Aedion spends a restless night deciding where and how to meet Gavriel, the father he has never confronted. Before dawn, Aedion recalls Lysandra returning exhausted from scouting in another form; after shifting back, Lysandra nearly collapses, and Aedion helps Lysandra into bed while realizing that her deep sleep is the kind magical beings need to recover.

In the morning, Lysandra wakes restored and insists Aedion dress properly for the meeting, even stealing clothes from Rowan and Aelin's room despite Aelin's furious protest. Dorian briefly wakes, then returns to sleep. Aedion and Lysandra eat breakfast quietly before walking to Rolfe's tavern, where Aedion finds Gavriel and Fenrys at breakfast.

Aedion immediately recognizes Gavriel as his father and sees their physical resemblance. Gavriel is shaken and says Aedion looks like Aedion's mother. Aedion, overwhelmed by anger and grief, tells Gavriel that his mother died young because she stayed away from the Fae to keep Maeve from learning of Aedion's existence and enslaving Aedion as Maeve had enslaved Gavriel. Aedion says he wants nothing from Gavriel beyond useful help and leaves despite Gavriel's plea and apology.

Afterward, Aedion avoids the inn and climbs into the jungle above the bay, with Lysandra silently accompanying Aedion. On a rocky overlook, Aedion admits he had not expected to say those things and worries that Aedion has turned Gavriel into an enemy. Lysandra reassures Aedion that Gavriel would do anything for Aedion now, defends Aedion against his old shame, and draws laughter from Aedion by joking about confronting Maeve's warriors and about a terrifying new form Lysandra has been developing.

Two hours later, Aelin enters the Sea Dragon armed with Goldryn and Damaris, exhausted and frustrated that urgent matters interrupted a rare chance for intimacy and rest with Rowan. Aelin finds Rolfe meeting with Gavriel and Fenrys. Fenrys warns Rolfe to speak carefully because Rowan is in a dangerous mood, and Aelin again asks whether Rolfe has changed his mind about an alliance.

Aelin then notices a map on Rolfe's table marked with silver figures. Gavriel explains that Rolfe received fresh intelligence that morning and wanted the Fae warriors' counsel. Rolfe reveals the figures mark Morath's armies: they have moved into position across the continent, making aid to the North impossible and leaving Eyllwe vulnerable to imminent attack.