Two years earlier, on the night Rune Winters hosts Alexander Sharpe’s sixteenth birthday party at Thornwood Hall, Rune begins suffering severe abdominal cramps while trying to keep up her duties as hostess.

In the bathroom, Rune discovers she is bleeding, but the blood is unnaturally black. Panicking, Rune tries to wash the stain out of her underwear and then her yellow silk dress, but the black spreads rapidly instead of lifting. Rune realizes her first bleeding is magically turning her clothes black, confirming what Rune fears most: Rune is a witch.

When Lola Parsons nearly enters, Rune blocks the door and locks herself in, trapped because she cannot leave with her clothing transforming. Alexander notices Rune has been gone too long and demands to come in. Terrified he will report her because of his reputation for killing a witch queen, Rune finally opens the door while wrapped only in a towel.

Alexander sees the black-stained garments and understands immediately. Rune expects him to summon the Blood Guard, and when Alexander leaves and locks Rune in, Rune lies on the tiles waiting to be arrested and killed.

Instead, Alexander returns with a bundle of clothes from Emily, his cook, and a mug of tea meant to ease the pain. Alexander prepares Rune a hot bath and promises to keep her secret safe, even if it endangers him. Overwhelmed, Rune embraces Alexander and realizes she can trust him with her life.