Chaos explodes in the execution square as witches descend in coordinated ranks, trading fire while the panicked crowd scatters. Gideon Sharpe realizes the Blood Guard are badly outnumbered and that the witches are armed, not just using spellfire. He orders a retreat toward the purging platform for cover, while Laila stays at his side, recognizing some attackers as the very witches Rune Winters helped free.

The gunfire abruptly stops when Cressida Roseblood calls Gideon out by name and demands the Blood Guard stand down. Cressida steps forward with another witch dragging a bloodied captive—Nicolas Creed, the Good Commander and Laila’s father. Gideon understands how Cressida could have taken him: if she could pose as Verity, she could have infiltrated anywhere in disguise.

Cressida holds a pistol to Nicolas’s head and orders Gideon to have his soldiers disarm and then bring her Rune Winters and Seraphine Oakes. Nicolas refuses, warning them not to submit, but Cressida shoots him mid-sentence, killing him in front of Gideon and Laila. Laila breaks down and tries to surge forward, and Gideon physically restrains her to keep her from being killed.

Alex Sharpe appears with his wrists free and collects the Blood Guard’s guns in a coat, confirming to Gideon that Alex is working with Rune and the witches. Gideon, furious and grieving, adds his own pistol to the pile, watching Alex deliver the weapons and seeing Cressida’s satisfaction at their helplessness.

Cressida then demands Gideon come with them; Gideon refuses even if it means death. When Cressida threatens Laila instead, Gideon shields her and accepts the shot meant for him—until the gun fires and Alex steps in front of the bullet.