Gabriel and Dior turn toward a scream on the shattered ice, seeing Liathe fighting ten highbloods and, improbably, gaining the upper hand. Several highbloods are grievously wounded: Maarten the Butcher is reduced to ash within his armor, Roisin the Red is disemboweled and one-armed, and Liviana’s hand is ruined. Liathe seizes the boy Fetch and employs sanguimancy, boiling his blood, before an elderly highblood forces her to release him.

As the highbloods waver, the distant battle cry of silversaints rings out. Four silversaints charge from the north, their holy light flaring. With Gabriel and Liathe flanking and the saints approaching, the Ironheart vampires choose to flee into the darkness rather than die, leaving their slain leader Danton and their mission failed.

Liathe then implores Dior to come with her, claiming there is only one safe place for Dior and that it is not with the Order. Gabriel refuses her demand, and Dior rejects Liathe outright, citing the murders of Rafa, Saoirse, Bellamy, and Sister Chloe as unforgivable. When the saints arrive, Liathe, wounded and outnumbered, dissolves into a storm of blood-red moths and escapes.

The four silversaints reveal themselves: a Sūdhaemi youngblood, Big de Séverin, Fincher, and Gabriel’s former mentor Greyhand, who now serves as abbot. Greyhand’s hawk, Winter, had been tracking Gabriel and Dior. Moments later, a squad of Silver Sisters appears with rifles, and Sister Chloe—thought dead—runs to Dior; the two reunite joyfully on the ice.

Greyhand explains that a river runner rescued Chloe weeks earlier and brought her to San Michon; upon waking, she revealed Gabriel and Dior’s likely survival, prompting the Order to search. Fincher and de Séverin ask if Dior is the Grail; Gabriel confirms her blood burned a Prince of Forever and healed the near-dead. The reunion is tense for Gabriel due to past grievances, and Greyhand reports Khalid took the Red Rite and died a silversaint’s death years before.

Despite Chloe’s suggestion that Dior is safe with the Sisters, Gabriel declares he will accompany Dior to San Michon. Greyhand agrees to host Gabriel despite their past. The Sisters provide mounts; as Chloe tends Dior’s wounds, Gabriel gifts Dior Danton’s sabre and promises to begin her lessons. Dior apologizes for lying about her flight; Gabriel accepts on condition she not repeat it.

Riding together, Gabriel and Dior exchange wry banter about his pursuit and their friendship. Gabriel affirms he will not leave her, calling friends the hill he would die on. Dior confirms they are still friends and spontaneously kisses his cheek as they depart across the frozen river toward safety and San Michon.