After hours of training, failed research into Wyrdmarks, and worry over Cain and Elena’s warning, Celaena goes to the gaming room late at night to distract herself with billiards. The game frustrates her immediately: she repeatedly misses, curses, and nearly loses her temper when a promising shot stops at the edge of a pocket.

Dorian enters and teases Celaena for her terrible playing. Their banter turns playful, and Dorian tries to instruct her. When he positions her hands and stands close to guide the shot, both Dorian and Celaena become embarrassed, revealing their growing attraction beneath the joking threats and insults.

Dorian challenges Celaena to a game, and they play until two in the morning. Dorian wins every time, but Celaena enjoys every successful hit and rages theatrically over every miss. Desserts are brought in, and their conversation ranges over books, history, politics, and theater, leaving Dorian impressed by Celaena’s intelligence and unexpectedly promising to take her to a play after the competition.

As the night winds down, Celaena asks whether Xavier and the other Champion murders were intentional, but she drops the question before Dorian can learn more and falls asleep. Dorian reflects that he knows very little about her past beyond her Terrasen origins and dead family, and he realizes he wants to know everything about her.

Dorian wakes Celaena enough to guide her back to her bedroom, where she collapses onto the bed. He notices her books, blows out her candles, says good night using her true name for the first time, and sees a necklace at her throat that seems strangely familiar. As Dorian leaves, he wonders whether Celaena’s warmth and wit are genuine or a facade to win freedom, though he does not want to believe she is pretending.