From the watchtower, Aedion sees Aelin, Rowan, Gavriel, and Fenrys stranded on the reef while Rolfe and his men escape to the opposite side of the bay mouth. Between them remain one Morath warship, Lysandra in sea-dragon form, and three adult sea-wyverns, revealing that the smaller wyverns Lysandra killed were bait meant to draw in the full-grown bulls.

Dorian signals for Lysandra to come to him, but Lysandra instead charges the wyverns to keep them from reaching Aelin. Lysandra lures the first bull onto the last warship, where the broken masts impale it and the ship begins to sink. Lysandra then draws the second bull into Dorian’s range; Dorian freezes it in the water, and a catapult shot shatters the trapped beast.

The final bull stays out of Dorian’s reach and hunts Lysandra through the wreckage. Gavriel warns Lysandra when it attacks from her left, and Lysandra uses debris, blood, and the remaining Valg soldiers to work the creature into a frenzy. Exhausted and badly wounded, Lysandra races toward Aedion’s tower, giving Aedion one chance to fire; Aedion’s massive bolt pierces the bull’s throat, and Lysandra later surfaces with the severed head.

Aedion runs to the beach and finds Lysandra collapsed, bleeding, and still trapped in the dragon’s instincts. To bring her back to herself enough for help to approach, Aedion needles her, jokes about the sentries loving her, and promises that one day he will marry her. Lysandra responds with temper and amusement, showing that the woman within the beast is still present.

Aelin, Rowan, Gavriel, and Fenrys arrive, and Aelin apologizes while she and Rowan slowly heal Lysandra’s wounds. Aedion asks what happened, and Aelin admits she lost control; Aedion realizes she carries and used a Wyrdkey, but Rowan silently warns him not to expose that secret in front of Maeve’s warriors. Aedion stays with Lysandra while Aelin leaves to deal with Rolfe and the victorious city.

Later, Gavriel watches unseen as Aedion remains beside Lysandra for hours. At sunset, Lysandra shifts back into human form, too weak to stand, and Aedion wraps her in his cloak and carries her toward town. Gavriel reflects on Aedion’s legendary deed and wonders whether his son will ever acknowledge him.