Jude travels to Prince Dain’s coronation with Madoc’s household, trying to act normally despite her wounded hand, the recent killings, and her knowledge that Balekin may strike before the ceremony. At the palace, Madoc tells the family they will be called later to swear oaths, while he goes to stand with Dain. Jude enters the revel with Taryn and Vivi, sees many powerful faeries gathered, briefly thinks she spots the drowned Sophie among the Undersea folk, and receives a quiet warning from the Roach to watch for anything wrong.

During the dancing, Jude is drawn first into Locke’s arms. Locke asks unsettling questions about whether Jude could love him enough to give him up or weep over him if Locke hurt her, leaving Jude suspicious and emotionally shaken. Cardan cuts in, and although Cardan remains mocking, Cardan’s interruption helps Jude recover her composure. When the bells announce the ceremony, Jude then sees Taryn behaving intimately with Locke, making Locke’s questions feel more ominous and making Jude unable to face Taryn.

The coronation begins with High King Eldred renouncing the throne and naming Dain as his successor. Dain is ceremonially stripped, anointed by representatives of the Unseelie, Seelie, and wild fey, and clothed by his sisters and mother. Jude feels the promise of finally becoming the High King’s spy, but then notices that Madoc’s loyal commanders are positioned around the dais under Greenbriar livery and that Oriana, Oak, Vivi, and Taryn have been escorted away. Jude realizes that the situation is wrong and tries to find the Roach or the Ghost.

Before Dain can be crowned, Balekin challenges Dain and murders Elowyn. Dain orders the guards to act, but the knights instead turn their swords toward the crowd, revealing that they are part of the coup. The Ghost shoots Balekin from the rafters, but Balekin is armored. Jude tries to push toward Dain, imagining that Madoc will save him, but Madoc instead runs Dain through and kills him, exposing Madoc as Balekin’s ally and the likely strategist behind the coup.

Balekin demands that Eldred crown him, but Eldred refuses, even after Balekin has Taniot beheaded. Balekin kills Eldred, whose body dissolves into red moths, and then tries to force his sisters to crown him. Caelia agrees to stop the slaughter, but the Ghost kills Caelia with a bolt from the rafters; Rhyia then kills herself rather than crown Balekin. Balekin calls for Cardan, while guards pursue the Ghost through the crowded hall.

With nearly all of the royal family dead, Balekin forces Val Moren to conduct a rushed coronation. The assembled Folk refuse to accept Balekin, and when Balekin places the crown on his own head, it burns him. Lord Roiben declares that the Folk swear to the crown, not merely to a king, and gives Balekin three days to put the crown on his head before Roiben and others leave unsworn and unchecked. Jude watches the bloody aftermath, horrified that life and revelry will continue despite the massacre.