Paedyn dreamed of lying beside Adena in their makeshift fort, only to find Adena’s body cold and seemingly impaled by a bloody, repeatedly plunging branch. The nightmare escalated as Paedyn tried to stop the violence, reliving Adena’s death with helpless terror.

She woke in darkness with a figure looming over her and reached for a knife hidden under her pillow. Kai spoke her name, stopped her attack, and soothed her, explaining he had heard her screams and kicked down her door to reach her. As he calmed her, they traded strained jokes about her “butter knife” and his intrusion, and briefly confronted the barrier of her engagement ring from Kitt.

When Paedyn impulsively suggested removing the ring, Kai admitted he could take it off but would refuse to put it back on, underscoring the conflict between their desire and her political betrothal. He gathered her into his arms and carried her out, whispering that for one night they would pretend.

They went to the willow tree where Ava is buried. Under moonlight, they lay together in the grass, holding each other. Paedyn shared that the nightmare had been about Adena, and Kai promised not to leave her side, even as she warned against promises he might not be able to keep. They joked about their past encounters beneath the willow during the second ball and a thumb-war rematch, using playfulness to ease grief and fear.

Paedyn asked if it was acceptable to be at Ava’s resting place; Kai reassured her that Ava would welcome the company. Acknowledging their likely future of secrecy—Paedyn engaged to Kitt while bound to Kai—they resolved to make the most of stolen moments, with Kai calling himself her Enforcer, rival, and secret beneath the willow. The scene ended with them initiating a thumb-war and a kiss to her thumb, savoring an intimate, temporary escape.