Bryce is dragged underwater by the kristallos demon at the Black Dock, its claws tearing into her. Just as she begins to drown, Declan Emmet pulls her to the surface, and Ruhn confirms the demon has been subdued. Tristan Flynn stands guard with a rifle as Declan hauls Bryce out of the river. She is bleeding from claw wounds but has avoided the demon's venomous bite.

Declan uses a rare Fae healing gift to close the gash on Bryce's arm and her other wounds. Ruhn demands to know why she was at the Black Dock after sundown, and she deflects. Flynn suggests the kristallos attack may be targeted rather than accidental, and Ruhn insists Bryce stay with him for safety. Bryce refuses, furious at Ruhn for blocking her attempt to trade herself for Hunt at the Summit. She deletes Ruhn's contact from her phone in front of him and declares him dead to her, visibly stinging him.

Bryce rides her scooter home, shaking and alone. The apartment is painfully quiet without Hunt. She notes that his belongings remain, including the sunball hat she has hidden in a box alongside Jelly Jubilee. In the bathroom, she examines her injuries and checks the tattoo on her back—the one Danika chose for her in an ancient, unreadable alphabet that supposedly reads "Through love, all is possible." She reflects that those same words appear on her jacket and served as a clue to her Redner account and the flash drive. Overwhelmed by cumulative losses—Danika, Connor, the Pack of Devils, Hunt, and the Archesian amulet—Bryce spirals into grief.