Chaol bursts into Celaena’s bedroom early in the morning and demands to know where she was the previous night. Celaena hides her fear that he might know about the secret passages and claims she was in her room, using Dorian’s amethyst ring and Chaol’s own brief visit as cover. Chaol reveals that the morning Test has been canceled because Xavier, the thief from Melisande, has been found dead and half-eaten.

Celaena realizes Xavier’s death fits the pattern of the previous murdered Champions and privately connects it to Elena’s warning about evil in the castle. After Chaol leaves, Celaena arms herself with makeshift weapons and returns to Elena and Gavin’s tomb, searching for answers. The tomb offers no explanation, though Celaena notices a shaft lined with polished gold reflecting sunlight into the chamber.

Celaena questions Elena’s motives aloud and worries that being caught in the tomb would make Celaena look guilty of treason or magic. With no new clues, Celaena decides she cannot spend all her time hunting the mysterious evil. Celaena resolves to focus on becoming King’s Champion first, then perhaps investigate the evil afterward.

Later, Celaena convinces Ress and other guards to escort her toward the library. On the way, Celaena passes the crime scene and sees Xavier’s mutilated body: his organs and brain are missing, and partial Wyrdmarks remain smeared near the blood. The marks convince Celaena the killing is ritualistic and tied to something stranger than ordinary murder. Celaena also encounters Grave, who shows no remorse, and she notes that only sixteen Champions remain.

In a later shift, Dorian spars with Chaol and their conversation turns tense. Chaol criticizes Dorian for visiting Celaena, while Dorian counters by questioning Chaol’s own presence in Celaena’s rooms. They discuss the king’s unexplained absence and the possibility that someone is killing the Champions. Chaol says he has added extra guards around Celaena’s rooms, though Dorian questions whether the guards are meant to protect Celaena or confine her. Chaol leaves to inspect Xavier’s body again, and Dorian returns to his tower feeling isolated.