Book Five: Save Yourself — 1.

Colin hosts a ribbon-cutting for the Llewellyn Wren Computer Center he funded, basking in press optics despite recent controversies. As the crowd heads to a reception, Gwen Underfoot arrives and confronts Colin by his car. Donna tries to steer Allie away, but Allie approaches, tipsy and cheerful.

Gwen asks if Colin killed Arthur and accuses him of siccing King Sorrow on her as this year’s sacrifice. Colin worries about witnesses and considers the mark on his chest but holds back. He claims he acted in self-defense against Gwen’s supposed intent to use the mark on him. Gwen counters that Colin misheard her; she meant to end King Sorrow, not kill Colin, and condemns the killings done through Sorrow.

As Allie’s confusion turns to horror, Colin presses Gwen, denies killing Arthur, and cruelly asserts Gwen destroyed Arthur by rejecting him. Tension spikes when Colin menaces Gwen with the giant scissors. Allie snaps, assaults Colin, and in the scuffle he drives the scissors into his own thigh.

Gwen kneels to stanch the bleeding with a handkerchief, but Colin, suspecting dragon’s tears, shoves her away. With onlookers filming and Donna managing the scene, Colin, bleeding and rattled, retreats to the car. Gwen, resigned yet defiant, leaves him with a parting shot about the life he leads, cementing ruptured alliances and public exposure risks.