Evangeline rides through the glowing, foggy streets of the Magnificent North toward her private dinner with Prince Apollo. Although her wrist scars burned earlier and made her fear Jacks might appear, she reassures herself that such an exclusive event for Apollo’s potential brides is unlikely to interest the Prince of Hearts.

At the destination, Evangeline finds not a castle but a forest entrance marked by a carved blue-granite arch. A mysterious armored young man beside the arch teases that she may become a princess, then Evangeline steps through and hears a welcoming voice. The cold night transforms into a warm autumnal clearing set for a lavish party.

Inside, Evangeline discovers a royal phoenix tree at the center of the gathering, with gold leaves that myth says must not be plucked or the tree will burn. Important Northern guests mingle around it, but they close ranks and fall silent whenever Evangeline approaches, leaving her isolated and newly grateful that Marisol did not attend to feel rejected because of her supposed curse.

Evangeline notices another excluded young woman in a bold ruby dragon-scale gown and offers her a drink. The girl, sharp and suspicious, jokes that one cup might hold poison and the other the antidote, then identifies Evangeline by her pink hair and observes that Evangeline has been searching for the prince.

The girl points Evangeline toward Apollo, who is lounging high in the phoenix tree while a painter captures his dramatic pose. The girl explains that Apollo often poses this way and mentions his younger brother Tiberius, who once mocked him with arrows and kittens but has withdrawn from society after a mysterious disappearance and a falling-out with Apollo. As Evangeline is about to respond, a bolt of cold makes her certain that Jacks has just entered the party.