—Juniper, Fury, or her mom—will remember Danika's birthday. No one does. Lehabah tries to engage Bryce in conversation, including a dangerous question about life without the Asteri, which Bryce shuts down due to surveillance cameras.

After work, Bryce visits a bakery and buys a box of chocolate croissants—Danika's favorite birthday treat. She sits on a bench overlooking the Bone Quarter and the river, and Hunt joins her. She confesses that no one remembered Danika's birthday and that she feels the world has moved on as if Danika never existed. Hunt opens up about Shahar, the angel he loved who died in the rebellion, explaining how she pulled him from grief after his mother's death and made him feel alive. They recognize they are mirrors of each other in their grief. Bryce tells Hunt he's her friend who sees everything she is and doesn't run away.

When Bryce opens the bakery box, she finds someone has written "Trash" in chocolate on the top croissant. She's devastated and asks Hunt to throw it out. Hunt, realizing Amelie Ravenscroft is responsible—having called Bryce "trash" before—flies to a Moonwood bar. He pins Amelie against the wall by the throat and sends lightning through her, warning her to never go near or speak to Bryce again. Ithan Holstrom sees the croissants and realizes the significance, visibly grieving as he pieces together that it's Danika's birthday. Hunt tells the pack they're pathetic and leaves.

Bryce waits for Hunt on the roof, terrified he'll face severe consequences for assaulting an Alpha. Hunt takes her hands and repeats her words—that they are mirrors of each other. The next morning, Bryce contacts Ruhn's medwitch and schedules an immediate appointment. She then tells Hunt she knows where they can get kristallos venom for the antidote tests.