In the Lodge infirmary after the hellfox attack, William heals Bree’s torn arms with aether and offers to heal her bruises as well. While treating her, William explains that dating within the Order is complicated by bloodlines, inheritances, and magical bonds, especially for Scions and their Squires. Bree’s questions lead William to describe the Regents’ strict control over relationships that could mix bloodlines, deepening Bree’s distrust of the Order’s leadership.

William then tells Bree that her vitals were abnormal when Nick brought her in. Instead of a normal adrenaline crash after a demon fight, Bree’s body seemed to have overexerted itself and slipped into a hibernation-like state. Bree privately connects this to the red flames and her unexplained ability to generate aether, but she hesitates to tell Nick because everyone is already shaken by Tor’s Awakening and Sel’s actions.

Nick accidentally walks in while Bree is partly undressed, embarrassing them both, but later meets Bree upstairs after William finishes healing her. Nick comforts Bree, apologizes for letting Sel take Bree away alone, and vows not to break his own rule about protecting her again. In the foyer, Greer and Whitty reveal that Bree and Sel were missing for over an hour, Tor collapsed outside, and the tournament results have advanced: Bree, Vaughn, and Whitty lead the scavenger hunt, while Carson and Spencer are out.

Bree learns that the final combat trial has been moved up to Thursday because Tor has been Called. Bree believes she has little chance of succeeding, but Nick has arranged for Gillian, a trusted former Scion of Kay, to train the remaining competitors. Nick explains that Bree does not need to win every match; she only needs to lose well.

As morning breaks, Bree tries to tell Nick that Sel may have had a point because Bree is lying about her reasons for being in the Order and may be a distraction. Nick rejects this, arguing that Sel’s fear and anger made him endanger a member of the chapter and behave recklessly. Nick says that if Camlann comes and Nick becomes king, Nick cannot allow his warriors to become monsters, but Nick admits he does not yet know what he will do about Sel. Exhausted and unsettled, Bree agrees to let Nick drive her home.