Wren collapses after absorbing the storm, her heart stopped. Bex performs CPR while Bogdana, drained of power, insists hag children only need magical hearts. Oak feels a deep well of magic still inside Wren but no pulse. He uses his honey-tongued charm to call her back, then speaks the truth: that loving her taught him love means truly knowing another. She draws breath and opens her eyes, but complains of cold—an alarming sign for one who never felt it.

Oak carries Wren to his rooms, where healers cannot help. Her skin grows papery as Bogdana is imprisoned in the Tower of Forgetting. Through the night, Bex grieves at her sister's side. Then Wren's husk splits open like a chrysalis, and a reborn Wren emerges—blue-skinned, green-eyed, with great feathered wings. Bex shoos a stunned Oak from the room.

Oak finds Madoc playing chess and reflecting regretfully on Eva, his mortal wife, and on the killing instinct he tried to instill in Oak. Madoc admits his mistakes while still beating Oak at chess. Oak then visits Tiernan, finding him in bed with Hyacinthe, and formally dismisses Tiernan from his service so they can both choose their own futures as friends rather than guardian and ward.

Returning to his rooms, Oak finds Wren gone and a letter explaining she's traveling with Bex to visit family before going north to learn creation rather than destruction; she releases him from the duress-bound marriage proposal. Heartbroken, Oak goes to Jude and Cardan. Jude formally permits him to abdicate as heir, acknowledging he must choose his own path. Cardan reveals he saw through Oak's conspiracy game all along and was trying to protect him, scolding him for not trusting family. Finally, Cardan asks Oak to remain heir a few more months while he and Jude travel to the Undersea to honor Nicasia's treaty and witness her suitors' contest.