Hunt remains imprisoned beneath the Comitium, tracking six days since Isaiah's visit. He endures the torment of his wings slowly regrowing—an agonizing process he considers pointless given his likely execution. He reflects on the fates of his co-conspirators: Justinian's body still hangs on the crucifix and will be dumped into the Istros after seven days with no Sailing rites, while Viktoria's box has already been dropped into the Melinoë Trench, the deepest point in Midgard. The thought of Viktoria trapped in darkness drives Hunt to vomit.

The Archangel Sandriel—twin sister of the long-dead Shahar—arrives at Hunt's cell. She taunts him by pulling up his confiscated phone on the hall's TV screen. Bryce has changed her contact name to "Bryce Thinks Hunt Is the Best" and sent a few unanswered messages saying she doesn't know why she's writing. Sandriel then plays a slideshow of all the photos Hunt and Bryce took over their weeks together: casual moments on the couch, silly snapshots, a series by the river where the progression of images reveals Hunt looking at Bryce with unmistakable love and Bryce eventually leaning into him, both radiantly happy. Hunt realizes these photos document the home and life he'd built with Bryce—and how light and joy gradually returned to both their eyes.

Sandriel mocks Hunt for wanting an ordinary life rather than rebellion, suggesting Shahar would be disappointed. Hunt finds that Shahar's name no longer triggers guilt. Sandriel tells him that Micah would have eventually petitioned for his freedom had he been patient, but Hunt chose revenge instead. She dismisses Bryce as someone who will forget him and move on. Then Sandriel reveals the true horror: Hunt has not been sentenced to death. His belongings—including his phone—are now hers. Hunt realizes he has been transferred to Sandriel's ownership, a fate arguably worse than execution.

Meanwhile, Bryce visits Ruhn at a bar to thank him for looking out for her. She admits she feels like a fool for ignoring everyone's warnings about Hunt, though Ruhn concedes he too believed Hunt's priorities had genuinely shifted. Bryce mentions the Autumn King's visit and his claim that she is like him, which Ruhn disputes. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Bryce tells Ruhn he was her best friend before Danika and suggests they could start over on a trial basis. Ruhn invites her to watch a sunball game at his place in a couple of weeks, and Bryce tentatively agrees, saying she might bring Juniper.