Dianna, Tobias, and Alistair arrive in Ophanium ahead of Kaden to scout a remote, unmapped tomb found through information taken from Peter’s mind. In feline form, Dianna searches the forest with the others, but she argues with Tobias over orders until Alistair reminds Dianna that Kaden commanded one final pass before they report back.

Dianna senses a powerful, possibly celestial presence and decides that waiting would give the enemy too much time. Dianna breaks from the scouting plan and follows the strange pull into an abandoned mountainside village, where ruined buildings and overgrowth conceal the true source of the energy beneath a crumbling house.

After shifting back into her natural form, Dianna discovers a hidden sublevel beneath the floor and drops into a dark tunnel. The passage leads to an ancient buried library marked with celestial symbols, tapestries, and statues of the old gods. Dianna realizes Peter’s lead was accurate and that the site may be important enough to hide the Book of Azrael, so Dianna begins gathering old scrolls and texts for Kaden.

The unseen presence finally reveals itself: a glowing, ivory-skinned warrior with silver weapons who calls himself a Guardian of the Etherworld and the Netherworld, one of the Hand of Samkiel. Dianna recognizes his silver rings as matching those worn by strangers near Gabby, and the revelation alarms Dianna because it suggests the Book is real and Kaden’s search has drawn The Hand’s attention. The warrior identifies Dianna as an Ig’Morruthen and claims The Hand did not fall in the Gods War and that Samkiel will return.

Dianna and the Hand warrior fight through the burning library. His speed, skill, healing, and star-like blades nearly overwhelm Dianna, but Dianna adapts, tricks him with a helpless act, snaps his neck, and then discovers that even that does not kill him. Dianna breaks one of his blades barehanded, wounds him further, and continues fighting until Kaden suddenly appears behind the warrior and drives a clawed hand through his chest.