At Ruhn’s safehouse, Ithan overhears Ruhn and Hypaxia discussing the witch-queen’s need for an escort in the city. Ithan asks Hypaxia, a necromancer, whether she can contact his dead brother Connor. After Ruhn explains that Ithan now knows about secondlight and fears what may happen to Connor and the Pack of Devils, Hypaxia says she can attempt a ritual on the Autumnal Equinox, when the veil is thinnest. In return, Ithan agrees to guard her, and Ruhn begins planning to add a dragon escort through an official royal pretext.

Later, Bryce leaves the archives after avoiding Hunt all day, only to find him waiting outside. Hunt says he needs access to the archives to research newly translated Fae texts about ancient demons, and once inside he explains that Celestina’s reports describe unusually dangerous demons near Nena. Because the same kind of rare, lethal demons appeared during the spring attack, Hunt fears Hel may be testing defenses or preparing a larger move, but he cannot fully explain his suspicions to Celestina without revealing Hel’s interest in Bryce and the Horn on her back.

As tension between Bryce and Hunt turns flirtatious, they also address the real reason they fought. Hunt confirms that Fury safely delivered the “package,” and that Tharion has backed off the search. Bryce admits she kept Emile’s location secret because she was unsure Hunt would support risking so much for an ordinary human boy, while Hunt admits he was hurt because he thought they were supposed to act as a team. They apologize to each other, and Bryce explains how she manipulated the Viper Queen into finding Emile by counting on her reptile spies in the marshes.

Bryce then reveals the full plan: Emile is hidden in Nidaros with Bryce’s parents under a forged identity, Cooper Silago, presented as Bryce’s half brother. Randall used an emergency postcard code to coordinate the move safely, and Bryce decides that only Hunt, Fury, Juniper, and her parents will know the truth. Hunt accepts Bryce’s decision, praises her for protecting Emile, and the two fully reconcile, reaffirming their love before having sex in the darkened archive stacks.

That night, Ruhn wakes on the bridge to find Daybright waiting for him. Daybright warns that Pippa Spetsos, backed by Ophion, is planning major retaliation after losing ammunition and the imperial mech-suit prototype; although the target is unclear, her last known position was Ydra, so Ruhn should warn his allies in Crescent City. When Ruhn tries to return to their personal connection, Daybright shuts him down and reminds him that war demands sacrifice and can hollow a person out. Her words strike a nerve, and after she vanishes, Ruhn is left questioning his own worth, thinking of himself as a “Prince of Nothing.”