In an alley, the Viper Queen refuses to take orders from Hypaxia, sneering at her as a “former witch-queen,” until Hypaxia asserts her authority as Head of the House of Flame and Shadow. Ithan Holstrom backs Hypaxia, claiming the wrath of all Valbaran Wolves; his Alpha command shakes Colin McCarthy, whose gun hand trembles as if compelled.

The Viper Queen studies the pair, notes the “power shift,” and refuses to drop Tharion’s bounty, though she agrees to let Ketos walk away alive. Hypaxia and Ithan trade threats and insults with her, and the Viper Queen whistles her assassins off, retreating with Colin and the others without further violence.

Tharion demands answers, stunned by Hypaxia’s new position and Ithan’s status as Prime, and asks where Bryce Quinlan is. Tharion reveals Bryce is in Nena; Hypaxia and Ithan insist they must reach Bryce immediately. The group heads to the House of Flame and Shadow, which opens at Hypaxia’s silent command, and Tharion guides a shaken Sathia inside.

Outside the immediate crisis, Sathia admits her Ordeal was realizing too late what Colin meant to her: losing him. Tharion can offer only sympathy as he leads her into the House, emphasizing Hypaxia is a friend and the House is the safest place in the city.

In Jesiba Roga’s office, Tharion reports communications to Nena are badly disrupted and he only caught that Bryce and Hunt Athalar are heading for the Eternal City. Hypaxia theorizes the interference may be caused by magic pouring in from Hel if the Rift has opened. Ithan insists they must reach Bryce and Hunt before any confrontation with the Asteri, revealing Hypaxia’s parasite cure to distribute—and producing a black bullet, “a gift from the dead,” that must get to Bryce.