Rune sits shackled in witch manacles as thunder and rain roll over the execution square. The crowd that once attended her parties now spits and demands her death, confirming to Rune they were never truly her friends. Across a line of Blood Guard soldiers, Rune meets Alex Sharpe’s gaze and worries most about him being condemned alongside her by his own brother.

As Laila yanks Rune down from the horse, Rune tells Alex he should have renounced her to save himself. Alex refuses, saying he cannot renounce his heart, and tries to comfort Rune before Gideon Sharpe intervenes and forces them apart.

Gideon, drenched and rigid, leads Rune toward the purging platform. Rune sees Seraphine being marched up the opposite stairs in iron restraints, and she accepts that escape and “happy endings” were always impossible. She recognizes the grim symmetry of Gideon being the one to deliver her to death after two years of mutual hostility and betrayal.

Yet Rune’s hatred collapses as she acknowledges Gideon’s past suffering and senses his reluctance in the gentle pressure of his hand at her back. Remembering Nan’s last words, Rune chooses forgiveness for Gideon and, through it, finds forgiveness for herself.

When Gideon hands Rune over to soldiers who chain her ankles for the slaughter to come, Rune stops him and apologizes for everything. Gideon finally looks back, wounded, and answers that he is sorry too before walking away as the locks click shut around Rune’s ankles.