Hunt spends his last night in the Comitium cell, tormented by the photo feed of Bryce that Sandriel has left running on a hallway screen — both a cruelty and a threat. By dawn he has stopped vomiting and dresses in his black armor, his wings slowly regenerating. He reflects that Sandriel will never willingly release him again, determined to punish him for the rebellion at Mount Hermon.

Near sunset, guards shackle Hunt with gorsian stones and lead him to the elevator, where he encounters Pollux Antonius — the Hammer — Sandriel's sadistic triarii commander. In the lobby, Hunt sees Justinian's rotting body still on the crucifix. The angels of the Comitium have gathered not to mock but to silently say goodbye; Isaiah and Naomi offer him grave, restrained farewells. Micah is conspicuously absent. As Hunt is marched toward the doors and an armored transport van, Bryce bursts into the lobby shouting for them to wait.

Bryce confronts Sandriel and offers to buy Hunt's freedom for ninety-seven million gold marks — twelve million above his last sale price — presenting a check from Jesiba Roga. She also offers her Archesian amulet, worth three million marks. Sandriel crushes the ancient amulet in her fist, melting it into gold on the floor. When the money and amulet fail, Bryce drops to her knees and offers herself in Hunt's place. Pollux grins and Sandriel considers the deal, revealing that she knows Bryce is the secret daughter of the Autumn King.

Ruhn arrives with Declan and Flynn and invokes ancient Fae law, claiming Bryce as his sister and kin — the property of the Fae royal household — and refuses to permit the trade. Bryce is enraged but powerless against the legal claim. Hunt, wanting to sever her hope so she won't destroy herself trying to save him, tells her coldly that they owe each other nothing and she should never come looking for him. He is loaded into the armored truck with Pollux for the five-hour drive to the Summit site in the Psamathe Desert.

Afterward, Bryce swears she will never forgive Ruhn. Ruhn privately reflects on his reasons for keeping her parentage secret: an Oracle's prophecy foretold the royal line would end with him, and he fears that officially recognizing Bryce as a princess could endanger her life. Flynn and Declan are hurt that Ruhn hid his sister's identity from them. Bryce rides to the Black Dock and kneels by the river, grieving and speaking to Danika's spirit. As she sits alone in the dark, a kristallos demon leaps from the shadows and tackles her into the water.