Fabién Voss speaks through a murdered boy’s corpse in Nikita’s hall, and Dior immediately recognizes the Forever King’s presence. Fabién presses against Dior’s mind but cannot pierce it, then greets Nikita and Lilidh with old familiarity and veiled contempt. His interest in Dior raises a dangerous question: if Dior can end daysdeath, why does Fabién want Dior alive?

Fabién offers Nikita two thousand cattle and the promise of military advantage in exchange for Dior. Lilidh challenges the offer, pointing to Dior’s blood, Gabriel’s protection of Dior, and the sanguimancer who traveled with her as proof that Dior’s value is greater than Fabién admits. Fabién denies concern over the Faithless and warns that the Voss legions escorting the cattle are only protection, before withdrawing from the corpse and leaving Alba and Aléne to await Nikita’s answer.

After the Voss envoys leave, Nikita’s court fractures over whether to trade Dior. Kiara argues the price is good, while others distrust the Voss or defer to Lilidh. Lilidh claims Dior as her own prize, but Soraya and others remind the court that Nikita, not Lilidh, rules as Priori. Lilidh then privately accuses Nikita of being tempted to return to Fabién’s influence, provoking a vicious confrontation between the siblings.

Nikita argues that Lilidh is not a warrior and that keeping Dior may bring Fabién’s armies down on Dún Maergenn. Lilidh counters that her schemes, fleets, bloodlords, and the golden weapon have made Nikita’s conquest possible, and that Dior must be worth more than Fabién’s offer. Their argument turns personal; Lilidh wounds Nikita with references to his history with Fabién, and Nikita violently smashes Lilidh to the floor, warning that if Dior’s worth is not proven, both Lilidh and Dior will pay.

Humiliated but controlled, Lilidh turns her anger into domination. Lilidh cuts her tongue and makes Dior drink from her mouth without using the Whip, relying on the blood already binding Dior. Dior yields, kisses Lilidh, and declares love for her; Lilidh corrects the emotion into adoration. Celene, watching through the moth-fragment, realizes the third blooding has enslaved Dior and may expose everything Celene told Dior about Mother Maryn.

Lilidh then produces the hairpin Dior used to escape and blames Worm for the failure. Instead of punishing Worm directly, Lilidh orders her ladies to beat the maidservant and then commands Dior to join them. Dior obeys and kicks Worm, destroying Celene’s last hope that Dior might resist. Celene flees the scene in despair, blaming herself for failing Dior and, outside the dún in the storm, hides in stolen grave-clothes and whispers for Gabriel.