Nesta keeps fighting Bellius after claiming Cassian as her mate, and the word seems to give her a final burst of strength. Even so, Bellius is stronger and fresher, and he steadily drives Nesta backward toward the archway and the line she drew. When Bellius lands another brutal hit, Nesta falls across the line, destroying it and losing the ground she had held for Gwyn and Emerie.

On the far side of the line, Nesta is exhausted, injured, and nearly helpless. Bellius advances, gloating and drawing a knife because he wants to enjoy killing her. As Nesta faces the possibility of dying alone at the hands of an enemy she despises, thunder cracks across the mountain.

Cassian appears in that instant and kills Bellius by slashing open his throat. He steps over Bellius's dying body, offers Nesta his hand, and helps her stand rather than carrying her. When he pulls Nesta against him, the reunion briefly feels tender and safe.

That safety vanishes when Cassian whispers that he is going to slit Nesta's throat. The narration shifts to Cassian's perspective, revealing that he is trapped inside his own body and silently begging Nesta to fight or kill him because he cannot stop himself. Briallyn then speaks from behind Nesta, wearing the Crown, and explains that Cassian cannot obey Nesta because he belongs to Briallyn now; on her command, Cassian loosens his hold and presents Nesta to the queen.