Bryce holds the intersection near an open shelter in Asphodel Meadows, firing Hunt's rifle at incoming demons while human families stream inside. She exhausts all six remaining rounds and is nearly killed when a demon shatters the rifle in its jaws, but one of the Viper Queen's Fae bodyguards saves her by driving a massive sword through the demon's skull. The Viper Queen's seven Fae warriors arrive alongside Ithan's canine forces—wolves, foxes, and other breeds—forming a barrier of fur and steel between the horde and the shelter.

Bryce and Ithan fight side by side, covering each other's weaknesses. Ithan, enormous in wolf form, rips out a demon's throat before shifting back to his human shape. Their eyes meet over Danika's jacket and sword, silently acknowledging shared grief, but they defer conversation and keep fighting. Meanwhile, at the Summit conference room, Sandriel returns and orders everyone to remain in place, announcing the Asteri are sending reinforcements—likely the Asterian Guard.

As the shelter countdown reaches its final seconds, Bryce and Ithan sprint for the closing door. A young female wolf braces herself against the door mechanism, trying to hold it open. With only three feet of space left—not enough for both—Bryce deliberately drops behind and uses her Fae strength to shove Ithan through the gap. The door slams shut, locking Bryce outside alone. Hunt, watching from the Summit, realizes what she's done.

Trapped outside with no shelter, Bryce takes stock. She decides to run for the Old Square, guided by memory of the city grid. She fights through demons along the way, barely surviving an attack that slams her into a car. She escapes through the vehicle and continues sprinting toward the Old Square as light fades and two more demons close in. She is completely alone in the demon-infested streets.