Ithan leaves Tharion recovering from the antidote’s effects, which were so strong they burst pipes in the House of Flame and Shadow and leave Hypaxia overwhelmed with repairs and order. Ithan goes to the Den to manage his new responsibility as Prime and finds Perry alone at the gatehouse. She reports that most wolves fled the city after recent violence, following her sister Amelie, and that Perry stayed behind to guard the Den and the former Prime’s body.

Inside, Perry reveals she disposed of Sabine’s and the Astronomer’s bodies in the sewer, refusing them a Sailing. Ithan explains he needs to head to the Eternal City, and Perry warns that if the Asteri see the Prime openly oppose them, they will retaliate against scattered wolves. To prevent more deaths, Ithan agrees to delay three hours while Perry sends encrypted warnings for the pack to seek shelter, preferably in the Blue Court or hidden wilds.

When Perry mentions the Sailing, Ithan states there will be no more: the Under-King is dead, and the Bone Quarter’s authority was a lie. He tells Perry they will talk once she finishes alerting the wolves, and Perry admits she is glad Ithan is Prime, even as the situation worsens.

Elsewhere, Tharion and Hypaxia prepare supplies: Hypaxia packs roughly two dozen antidote doses and warns they are fragile without Athalar’s stabilizing lightning. Hypaxia refuses to go to the Eternal City, choosing instead to remain in Lunathion to keep making and improving the antidote and to help the city if the confrontation fails. Tharion goes to retrieve Sathia, but finds her gone; she leaves a note explaining she cannot abandon Colin to his current handler, and Tharion departs for the coming conflict carrying the antidote.

After Declan triggers the release of Bryce and Hunt’s recorded broadcast soon after midnight, Ruhn and Lidia wait in a windowless safe-house bedroom for dawn and their move on the Asteri. Lidia blames herself for Pollux kidnapping her sons and wishes she had died earlier to spare them, but Ruhn insists it is not her fault and reminds her she must become the Hind again to get them into the palace. Seeking relief from fear and grief, Lidia and Ruhn sleep together, then lie awake with the approaching mission and her sons’ captivity hanging over them.