Within the Wyrdgate, Dorian’s father appears before Dorian and Aelin, changed from the cruel king Dorian last saw in the glass castle. His presence shocks Dorian badly enough that Dorian’s magic falters, while Aelin’s power also slows in its agonizing flow into the forming Lock.

Dorian’s father urges them to stop, but Aelin says the process cannot be halted. Dorian realizes that Damaris, carried with him inside the Wyrdmark ring, must have summoned the king so Dorian can face one final truth before the end.

The king insists that he can finish the sacrifice because he, too, is Nameless. When Dorian tries to reject this, Dorian discovers that no name exists for his father in memory. The king explains that Erawan erased his name from history and memory with an ancient spell, making him a more faithful servant and stripping him of even his own knowledge of himself.

This revelation changes Dorian’s understanding of his father. Dorian still grieves and rages over the destruction the king caused, but he sees that his father had also been possessed, had resisted Erawan in what ways he could, and is genuinely sorry. Dorian recognizes the sincerity of the apology without needing Damaris to confirm it.

Dorian’s father asks to pay the debt, claiming that Mala’s blood runs in his veins as well and that he has enough power in his blood to help. Exhausted, Dorian tells Aelin to let him do it. Aelin reveals that she had intended to save Dorian before the end, then abruptly removes her hand from Dorian’s and shoves him back through the gateway to Erilea.

As Dorian falls out of the Wyrdgate’s realm, he sees Aelin take his father’s hand. Aelin chooses to spare Dorian so that one of them can survive to rule, leaving herself and Dorian’s father to complete the Lock’s terrible price.