Days after meeting Ethan and Drake, Liam stops sharing a bed with Dianna because Ethan and Drake's warning unsettled him and because his dreams have changed. Instead of only reliving Rashearim's fall, Liam dreams of Dianna dead with burning eyes and of desiring her, which frightens him. Without Dianna's comfort, Liam loses control in small bursts, damages the castle, avoids Dianna, trains alone, researches Kaden, and waits for Camilla's response.

During a call with Logan, Liam learns the map locations have yielded only abandoned mines and caverns, and the texts about Rashearim reveal little. Logan questions Liam's trust in Dianna and warns against choosing an Ig'Morruthen, but Liam insists Dianna is different and admits she has been helping with his nightmares. Liam also confides that he may be developing his father's and grandfather's prophetic sight, describing visions of an ending world, massive beasts, a horned king, and the living dead.

Dianna later finds Liam in the study and brings him crepes, forcing a conversation after weeks of avoidance. She explains that Camilla is an ex-lover whom Kaden exiled after Dianna begged Kaden not to kill her, leaving Camilla believing Dianna betrayed her. Liam and Dianna briefly reconnect while discussing Gabby, auras, and the sisters' goodbye phrase, but Drake interrupts to take Dianna to training.

Liam's jealousy and frustration lead to an argument when Liam implies Dianna has not been helping and admits he pulled away because others assumed they were sleeping together. Dianna becomes furious with Liam, Drake, and Ethan for making decisions about her personal life, then tells Liam she is done trying to be his friend. After Dianna leaves, Liam's suppressed emotions erupt and destroy the study.

The next day Liam realizes Dianna was right and seeks her out in the gym, where she is taking her anger out on Drake. Liam apologizes while sparring with Dianna, and she accepts enough to punch him for his behavior. Over the following days, Liam trains Dianna in hand-to-hand combat, weapon work, meditation, and control of her powers, teaching her to balance core, heart, and brain. Their partnership improves in training, but emotional distance remains.

During a later sparring session, Dianna demonstrates how she survived Zekiel by combining Liam's lessons with her own unpredictable style and knocking Liam down. Before Liam can fully address the lingering hurt between them, Ethan and Drake arrive with news that Camilla has accepted the invitation but wants only Ethan and some of his line to come. Dianna proposes disguising herself, Liam refuses to let her walk into danger without him, and Ethan reveals the Bracelets of Ophelia, enchanted items that can cloak an Otherworld creature's power.