Erawan corners who he believes is Yrene on the tower balcony and reveals why he wants her alive: healers from his world were used as executioners to unmake the Wyrdgate and extract the keys, and he believes Yrene alone could do the same now that the keys have been returned. His confidence collapses when he steps onto a hidden Wyrdmark trap, and the supposed Yrene reveals sapphire eyes: Dorian has been impersonating her.

Lysandra, in ruk form, sweeps around the tower carrying the real Yrene and drops her onto the balcony. Dorian reinforces the Wyrdmark with his magic, Lysandra pins Erawan in ghost leopard form, and Elide drives Damaris through Erawan and into the stone, anchoring him. Yrene reaches Erawan and presses her blazing hands to his chest, beginning to burn away the Valg parasite within him.

Yrene draws strength from hope: from Chaol, from the unborn child she carries, from her mother Josefin, and from Marion Lochan, whose sacrifices made this moment possible. Erawan threatens her and her child, but Yrene's power flares brighter, revealing itself as both creation and destruction. When Yrene's strength begins to falter, Dorian cuts his palm and joins his raw magic to hers, allowing Yrene to become a conduit of life, warmth, and light.

As Yrene and Dorian overpower Erawan, Dorian demands the name Erawan stole from his father. Using Damaris, Dorian forces the truth from the demon king: Dorian's father was also named Dorian, and he remembered that name only when he first saw his son. The revelation gives Dorian a measure of healing and peace, and he turns fully back to destroying Erawan.

Yrene enters the core of Erawan's being and sees the ancient, hateful creature inside. Holding the memory of her mother before him, and thinking of Marion as well, Yrene crushes the dark flame of Erawan's existence until it is extinguished. Erawan's body withers and dies on the balcony, and Dorian burns the remains while the winter wind scatters the ashes away.