Dorian remains trapped in his tower after young guards beg him not to risk himself. From the balcony, he watches Ironteeth witches and wyverns devastate Rifthold beyond Aelin's glass wall. Determined not to be helpless again, Dorian gathers his unstable magic and destroys the first wyverns that fly close enough to threaten the castle.

The use of so much power exhausts Dorian, but the attack continues. More witches cross the failing wall, and Dorian kills them with ice and wind, only for a separate wyvern to smash into his tower from behind. Dorian blinds the beast and tries to flee, but its venomous tail wounds him, leaving Dorian paralyzed and vulnerable as the Yellowlegs rider prepares to take him.

Before the witch can finish the attack, Manon Blackbeak arrives on Abraxos, beheads the sentinel, and drives off the mount. Manon finds Dorian weakened but alive because Dorian's magic is fighting the wyvern venom. Though wary of each other, Manon hauls Dorian upright and orders Dorian to escape through the castle passages.

Manon reveals that Perrington is actually a demon in a mortal body who has taken a new golden-haired form, is breeding evil in Morath, and intends to conquer all Erilea. Manon warns Dorian that the attack is only a taste of what is coming and declares that Dorian now owes Manon a life debt. Dorian urges Manon to fight with him against Perrington, but Manon refuses and pushes Dorian toward the stairs.

Yellowlegs sentinels break into the tower, but a silver-haired Fae warrior arrives in a blast of wind and kills them. The warrior then chokes Manon with magic, apparently ready to kill Manon for past attacks against Aelin. Dorian commands him to stop, saving Manon, then tells Manon to find Dorian when Manon changes her mind before Dorian leaves.