Jude rests in her old rooms with Taryn, Vivi, Heather, and Oak during the uneasy pause before the banquet. The family discusses Madoc’s proposed truce, Queen Suren’s misery, Oak’s refusal to marry or become High King, and Taryn’s decision to keep Locke’s child. Heather recounts strange serpent tales from the library, but none give Jude a clear way to save Cardan, and Jude finally falls asleep among friendly voices.

After waking, Jude returns to the royal chambers and finds the Bomb waiting with Cardan’s old snow globe. The Bomb has heard that the land healed Jude and asks whether Jude can use that power to wake the poisoned Roach. Jude admits she does not understand the magic, but because time may be short, Jude follows the Bomb through the expanded Court of Shadows to try.

In the Court of Shadows, Jude finds the Roach far worse than expected, suffering fits from the poison rather than sleeping peacefully. At first Jude fails, but the Ghost urges Jude to stop forcing the magic and let it come. Jude reaches for the land’s power, commands the Roach to wake, and succeeds, though the Roach kicks Jude during a spasm. Believing himself near death, the Roach confesses his love for the Bomb, and after Jude and the Ghost tactfully leave, the Bomb tells him the feeling is returned.

Jude and the Ghost then seek help from Mother Marrow and Severin, but they confirm that Grimsen meant Cardan’s curse to end only in death. Mother Marrow asks about the golden bridle and warns Jude not to tie her own hair to it, because that would bind Jude along with the serpent. Severin suggests that Grimsen left one clue behind: his name is likely the word of command. Jude returns to prepare for the banquet, increasingly aware that royal power leaves Jude constantly watched and rarely free.

At the banquet, Jude publicly reframes the alliance with Madoc and the Court of Teeth as a truce won under Jude’s authority, then toasts Cardan as the High King who broke the Blood Crown and sacrificed himself. Jude refuses to grant Madoc his reward until the serpent is bridled and warns Lady Asha against plotting by suggesting an ambassadorship to the Court of Teeth. Lord Roiben then offers unexpected support, saying Cardan proved himself by choosing loyalty over compulsion.

The banquet erupts when Kaye punches Nicasia, drawing in guards and nearly causing duels. Madoc tries to stop Jude from intervening, but Jude uses the moment to pull strands of Madoc’s hair. Nicasia later takes Jude aside, kneels, and begs Jude to save Cardan, revealing that Cardan secretly returned Balekin’s human servants to the mortal world and sent Jude the beautiful coronation gown. Jude breaks down and admits that Jude would pay any price if only Jude knew how to break the curse. After asking Severin for something unspecified, Jude ends the night alone with the bridle, tempted by the idea of keeping serpent-Cardan near, and dreams of telling him she loves him before he devours her.