Mische is brought before Raoul, the ancient King of the House of Shadow, and immediately senses that the terrifying legends about him are true. Though fear urges Mische to run, Mische masks it with a bright smile. Raoul’s fair-haired wife watches with quiet fury, while Egrette presents Mische to the court as her own prize.

Egrette loudly claims that Egrette captured Mische near the Shadowborn borders and suggests Mische was sent by the House of Night. Mische recognizes the display as Egrette’s attempt to win Raoul’s approval. When Raoul responds, however, Raoul confuses the current Nightborn rulers with long-dead kings and then demands to see Malach, his dead son.

Raoul’s confusion becomes dangerous when anger triggers a violent magical outburst. The ballroom darkens, Mische and the guests suffer skull-splitting pain, and the human blood vendors collapse. Raoul’s wife calms him with wine, and the court pretends nothing happened, revealing to Mische that Raoul’s failing mind and immense power are an ongoing threat. Egrette silently warns Mische not to speak of it.

Raoul turns back to Mische and uses magic to enter Mische’s memories, forcing Mische to relive killing Malach. Egrette urges Raoul to execute Mische and send pieces of Mische to Raihn and Oraya as a message to the House of Night. Mische realizes that Raihn and Oraya would likely start a disastrous war over Mische’s death, undoing Mische’s attempt to protect them.

Mische tries to pretend that the Nightborn king and queen would not care about Mische, but Raoul magically silences Mische and compels Mische to kneel. As the court prepares for the execution, Mische resigns herself to death while grieving that Mische’s death may still destroy Raihn and Oraya. Just as a blade rises, an unknown deep voice commands everyone to stop and declares that he needs Mische.