On the glass bridge, Aelin tries to buy time as possessed Dorian advances. The bridge is freezing over, the tower has not yet fallen, and Aelin cannot open the iced-shut tower door. Aelin appeals to Dorian by invoking Chaol’s sacrifice, Sorscha’s love, and Aelin’s own promise to return for him, but the Valg prince shows no mercy.

When Dorian closes in, Aelin grabs Dorian’s hand and secretly slips Athril’s golden ring onto Dorian’s finger. Dorian stabs Aelin in the side, leaving Aelin bleeding and crawling across the bridge while the Valg prince prepares to torment Aelin further.

Meanwhile, Rowan and Aedion are nearly overwhelmed by the remaining Wyrdhounds before Lorcan unexpectedly arrives and helps kill them. Rowan feels Aelin’s wound through their bond and realizes something has gone terribly wrong, but Aedion still manages to light the fuse. Lorcan drags Rowan away, Aedion joins them, and the detonation releases a world-shaking blast that blocks the path back into the castle.

The explosion releases magic into the world. Manon and Asterin feel the change while flying toward Morath, and Manon exults as her immortal strength returns. At the Keep, a collared woman also senses magic awakening inside her, including the shadowfire bound to her.

Back on the bridge, Aelin heals her wound as magic returns. Athril’s ring begins to glow on Dorian’s hand, forcing the Valg prince to stagger and rage while Dorian’s chance to fight back emerges. At the solstice’s precise alignment, sunlight fills the glass bridge, and Aelin unleashes her restored magic at Dorian as the Valg prince hurls ice toward Aelin.