Hunt has recovered enough to move around, though still in significant pain from having his wings severed. Bryce arrives home ashen-faced and shows him the video from Danika's hidden flash drive. The footage depicts a synth research trial labeled "Artificial Amplification for Power Dysfunction, Test Subject 7," in which a thin human female is injected with synth in a padded cell. Two large Vanir prisoner-shifters are sent in to attack her, but the synth-enhanced woman tears them apart. More Vanir are sent in progressively, and she destroys them all before eventually turning on herself in a frenzy. Bryce explains her theory: someone involved in the synth trials sold the formula, and whoever killed Danika and the Pack of Devils was high on synth, using its power to break through apartment enchantments and slaughter the pack. She believes the kristallos was summoned only for the antidote in its venom, not connected to the Horn.

Hunt urges caution, reminding Bryce that Micah's punishment for another mistake could be fatal for him. He asks her to forward the footage to Viktoria on their encrypted server for analysis, and Bryce reluctantly agrees. The conversation shifts to something personal: Bryce brings up the kiss Hunt gave her at the medwitch's office. Hunt confirms he meant it, and Bryce says she wants to kiss him. They share an intense, passionate encounter on the couch—kissing, undressing, and Hunt bringing Bryce to orgasm with his hands—but Bryce realizes she has pushed Hunt's wounded back against the cushions, reopening his injuries. She calls a medwitch, who declares Hunt won't be cleared for full sexual activity until his wings heal. Hunt falls asleep shortly after.

Bryce wakes at three in the morning and emails her old apartment's landlord, wanting to search for more clues Danika may have left there. She sneaks out without waking Hunt, but when she arrives at the block, she finds the building ablaze. She realizes someone must have been monitoring Danika's Redner account or her own email, and set the fire to destroy any remaining evidence. Though devastated that her actions endangered her old neighbors, she's relieved to learn all residents are accounted for. She takes the fire as confirmation she's getting close to the truth, recalling the Viper Queen's advice to look where it hurts the most.

On her way home, Bryce receives a text from Tharion alerting her to a synth deal happening on the river near the Black Dock. Despite knowing Hunt and Ruhn would tell her to wait, she runs toward the dock alone, unwilling to waste time.