Celaena’s shift into her Fae form is confirmed by sudden pain and an uncontrollable surge of magic. In the alien realm beyond the portal, her senses sharpen and her old fire-based power erupts, throwing back the pale demon. Although the place feels wrong and dangerous, Celaena stays because Chaol and the injured Fleetfoot have not yet escaped.

Celaena places herself between the demon and Chaol, warning Chaol to run because Celaena’s magic is so unstable that Celaena might hurt Chaol as easily as the creature. As more roars answer from the mist, Chaol carries Fleetfoot toward the portal. Once Celaena knows Chaol is safely in the passage, Celaena focuses on preventing the demon and any approaching monsters from following.

Realizing Damaris can withstand magic, Celaena channels her raw power through the Fae-made sword and drives it into the ground. The strike cracks the rocky world open, creating a widening chasm between Celaena and the demon. Before Celaena can flee, the magic violently collapses, forcing Celaena back into her mortal body, and Chaol drags Celaena through the portal into Erilea.

Dorian regains consciousness as Chaol pulls Celaena back and sees that the landscape beyond the portal has been transformed into a crater. The portal remains open, the roars beyond it grow louder, and Celaena admits Celaena is too drained to close it. Celaena turns to Dorian, recognizing that Dorian still has enough magic or power in his blood to help seal the gate.

Celaena asks Dorian for blood and uses it to draw sealing marks over the glowing Wyrdmarks. Celaena admits to finding a book in order to speak to Nehemia and to accidentally altering a symbol, which sent the portal to the wrong place. Though Celaena is not certain the sealing spell will work, Dorian steadies Celaena until the final mark flares and the portal closes.

Afterward, Chaol orders everyone to leave, while Dorian quietly says they all need explanations. Celaena instead remembers that Archer fled moments earlier with the book after betraying Nehemia and abandoning them to the demon. Fueled by anger, Celaena refuses Chaol’s attempt to stop Celaena and races down the stairs after Archer.