The Bomb finds Jude sitting close to the cursed serpent, who has grown calm enough around Jude to close his eyes. Jude remains trapped by Cardan's confession of love and by the apparent truth that only death can end the curse. The Bomb reports that some courtiers plotted to assassinate Jude and were killed, that the Ghost has gathered intelligence on the rulers' loyalties, and that Madoc wants permission to come to the palace with Lady Nore and Lord Jarel to negotiate.

Jude agrees to receive Madoc's party outside at dusk, under guard and surveillance. Grima Mog stations knights and archers, while the Bomb brings spies, including the Ghost with wax-sealed ears. Jude's family gathers: Oak, Vivi, Taryn, and Oriana. Heather is in the library searching for some clue to cursed snakes, while strange storms over Elfhame suggest Cardan's serpent form is poisoning more than the ground.

Madoc arrives limping, followed by Lady Nore, Lord Jarel, and Queen Suren, who is still treated brutally despite being their ruler. Suren wears a stitched crown and a chain piercing her wrist, and fresh scars mark her face where a bridle once lay. The sight horrifies Jude and Oak, but Madoc presents himself as a reconciliatory father and argues that Jude cannot hold the throne for long with Cardan cursed, the Blood Crown destroyed, Lady Asha gathering support, and pretenders and assassins inevitable.

Madoc, Lady Nore, and Lord Jarel offer Jude Grimsen's magical bridle, which can bind and command any creature. They want Jude to use it on Cardan's serpent form, rule with Madoc replacing the Living Council, and eventually marry Oak to Queen Suren so the Court of Teeth can share the throne. Jude is disgusted by the thought of enslaving Cardan, especially after Cardan rejected compelled loyalty, but Jude is also tempted because the bridle offers power, stability, and a way not to lose Cardan entirely.

Jude realizes the Court of Teeth failed to bridle the serpent themselves after losing a battalion, and Lady Nore admits they believe Jude can lure him close. Grima Mog advises accepting because the serpent would be an unmatched weapon, while the Bomb urges Jude to kill the traitors and seize the bridle. Jude instead tests Madoc's good faith by making him release Orlagh from whatever bargain held her, then accepts only conditionally: if Cardan is bridled and tame, Jude will give what is within Jude's power, but nothing before then.

Lord Jarel tells Jude that Jude must knot three hairs from Jude's own head around the bridle to bind Jude and the serpent together. Madoc outlines a public plan for the next day: a feast, a staged reconciliation, and the capture of the serpent before gathered armies at Insweal. Afterward, Jude finds the throne room empty except for shed golden skin, then goes to the rocky beach and throws a plea into the waves: if the recipient ever loved Cardan, they should help Jude.