Jude drifts in and out of consciousness in Cardan’s bed, injured and bleeding while Cardan washes blood from her hands. When Jude wakes later, Jude is alone, painfully thirsty, and disoriented, but still in Cardan’s chambers.

Jude drinks water, bathes, and cleans away the blood and grime from the past several days. With no suitable clothing of her own nearby, Jude borrows one of Cardan’s shirts and a black cloak, then walks past the guards to her old rooms, forcing herself to behave like the Queen of Elfhame despite the awkwardness.

In Jude’s old rooms, Jude finds Oak with Tatterfell. Oak explains that Vivi, Taryn, and Heather are also in Elfhame and are dining with Cardan. Jude eats from Oak’s tray, realizes her hunger is extreme, and learns from Oak that Jude was drugged while recovering and had briefly woken before.

Jude dresses in one of her old seneschal gowns, and Tatterfell braids Jude’s hair to suggest a crown. The gesture makes Jude think uneasily about her uncertain status as queen and about Cardan’s motives, since Jude still does not understand his larger plan.

Taryn, Vivi, and Heather return and react with relief and anger over Jude’s near death. Vivi scolds Jude for repeatedly throwing herself into danger and explains that Cardan had come to the mortal world looking desperate to find Jude; after Oriana contacted them, they came to Elfhame with a hired redcap for protection. Taryn describes seeing Jude revive in the snow as flowers and vines pushed through the ice, suggesting that Jude’s bond to the land may have healed her.

Heather asks whether Jude is magical, but Jude does not know. Taryn then raises the confusing truth of Jude’s marriage to Cardan, Jude’s former hatred of him, and the revelation that Cardan had once been under Jude’s control. Before Jude can answer, Oak opens the door to Cardan, who arrives with his guard.