Bryce and Hunt encounter the Viper Queen outside the salt dealer's stall in the Meat Market. The serpentine shifter, flanked by four Fae defector-assassins from the Autumn King's court, notices the salt purchase and invites them to her office. Hunt objects, but Bryce accepts, revealing to Hunt that she bought the obsidian salt precisely to attract the Viper Queen's attention and bypass weeks of waiting for a meeting.

The Viper Queen leads them through the Meat Market to a surprisingly shabby office near the fighting pits. She immediately addresses why they've come: Danika Fendyr. The queen explains that Danika was a threat to her in multiple ways, but their relationship was a working one—the Aux and 33rd sometimes cooperate with underworld figures to get things done. When Hunt asks about Maximus Tertian's murder on the edge of her territory, the Viper Queen dismisses involvement, saying she would never provoke Tertian's father. She claims she pulled in her people as a precaution because serpentine shifters can "taste" when trouble is coming, and she senses it now across the city.

The Viper Queen provides a flash drive containing alibis for both murder timelines: she was at a spa the night Tertian died, and at a three-day party (effectively an orgy) during Danika and the Pack of Devils' murders. She flirts aggressively with Hunt and offers Bryce work, but both deflect. Before dismissing them, the Viper Queen offers a cryptic piece of advice: "Look toward where it hurts the most. That's always where the answers are." She also warns Bryce not to underestimate the obsidian salt's power to summon the worst of Hel.

Outside, Hunt and Bryce agree the Viper Queen likely isn't involved in the murders, which seemingly returns them to square one. However, Bryce says the queen's advice may have unintentionally pointed her in a useful direction. She tells Hunt she needs time to think the next day at the gallery. When Hunt presses about the obsidian salt's true purpose, Bryce deflects with sarcasm. She also reveals she charged the ten-thousand-mark salt to Jesiba's account, confident her boss won't notice. Hunt warns Bryce about riding her scooter before making the Drop, but she laughs him off and speeds away.