Jude returns to Madoc’s estate exhausted, dirty, and shaken after the coronation massacre. The house is full of knights, servants, maps, and urgent activity, showing that Madoc is already responding politically and militarily. Vivi embraces Jude, Oriana says Oak is in bed, and Jude goes upstairs to clean herself, dress in dark clothes, strap on Nightfell, and hide Cardan’s royal seal ring in her pocket.

While Vivi questions Jude’s injuries and Madoc’s alliance with Balekin, Jude overhears that Locke has been speaking with Madoc about marrying Taryn. Jude realizes Locke was Taryn’s secret lover and that Locke’s courtship of Jude was part of a cruel test. Jude confronts Taryn, who admits Locke asked Taryn to endure the deception to prove her love, and Taryn reveals Cardan’s group had tormented Jude partly because Locke made them believe Jude had stolen Locke from Nicasia.

Furious at Taryn’s betrayal, Jude challenges Taryn to a duel. Taryn reluctantly takes Nightfell, and the sisters fight with real swords while accusing each other of weakness, selfishness, and cruelty. When Vivi uses glamour to force them to stop, Taryn obeys, but Jude resists because Dain’s geas still protects Jude even after Dain’s death; Jude barely avoids cutting Taryn by throwing the sword away. Madoc arrives, enraged, and sends both sisters to the game room under guard.

After a long silence, Madoc speaks first with Taryn about Locke. Madoc says Locke admitted to toying with mortal feelings and judges Locke unworthy of both sisters, but he refuses to forbid Taryn from accepting him. Before leaving, Taryn spitefully suggests Madoc ask Jude where Prince Cardan is, alarming Jude because Jude is secretly hiding Cardan with the Court of Shadows.

Alone with Jude, Madoc admits he helped Balekin despite caring for Dain, claiming other loyalties and refusing to explain more. Madoc offers Jude rewards if Jude can provide Cardan’s location: status, a desired marriage, or vengeance on an enemy. Jude deflects, but she now has the proof the Court of Shadows wanted: Madoc and Balekin are willing to pay for Cardan. Madoc also warns Jude about misdirected anger and tells her to consider where her true talents lie.

Later, Jude sees Balekin’s knights in the hall and retreats to her room. Vivi brings food and asks Jude to leave Faerie for the mortal world that very night, saying Faerie will only worsen under Balekin and that Jude has been changed by surviving there. Jude considers starting over but asks for one day to settle matters with Cardan and the Court of Shadows. After Vivi leaves, Jude studies Cardan’s royal ring, wonders about its worth and meaning, and slips it onto her own finger.