Trystan finishes telling Evie the story of his imprisonment. He describes how the guards would beat him in the darkness of the cellar, invisible to him but able to see through the dark. Evie, rather than recoiling in horror, responds with fierce approval when he explains what happened next: his dormant magic awakened, healing him and illuminating the room, and he slaughtered every guard before escaping through a tunnel at sunrise. He vowed then to become the villain the king believed him to be.

Evie asks why King Benedict waited so long to try to kill Trystan, and Trystan reveals that the dozens of men in his dungeon were all sent by the king to capture or kill him. He inadvertently mentions Evie's father, and the reminder of Griffin's betrayal sends Evie spiraling. She hyperventilates, overwhelmed by too many revelations in one night. When Trystan asks what he can do, Evie quietly asks for a hug.

Despite his protestations that he is not good at hugging, Trystan relents. Evie wraps her arms around his neck, and he folds his arms around her waist. The embrace profoundly affects him—his magic settles in her presence, and he realizes he feels whole for the first time, understanding now how the bonded guvres feel. Evie cries softly against his neck while they banter lightly about Scatter Day and intern hugs.

When they slowly pull apart, their faces are inches away. Drawn together, they nearly kiss, but Kingsley the frog crashes into the kitchen table and breaks a plate, interrupting them. Trystan is simultaneously furious and grateful, knowing a kiss would cross a line he couldn't return from. He reflects that Kingsley was once a human prince, and feels relieved Kingsley remains a frog, fearing how inadequate he'd feel beside a noble prince competing for Evie's affection.

As Evie goes upstairs to gather belongings for herself and Lyssa, Trystan savors the memory of holding her, believing it is all he is allowed to have—that women like Evie don't end up with The Villain. When she returns with bags packed, they leave the cottage together, Trystan following her out and leaving the tender moment behind.