After making a brief appearance at Charlotte’s luncheon, Rune Winters hurries back to Wintersea House in high spirits, thrilled by how easily Gideon Sharpe gave up Seraphine’s whereabouts. Rune thinks the trade was worth the embarrassment of having to nearly undress to get the information, and she privately decides Gideon is the kind of suitor she could accept.

While changing clothes, Rune remembers Gideon’s earlier remark about the youngest witch queen: that Cressida would never have let him work for Rune, and that he was being punished the night of a past party. Rune debates whether Gideon was punished for something awful or whether he lied, but the fear she saw in Gideon’s eyes makes her uneasy, especially because it reminded her of Cressida’s predatory cruelty.

Rune forces the thoughts away, pulls on a hooded sweater, and considers warning Verity about her plan. With one of Verity’s ships leaving at dawn, Rune intends to put Seraphine aboard if tonight goes well, even though it would mean missing the Creeds’ party and needing an alibi from Verity and Alex. Fearing a message could be intercepted, Rune chooses silence and rides straight to Seldom Harbor.