Valentine finally appears in Apollo’s office after weeks away, and Apollo angrily challenges her absence because Maddie and his children have been endangered. Valentine says she has been watching events and shares alarming news: she can no longer magically track Apollo’s counterpart in Maddie’s world, a man she previously monitored without difficulty. Because no witch in her own world could hide him from her, she suspects their enemies may have found him, concealed him with stronger magic, and possibly brought him into this world to harm Maddie. She also confirms Derrik is acting from jealousy rather than enchantment, reports that he breached Specter Isle, and urges Apollo to gather the vulnerable women together so she and Lavinia can better protect them.

Apollo and Valentine discuss strategy. Apollo wants to keep pressure on Specter Isle while Frey negotiates help from the elves, but Valentine argues that protecting scattered women weakens her and Lavinia. She plans to bring Circe from her world and coordinate defenses once Circe restores her power. Apollo also makes clear that if Helda is captured, he wants her delivered alive to him because of what happened in Brunskar. After Valentine leaves, Apollo reflects on Maddie’s lingering darkness and Chris’s growing distance, knowing both problems need attention.

Achilles then speaks privately with Apollo and raises concerns about Maddie still living in the dower house, village gossip about that arrangement, and Christophe’s visible withdrawal from her. Apollo explains that Maddie delayed moving into the main house because Chris is not ready, but Achilles argues that leaving the situation unresolved may deepen the problem. He also senses that Maddie has changed since the recent violence and suggests that a more solid family foundation would help her feel safe. Apollo admits that Maddie knows he wants to marry her but that she says she needs time to understand herself. He further tells Achilles about Valentine’s warning, and Achilles immediately decides to increase guards around Maddie, Loretta, Meeta, and Cristiana.

An hour later, Apollo finds Maddie in his study secretly watching Hans and Loretta outside and trying to read their lips, which creates a brief playful moment between them. Their conversation turns serious when Apollo says they need to talk after lunch about her moving into the house and about addressing Chris’s behavior together. Maddie argues that forcing her presence on Christophe may only hurt him more because she is the source of his pain. Apollo, moved by her care for the children, tells her she will make a wonderful mother. Before they can go further, Bella bursts in with the news that Christophe has disappeared from the schoolroom. Apollo orders Maddie to stay inside the house no matter what and sends for the women to gather under guard while he organizes a search.

Apollo, Frey, and Achilles follow disguised tracks through the snow and discover that Christophe ran away with Nathaniel. Kell has already found the boys trying to camp in the forest and brings them back. Apollo takes Christophe aside and learns that Chris fled because he did not want to be around Maddie. Apollo admits that Maddie’s resemblance to Ilsa first filled him with false hope and then anger, but he explains that Maddie is not replacing Ilsa; she is a different woman who brings joy to him and to Élan and wants to care for Christophe too. Apollo realizes he has expected too much from a grieving child and promises to do better by his son. But as they ride home, Finnie races out with worse news: while everyone searched for Christophe, Maddie vanished from the house, and the only sign is a second set of female tracks that abruptly disappear.