In the Den, Sabine arrives with Sigrid and the Astronomer, and the crowd recoils as Sigrid’s transition has left her moving like a Reaper. Sabine publicly brands Ithan Holstrom a liar and traitor, blaming him for turning Sabine’s “dear niece” into a monster. The Astronomer supports the accusation, claiming Lars Fendyr sold Sigrid into his service and that Ithan kidnapped her and “turned her into that.”

Sabine escalates the attack by saying she has video footage from the Viper Queen showing Ithan killing Sigrid, then trying to use necromancy to raise her as a puppet to usurp Sabine. Sabine frames Sigrid’s Reaper state as a “choice” made to protect the wolves, declares Sigrid her new heir, and insists Sigrid has defected from Flame and Shadow to Earth and Blood. Perry challenges Sabine to let Sigrid speak, and points out the hypocrisy of condemning Flame and Shadow when Sabine’s own heir belongs to it.

The ancient Prime appears, undercutting Sabine’s authority by saying he never approved Sigrid’s release into the Den. Sigrid kneels and calls him “Grandfather,” revealing the hoarse voice of a Reaper. Ithan offers the Fendyr sword in humility, apologizing for how things turned out and insisting he never intended to replace the Fendyrs.

Instead of condemning Ithan, the Prime confirms that Danika had suspected the same truth Ithan has been telling the wolves: that the Asteri’s influence has corrupted and collared their people for ages. The Prime admits his own failures in allowing wolves to serve in the Aux and in clinging to stability over confronting the reality, then publicly names Ithan Holstrom his heir and strips Sabine of her title and authority.

Sabine snaps. She seizes the Fendyr sword from the Prime’s hands and drives it through the Prime’s face. As the crowd erupts, Sigrid leaps onto the dying Prime and consumes his Firstlight—his soul—making his death irrevocable, while Sabine beheads him anyway. Sabine turns the bloodied sword on Ithan, but Ithan shifts fast enough to meet her charge; he bites down on the blade and shatters the Fendyr sword between his teeth.