In Alex’s carriage after the masked ball, Rune feels more exhausted than triumphant despite having stalled Gideon’s arrest. With a tense silence between them, Rune unrolls her tracings of the prison map for Alex and Verity: seven concentric sections separated by gates named for the seven Ancients.

Studying the map, Rune admits she does not know which section holds Seraphine, how the locked gates are operated, how many guards patrol the interior, how an infiltrator could escape afterward, or when Seraphine is scheduled to be purged. Verity methodically lists what they must learn, emphasizing their dwindling time and limited blood for any forceful magic.

Alex suggests using Laila’s access as the warden’s daughter, but Rune and Verity reject Laila as too risky; Verity floats Noah as a safer source. When Verity references Noah as an “eligible suitor,” Alex reacts sharply, insisting he will speak to Noah himself, but Rune argues Noah likely cannot provide the critical details without arousing suspicion.

Rune proposes a bolder plan: target Gideon directly. Because Gideon has escorted witches through the prison many times, Rune believes he knows Seraphine’s location and purging date; Rune intends to fuse a truth-telling spell to an object Gideon will carry and hide the spellmark so he cannot identify it. Despite Alex and Verity’s alarm that Gideon already suspects Rune, Rune insists this is their best option and commits to asking Gideon to accompany her to the Luminaries Dinner in four days.

After Alex drops Rune at Wintersea House in cold anger, Rune sends Gideon a telegram inviting him to the Luminaries Dinner. Rune tries to rationalize Alex’s protectiveness and the growing strain between them, then forces herself to focus on the rescue and falls asleep.