Xaden confronts the narrator about a dagger incident involving Rhiannon and the potential consequences of certain individuals becoming aware of their secrets.
He expresses frustration that additional people, including Quinn, are now privy to parts of their secret. The narrator assures Xaden that they don't know the full extent of the critical issues.
The narrator is planning a risky mission to break into the Archives to retrieve journals that could provide valuable information for their cause.
Xaden becomes involved in refining the plan, raising concerns about the potential for their group to get caught, and emphasizes the importance of stealth and speed.
There is a poignant moment where the narrator and Xaden share a kiss, demonstrating the deep emotions between them, despite Xaden's reluctance to fully express himself.
The scene shifts to preparing for the Archive heist, with the group reviewing their roles. Tensions rise between Aaric and Xaden due to a hostile history.
Xaden and the narrator temporarily diffuse a potentially violent confrontation between Aaric and Xaden and convince Aaric to join their mission by appealing to his resentment towards his father.
The group discusses the gravity of their plan, which involves a high risk of death should they get trapped in the Archives once the door closes.
As they proceed to the Archives disguised as scribes, an unexpected encounter with a first-year scribe nearly compromises their operation, but Xaden's shadow manipulation averts suspicion.
Jesinia, aware of the risks, leads them through the Archives to a hidden entrance to where the classified journals are likely held. Tensions persist, keeping the group on edge.
The chapter culminates in a gamble where the main characters descend a staircase to the secretive part of the Archives, with only 45 minutes remaining before potential capture or death.