Days later, Rune spars with Amaya. A third-year Strength Arcana instructor corrects her form, and Amaya tricks her with a fake injury before sweeping her legs.

Commander Soto announces seraph visitors. Princess Reva, Draven’s betrothed, enters with guards. Rune is shocked to see her father, Riordan Ryker, now a seraph captain with golden wings. She runs to embrace him. When he asks for a moment with her, Reva insists he stay at her side while she and Draven argue about their forced betrothal.

Rune’s father asks Reva to take Rune to the seraph kingdom of Nevaeh. Reva agrees and asks Draven his price. He declares Rune too valuable as a rare World Arcana user and offers to trade her only if they end his betrothal. He gives them until the Autumn Equinox to decide. Rune’s father promises to fix the situation before leaving.

Rune furiously confronts Draven, who explains this guarantees Reva will argue on her behalf. Their argument is interrupted when Mira kills a changeling boy during sparring. Draven uses a combination of Arcana cards to let the boy briefly speak before helping his soul leave his body, then whispers something to Mira that makes her plead.

Outside, changelings led by Fallon and Ward confront Draven. Ward throws a knife at him. Rune instinctively pushes Draven to safety. He pins the attackers with shadow magic, sentences them to a night in the Boiler, a punishment area, and takes Rune with him through the shadows.

Rune and Draven arrive in his bedroom, where Magda, an elderly maid, is cleaning. After dismissing her, Draven finds a crystal listening device his father’s spy planted and destroys it with Temperance Arcana. He also reveals he knows about the necklace from her father that she hid in her room.

They argue. He claims he can scent her desire and traps her against a bookshelf. He reveals he was Selected, not born a prince, and forbids her to share this. He explains the Great War: mortal leader Kieran Ceres used blood magic, and his alchemist created the Curse that rendered all immortals infertile, forcing the Selection to continue their lines by transforming mortals into changelings.

Rune understands wealthy families choose changelings to serve as heirs and continue their lines, a fact kept secret. Draven confirms Princess Reva is also a changeling. Their betrothal stems from King Silas insisting on a trial for Kieran Ceres, which allowed the Curse’s release, killing the seraph king’s wife. Draven’s father adopted him after he was Selected and trained him as a weapon.

He explains that in Nevaeh, Rune would likely enter the seraph military academy before being assigned a marriage partner. When she asks how to block his mind reading, he offers to teach her mental shields. In the living room, he destroys more listening devices. Rune successfully summons her World Arcana card. He teaches her to shield her mind by envisioning an impenetrable wall, but easily breaks through. She demands they try again.

Weeks pass as Rune trains her mental wards, attends classes, and spars. She sits with friends in the Atrium, practicing summoning her World Arcana. Amaya explains the upcoming Autumn Equinox Ball will be their first introduction to the Sedah royal court.

Rune tells Ember she hopes to be sent to the seraphs at the ball and reunited with her father. Ember expresses happiness for her and promises to tell the others if Rune does not return. Kasper interrupts, revealing that Rune had bounty posters issued as the Wraith in Westfall. After an awkward silence, Felix calls it cool. Morgan asks when she planned to tell them. Rune retorts that their lives from Over the Wall do not matter in Sedah.

A swift messenger delivers black-and-crimson roses to Rune, with a card from Draven calling in the favor she owes—he wants her as his date to the ball. Morgan tells her she does not have to dance with Draven. Wynter asks to dance with her instead. Seeing Morgan’s dark expression, Rune agrees to dance with Wynter if she attends the ball.

During the week before the ball, Draven tutors Rune in etiquette. She confronts him about his complicity in the Selection. He explains he made the choices so his younger brother Ansel, the king’s other heir, would not have to, and asks her to trust he wants to change the kingdom. He offers her half his sandwich as an olive branch.

Draven offers to make her a dress. Using the World and Hierophant Arcana, he projects dress options from his memory. Rune notices a revealing dress he rejected, and he admits that if she wore it, he could not think straight. Acknowledging their mutual attraction, she defiantly chooses it. Using Magician Arcana, he transforms her clothes into a stunning silver gown and adds diamond jewelry, incorporating her father’s pendant into a choker. Using Moon Arcana, he paints their faces with matching skeletal makeup, a tradition for the Equinox.

He explains he wants the seraphs to see her value so they will not discard or mistreat her when she is transferred. He opens a shadow portal to the Royal Palace in the capital of Sedah. They make a grand entrance into the throne room of the Sedah Court. Feeling overwhelmed, Rune focuses only on Draven. They approach King Silas. The seraph delegation arrives, led by King Altair with Rune’s father.

The royal families move to a private room. Draven positions himself protectively. King Silas offers Rune in exchange for ending the betrothal. Altair reveals he only agreed to consider delaying, not ending, the betrothal. He demands to test Rune and commands her to kneel. Due to her Oath, she cannot obey until Silas permits it.

Altair places his magical halo over her head; it tightens around her neck like a blade. He questions her about her family. She answers honestly, and the halo glows gold. The halo turns red, detecting that she is not truly willing to abandon her anger and vengeance, despite telling herself she will for her father.

Altair asks about her destiny. Rune receives a vision of herself finding a mended crown of the four kingdoms in a snowy field. A phantom outline appears in her hands, visible to all. Seeing her as a threat, Altair prepares to execute her. Draven pulls her through shadows to his side.

Altair attacks with a golden sword; Draven blocks with a black, fiery sword. Silas uses Judgment Arcana to force them apart and takes control of the seraph guards. He asks Draven to decide about the betrothal, knowing the cost is Rune’s life. Desperate, Rune mentally promises Draven anything. He publicly declares they are fated and she is meant to be his queen.

King Altair is furious. Rune’s father pleads for her life but is silenced. Altair warns this is not over, and the seraphs depart in a flash of a light. King Silas confronts Draven for pulling a weapon. He turns to Rune, calls her talentless, and threatens to kill her if she proves a threat. He tells Draven he is stuck with her and leaves.

Draven teleports them to his room. They argue. Over chess, Draven reveals he needs a partner to help end the Selection. He believes mortals should have choice. He says there is no cure for the Curse, so his plan offering mortals incentives to join the immortal kingdoms voluntarily instead of forcing Selection. He explains destroying the Wall would unleash magic that mortal bodies cannot withstand, potentially destroying the mortal world.

He states his goal: to rule all of Arcadia to ensure safety for all, as he sees Altair as a growing tyrant. He tells Rune about a prophecy of a World wielder who will find four fabled Arcadian Artifacts to save Arcadia from itself. He believes the vision proves the artifacts exist and she is the key. He proposes a political marriage to convince the Court of their fated status, granting them power and protection for Rune as his intended. He gives his word she can walk away once he has the throne. Rune realizes he has won their chess game. She remains wary but engaged.