As dawn nears, Dior enters Lilidh’s Hall of Plenty with Reyne, pretending devotion to Lilidh while secretly waiting for Gillian and Morgana to retrieve silvered swords from below. The Dyvok court feasts amid torture and bloodshed before the expected arrival of the Black Lion and the Highlanders. Tension is high, and Lilidh argues that surrendering Dior to Voss is foolish, but Nikita takes offense and turns the argument into a display of dominance.

Nikita begins a cruel “game” that reveals he suspects treachery. Nikita orders Maeron to stab Gillian, then orders Declan to stab Maeron, then forces Morgana to stab Declan. Each victim obeys or submits to protect the larger conspiracy, while Dior struggles not to reveal that Nikita’s Whip has no hold over Dior. Nikita then forces Dior to hold a sword against Reyne, mocking Reyne’s past and ordering Dior to kill the princess.

Dior uses the forced moment to make a desperate attack instead. Dior cuts her palm, anoints the blade with Grail blood, and thrusts at Nikita, but Nikita knocks the sword away and seizes Dior. Reyne tries to help and is brutally thrown aside. Arlynn takes up the blooded sword and attacks Nikita, but Nikita kills Arlynn; when Brann charges to defend Arlynn, Aaron cuts Brann down. Nikita then kills the wounded Gillian, Maeron, and Declan before Prince briefly intervenes to protect Dior.

Nikita explains that the conspiracy was exposed because Isla was never truly freed. Isla enters carrying the ironsaw meant for the crypt and reveals that she has always served Nikita, having betrayed Aveléne to him and believing he is her “Ever After.” Dior realizes Isla joined willingly, out of desire for Nikita and the promise of forever. Before Nikita can continue, horns announce the Highlanders’ attack, and fear spreads through the court.

Nikita rallies the Dyvok with a speech glorifying conquest, drinks from a golden vial, and orders Dior and Reyne taken below alive because Dior remains the Forever King’s prize and Reyne may still be useful. The court rushes to battle, while Nikita privately humiliates Lilidh again, reminding Lilidh that Nikita is Priori and that Lilidh remains in Nikita’s shadow. In the framing scene, Celene pauses her tale in Jean-François’s cell; after a brief interruption from Jean-François’s thralls, Jean-François urges Celene to continue, asking what happened to Celene and Celene’s brother as the battle began.