After the curses break and Lightlark survives the hundredth day, Isla withdraws into her chambers in the Mainland castle. She returns to the Wildling realm only once, using her restored power to pour life into the ground and save her people from total ruin, but afterward she feels hollow from Celeste’s betrayal and the memories Grim stole from her.

Ella keeps Isla informed from outside the door. Isla learns Cleo has severed the bridge to Moon Isle, cutting her territory off from the Mainland, and that Azul has watched the cursed storm clear. The storm had held the souls of those killed by the curses, and the specters briefly appear before finding peace; Isla hopes Azul was able to see his husband one last time.

After two weeks, Isla finally steps outside onto her balcony. She recognizes that the heart of Lightlark saved them and that she now holds enormous power, but she is afraid to test it because she does not yet know how to control what she has become. Isla also fears Grim, who has returned to Nightshade stronger than before, and she covers mirrors and avoids sleep after hearing his voice promise she will remember everything and come back to him.

Oro joins Isla on the balcony, marking their first real conversation since he carried her back after Aurora’s death. Their banter softens into honesty as Oro recalls realizing he cared for a Wildling who was not trying to enchant him, and Isla sees how restored and radiant the broken curse has made him. Isla feels trust and love for Oro, though she remains uncertain and wary after what happened with Grim.

Isla senses the open bridge of power between herself and Oro, knowing she can still access his abilities and that he can access hers. She also reflects that, by killing Aurora with the bondmaker, she reclaimed her own, Oro’s, and Grim’s powers while taking Aurora’s Starling ruler abilities, ending the Starling line and fulfilling the prophecy without destroying the Starling realm.

Oro draws on Isla’s Wildling power to grow a red rose for her, but Isla throws it away and rests her forehead against his. Rather than rush blindly into another bond, Isla chooses caution, then climbs onto the balcony railing as she once did at the beginning of the Centennial. With Oro behind her, Isla asks him not to let her fall in, and Oro promises, amended at her glare, never again.