Bree wakes from Isaac’s mesmer in Lord Davis’s study, bound to a chair and unable to reach her Bloodcraft. Davis reveals that Isaac detected Sel’s failed memory replacement in Bree’s mind, proving Bree’s resistance to mesmer and making Davis more interested in controlling her.

Davis lectures Bree about Arthurian heritage and the Black knight Moriaen, using the story to claim Bree is unworthy of the Order, Camlann, and Nick. Bree recognizes that Davis’s contempt is rooted in racism and sexism, while Davis frames Camlann as a chance to restore an old hierarchy that he believes has been weakened by Vassals, women at the Table, and Nick’s choice of Bree.

Bree realizes Davis opened the Gates twenty-five years ago, and Davis confirms he created Shadowborn attacks to manufacture the conditions for Camlann. Davis admits that he manipulated Sel’s fears, tried to remove Sel as Nick’s Kingsmage, brought Shadowborn to the First Oath, and opened Gates across chapters so more Scions would be threatened and awakened.

Davis insists Nick will be Called by Arthur, take up Excalibur, and rule under Davis’s guidance. When Bree refuses to submit, Isaac enters with Alice under mesmer. Davis reveals that Alice has been brought as leverage because Bree cannot be easily mesmered.

Isaac demonstrates his power by briefly waking Alice, then erasing recent memories from Alice’s mind while Bree watches helplessly. Davis threatens to send Bree to Masters for experimentation and to target Bree’s loved ones, including Alice and Bree’s father, unless Bree leaves Carolina, cuts off Nick and the chapter, and forgets the Legendborn world. Broken by the threat to Alice, Bree consents.