On the quay, a scaled demon tears out Ithan Holstrom’s throat before Bryce can react, and a second matching creature traps Bryce and Hypaxia between them. Shock gives way to action when Bryce realizes Ithan’s gun is within reach and asks Hypaxia what kind of magic she has. Learning that Hypaxia can channel healing power, Bryce gambles that a charge to the star-scar on her chest will let her use the strange stepping ability Hunt once triggered in her.

Hypaxia slams her healing magic into Bryce’s chest, and Bryce successfully teleports beside Ithan’s body, grabs his gun, and shoots the first demon through the head. The second deathstalker proves fast enough to dodge bullets, so Bryce keeps teleporting in short bursts while Hypaxia takes to the air on her broom. Working together, they lure the creature into a final leap, and Hypaxia drops from above and drives her dagger into its skull, killing it.

With the immediate danger over, Bryce rushes to Ithan, whose throat is already healing but who remains unconscious. Hypaxia takes over his treatment just as Hunt, Isaiah, and more forces arrive. Hunt identifies the creatures as deathstalkers, rare assassins bred by Apollion, and tells Isaiah that Hel likely sent them after Bryce because of her role in the spring’s events, concealing Bryce’s new teleportation ability from the authorities.

At the witches’ embassy, Hunt presses Bryce for the truth, and Bryce excitedly confirms that Hypaxia’s magic let her teleport on command for the first time. Flynn reports that Ariadne fled instead of helping, deepening distrust around the group. Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn then debate who sent the deathstalkers: Apollion testing Bryce remains the likeliest answer, though Ruhn suggests Hypaxia herself may have been the real target, with Bryce serving as convenient cover and Ithan as collateral damage.

Because the attack shows how vulnerable Bryce is, Hunt insists that Bryce stay armed and that trusted guards protect both the apartment and the embassy. The tense discussion ends with a more personal shock when Ruhn reveals that the Autumn King has formally recognized Bryce as Princess Bryce Danaan because she invoked his royal name. Hunt is blindsided to learn that becoming Bryce’s mate has effectively made him the Autumn King’s son-in-law.