Gideon wakes in the night as Rune quietly gathers her clothes to leave. Still charged from the evening, he reflects that his “proof” is complete: Rune has no casting scars anywhere on her body. When Gideon presses her about what is wrong, Rune admits she is afraid of him—not because he hurt her, but because the feelings he stirs in her are becoming something she could need, and she fears he will be “the end” of her.

Gideon recognizes the crossroads he is at: end the courtship scheme meant to catch the Crimson Moth, or choose Rune despite the danger and his own past betrayal with Cressida. He admits he is scared too, then asks Rune to trust him and paints a picture of a shared life—walks, parties, dancing, even daily fights followed by reconciliation. Rune yields, asks for fewer words, and Gideon carries her back to bed.

In the morning, Gideon wakes with Rune still tucked against him and feels a deep sense of rightness. After gently leaving her asleep, he makes coffee and goes to his parents’ old studio, opening a long-neglected closet. He pulls down his mother’s encyclopedia of wildflowers and studies an entry, thinking there may be a way to prove his intentions to Rune are genuine.

Harrow arrives at Gideon’s shop with Laila, both battered from the recent violence, and reports that the print shop owner has been arrested and “talked.” The owner claims a university student paid to use his storeroom for a project, and a sketch artist has produced a likeness based on his description. Harrow points out the sketch resembles Rune’s friend Verity de Wilde, while Laila argues that if Verity is involved, Rune likely is too and questioning Rune would warn the suspect.

Gideon insists Rune was not involved and states flatly that she is not a witch, claiming his proof is that she is “currently sleeping” in his bed. When challenged, Gideon protects Rune by pretending it was only an investigative search for scars and, to avoid looking compromised, lies that Rune meant nothing to him and that he will not repeat it. A creak outside reveals Rune has overheard; devastated, she flees into the street before Gideon can stop her.