Roman walks Iris home through an unnaturally quiet Oath, both of them feeling that a decisive day is coming. They make plans for the next morning: Iris and Attie will use Dacre’s invitation as cover, while Roman will try to steal the key they need and meet Iris in the north side of town. Their goodbye is intense and reluctant, and Roman stays in the street until Iris is safely inside before returning to Dacre’s estate.

Inside the flat, Iris finds Forest waiting and learns why he has been getting sicker. A doctor has discovered bullet fragments still inside him, and Forest realizes Dacre must have left them there on purpose as punishment and leverage. Although surgery could remove them and improve his condition, Iris tells Forest about Dacre’s bombing ultimatum, which means their home may not be safe and the hospital may be at risk. Wanting to comfort each other without speaking all their fears aloud, they drink tea, and Forest reads to Iris until she falls asleep against his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Roman returns to the mansion already under suspicion. Dacre has him searched over the disappearance of the key and burns Iris’s bird book when no hidden messages are found inside it. Roman tries to deflect blame, but Dacre has already arranged for Val to follow him, and Val reports that Roman spent the evening escorting Iris and sharing an obviously romantic farewell with her. Dacre also has Roman’s old writings identifying Iris Elizabeth Winnow, making it clear that Roman’s deception has been uncovered.

Forced to answer, Roman refuses to continue lying. In front of Dacre, Val, Shane, and his father, Roman admits that he betrayed Dacre because he loves Iris and because Dacre’s cruelty, false healing, and war are unforgivable. Roman openly condemns Dacre, declaring that he would betray him a hundredfold, a thousandfold for Iris. Dacre responds by ordering Val to chain Roman below on traitor’s row, then commands that Iris be brought to him as well, turning Roman’s exposure into a direct threat against her.