Bryce boards the synth-deal barge in a state of shock after recognizing Hunt among the buyers. She confronts him, demanding an explanation. Hunt, along with Viktoria and Justinian—whose wings were painted black to hide them—had been attempting to purchase synth to amplify their power and break their slave halos, hoping to finish the rebellion Shahar started on Mount Hermon. Before Hunt can fully explain, Micah arrives with Isaiah, Naomi, and armed angels, all targeting Hunt's group rather than the Viper Queen.

The Viper Queen reveals she orchestrated the sting: she leaked word of the synth shipment to see who would come looking, and then tipped off Micah when Justinian tried to recruit one of her people. She tells Hunt she finally figured out his "asking price." Micah confirms the conspiracy and prepares to arrest Hunt, Viktoria, and Justinian with gorsian stone manacles that kill magic.

Under pressure from Micah, Hunt reveals what he has known for nearly a week: Danika Fendyr stole the synth formula from Redner Industries, sold the initial stock, and became addicted to synth herself. He explains that Danika killed the two CCU students who witnessed her stealing the Horn, and that she knew Maximus Tertian because he was a fellow addict. Most devastatingly, Hunt tells Bryce that Danika took a lethal overdose of synth on the night she died. The drug drove her insane, causing her to slaughter her own Pack of Devils and then herself. This explains why the audio recording captured only Danika's voice begging—she was begging herself to stop—and only her own snarls.

Micah adds that the obsidian salt in the synth formula, at high doses, grants users enough power to accidentally open portals and summon kristallos demons. Danika's overdose summoned one, and the recent murders of the temple acolyte and guard were caused by someone else using synth in high doses. The stolen Horn, Micah and Hunt suggest, was unrelated to the synth—Danika likely stole it to spite Sabine and sold it on the black market.

Bryce is shattered. She screams at Hunt for concealing the truth and leading her in circles for days, letting her mourn Danika while knowing the horrific reality. Hunt drops to his knees, confessing that after seeing the synth trial footage that night he wanted to pull out of the deal and that Bryce herself is the life he wants. Bryce hurls the white opal archstone at his head, drawing blood, and tells him she never wants to see him again. Fury Axtar materializes from the shadows, gun drawn, and threatens both Hunt and Micah. Fury escorts Bryce onto a wave skimmer while Tharion guards their retreat. Hunt screams Bryce's name as she rides away into the rain without looking back.