Gabriel wakes in the deepest part of the night, drawn from sleep by the remembered scent of silverbell. In a vivid dream, Gabriel sees Astrid, his dead wife, and responds to her with longing and desire, believing he is being visited by the woman he still mourns.

The dream breaks when Gabriel hears Phoebe’s voice and realizes the woman in his bed is not Astrid. Gabriel is in his room at the White Rabbit, and Phoebe has come to him after their charged dance the previous evening. Shocked and ashamed, Gabriel pulls away, accuses Phoebe of acting without his consent, and then admits he thought he was dreaming of his wife.

Phoebe’s confidence collapses into embarrassment. Phoebe explains that Gabriel’s behavior during the dance and in bed made Phoebe believe Gabriel wanted her. Gabriel initially orders Phoebe out, but as Gabriel sees Phoebe’s shame and compassion, Gabriel recognizes that Phoebe had not meant to wound him and asks Phoebe to stay.

Phoebe tells Gabriel that Gabriel does not know what he wants. Gabriel admits Gabriel wants Astrid back, while Phoebe says Phoebe understands grief because Phoebe has also lost someone loved. Phoebe argues that life is short and cold, and that seeking a sliver of joy is not a betrayal of the dead. Gabriel tries to explain how Astrid still comes to Gabriel in dreams, but Gabriel’s clumsy words make Phoebe feel insulted rather than comforted.

When Phoebe moves to leave, Gabriel rushes to stop Phoebe and accidentally touches Phoebe with the silver aegis in Gabriel’s palm. The contact burns Phoebe, turning hurt into anger and reminding both of them of the hostility between their kinds. Phoebe calls herself a fool for forgetting what Gabriel is, says Phoebe should have left Gabriel in the snow, and storms out, leaving Gabriel alone and bitterly aware of Gabriel’s failure.