Aelin survives the leap from the shattered high window by landing on a glass bridge one level below. Injured by embedded glass and the force of the impact, Aelin keeps moving because Dorian is still pursuing her. Dorian crashes onto the bridge behind her, and Aelin races into the tower as his cold magic spreads after her.

Aelin climbs the spiraling stairs toward another glass footbridge near the top of the spire. The castle’s turrets and shadows hem Aelin in, but Aelin has achieved the immediate goal: Aelin has drawn Dorian away from the throne room and from the king.

The narration shifts to Chaol in the throne room. Chaol understands that Aelin’s plan depended on the warning from the Wing Leader: Dorian remains alive inside the collar’s control and is still fighting. Aelin had meant to face both the king and Dorian, while Chaol would try to call Dorian back to himself, but the sight of Chaol’s murdered men at the gates changed Chaol’s resolve.

Chaol now chooses to keep the king occupied so Aelin has any chance of freeing Dorian, even though doing so means giving up Aelin’s personal vengeance. Chaol realizes that Aelin’s display of the Eye of Elena was a convincing bluff, and Chaol does not know where Aelin has hidden the real one. The king mocks Chaol’s threat, but Chaol stands his ground for the dead, for Dorian, for Aelin and Aedion, for the victims of the labor camps, and for Nesryn, whom Chaol expects never to see again.

The king attacks Chaol with waves of black power. Chaol’s protective marks resist at first but begin to fail, and the king advances. Chaol refuses to yield, comforted by the sunlight and by the knowledge that Aelin and Dorian have escaped. When the king’s darkness finally overwhelms Chaol, Chaol accepts the pain without fear because Chaol believes the time Chaol bought was enough.