Ithan is finally brought to the Viper Queen after waiting hours and threatening her guards. With Flynn, Declan, Marc, and Tharion still trapped in the Meat Market and the sprites shaken by talk of their lost queen, Ithan focuses on one priority: keeping himself and Sigrid out of Sabine’s hands and getting everyone safely out.

The Viper Queen reveals that Sabine survived and recovered quickly because Amelie Ravenscroft found her and has been feeding her firstlight to heal. When Ithan demands safe passage and freedom for Ketos, the Viper Queen needles him about his history of defying Sabine and saving humans, then suggests she finds Sabine’s death useful but refuses to openly involve herself in wolf politics.

Instead, the Viper Queen offers a bargain: one private fight for her amusement. If Ithan wins, she promises immediate safe passage for the group, a car to take them where they want, and Ketos’s freedom; Ithan also presses her to end her enthralling control over Tharion. With time running out and no better option, Ithan agrees, and the Viper Queen schedules the fight for ten the next night, hinting she will choose a “worthy” opponent.

In the Asteri palace, Lidia plays the obedient pet while maneuvering around Pollux. She induces her cycle early using an emergency contraceptive, claiming illness so Pollux will leave without her for an event Rigelus expects them to attend. Once alone, Lidia retrieves a burner phone hidden in a tampon bag and makes a coded call, identifying herself as Agent Daybright.

Lidia learns their network has been devastated and most remaining agents have gone into hiding after heavy losses, including Agent Silverbow’s death. Lidia insists on speaking to Command and persuades them with the promise of long-desired information, then gives a plan and orders Ophion to be ready to move in two days at a specified location. She destroys the phone and disposes of it out the window to avoid detection.

Underground, Bryce follows her guiding star with Nesta and Azriel through a frigid, waist-deep river. Nesta admits she recently bore a magical eight-pointed star tattoo—identical to Bryce’s Starborn symbol—suggesting unseen forces at work. They discover the skeleton of a massive unknown creature and then reach a starkly important carving of a star-filled archway and a male figure within it, only for the Middengard Wyrm to erupt from the river behind them.