Back in a cramped cabin aboard the Depth Charger, the group’s composure collapses into overlapping shock and relief. Tharion reels at the plan to go to the Fae home world and at his confinement to the ship, while Baxian is grimly impressed by Bryce’s confrontation with the Ocean Queen. Bryce immediately asks after Ruhn and learns he has been with Lidia, who is badly hurt after freeing them.

Ruhn bursts in and Bryce embraces him, but her joy falters when she sees his shredded tattoos and the damage done to his arms. Ruhn says he cannot stay because Lidia briefly woke and revealed “surprises.” In the stunned explanation that follows, Ruhn confirms that Lidia has children—news that blindsides Bryce and Hunt; Baxian raises the fear that Pollux might be the father, though Ruhn notes the children have no wings and Lidia has collapsed back into sleep.

To keep moving, Hunt presses Bryce to explain how she found them, and Bryce confirms she teleported from the Autumn King’s house. She then reiterates the parasites in Midgard’s water and expands into a full account of her time in the other world: imprisonment, escape through tunnels with Azriel and Nesta, revelations about the Fae’s origins and the Daglan, Theia and the ancient bloodlines, Hel’s involvement, Bryce claiming Silene’s power, and stealing Truth-Teller from Azriel. Bryce deliberately withholds details about the Mask and the Trove, while Ruhn keeps receiving updates about Lidia’s condition.

When Bryce asks what happened while she was gone, the details devastate her; she steps into the hallway, overwhelmed by guilt and grief. Hunt follows, pulls her back, and holds her as she cries. He admits he “barely” survived the dungeons and that thinking of Bryce kept him going.

The comfort cracks into conflict when Hunt apologizes for “getting us into this mess” and Bryce refuses to let him take blame meant for the Asteri. Hunt’s trauma spills out in a bitter line about watching friends being carved apart, and Bryce counters with the terror of being trapped away from him, unsure he was alive. The argument ends unresolved but set aside as they refocus on the next move: traveling to Avallen to consult its archives about the “portal to nowhere” and the blades’ connection to killing the Asteri.

Hunt doubts King Morven will cooperate, but Bryce insists Morven will welcome them. As proof, Bryce produces the Autumn King’s notebook, declaring she now has “dirty little secrets” that can force Avallen’s hand.