Ruhn Danaan lies in bed at the house he shares with his friends Flynn and Declan, high on mirthroot, when his half-sister Bryce arrives unexpectedly. She finds him nearly incapacitated and goes to get him water, passing through the rowdy house full of Fae Aux warriors. Flynn warns the other males that Bryce is off-limits. After she returns with water, Bryce insists on speaking to Ruhn privately, and he leads her back to his room.

In his bedroom, Bryce reveals she needs information about the Viper Queen's movements on the night of Maximus Tertian's murder, as Tertian was killed on the Viper Queen's turf. Ruhn confirms that Tertian's murder matched the manner of Danika's pack's killing. He tells Bryce that the Viper Queen pulled her people off the streets because something spooked her, but he has no further information. He urges Bryce to stay out of the investigation, warning her about the lethal demon involved. Bryce counters that the Governor himself commandeered her to investigate, and Jesiba approved.

Ruhn shifts the subject to ask about Luna's Horn, and Bryce reveals Jesiba had her search for it two years ago but it was a dead end. He notices her Archesian amulet and insists she keep it on for protection. Despite his warnings and offer to accompany her, Bryce leaves, dismissing his concerns.

Outside, Ruhn sees Bryce walk straight past Hunt Athalar, who is stationed across the street as her protective escort. Ruhn confronts Hunt, furious about the arrangement, and the two nearly come to blows again—their mutual animosity rooted in a prior physical altercation at a Spring Equinox party. Declan intervenes before it escalates, and Hunt follows Bryce down the street, their walk becoming a comical battle of wills as Bryce tries to edge him into traffic.

Left alone, Ruhn reflects on a possible connection: the murders are resuming at the same time his father ordered him to find Luna's Horn, which went missing a week before Danika's death. Sensing that the goddess Urd may be nudging events together, Ruhn resolves to find the Horn.