Isla reels after Oro reveals her lifelong secret to the other rulers: she has no power and is not bound by the curses. The betrayal devastates Isla because Isla had trusted Oro, and because the revelation makes Isla vulnerable to every ruler at the Centennial.

Before the rulers can act, Grim spirits Isla from the throne room to a beach on the other side of the Mainland. Isla realizes Grim’s flair is not simple invisibility but a dangerous ability to travel instantly across the island, and that Grim has risked exposing this power to save Isla.

Grim tells Isla he already knew her secret. Because Nightshade powers include curses, Grim can sense who is bound by them, and he knew from the first time he saw Isla that she was neither cursed nor powerful. Isla understands that Grim’s early actions, including stopping Isla from eating the heart at the first dinner, came from this knowledge.

Isla asks why Grim never betrayed her. Grim says he would never hurt Isla or reveal her secret, joking that others see both Wildlings and Nightshades as monsters and that monsters stick together. His explanation helps Isla see that Grim’s fascination with Isla was not manipulation but genuine loyalty.

Overcome by shame and fear, Isla asks what is wrong with her. Grim angrily insists nothing is wrong with Isla, holds Isla as she trembles, and promises that if anyone tries to harm Isla, Grim will destroy them and their realm. Grim points to Isla’s necklace pendant and tells Isla to pull it if she needs him, and Isla believes Grim above everyone else.