Orion attacks Darcy, but the spell abruptly recedes, returning him to his normal state. They pick up the Imperial Star, which is located inside a sarcophagus. An ethereal voice declares Orion the new Master of the Zodiac Guild and speaks separately to each of them: telling Darcy to “seek a palace in the deep. Where the last of them lie” and telling Orion to “do what the King could not” (451). Next to the Imperial Star, they find a Tarot card, confirming that they have succeeded in their quest. 

Darcy and Orion flee from the maze with the Imperial Star and rejoin their friends. The whole group escapes safely from the graveyard. They are not immediately sure what to do with the Imperial Star, but they are happy that they can keep it away from Lionel. The group begins to disband; Orion must return to Lionel’s estate before anyone notices that he is gone. Before they part, Orion confronts Seth, who continues to insist that he and Darcy have a sexual relationship. Orion is left unsure who to believe. 

Orion arrives back to the summerhouse, where Lionel comes to see him. Lionel confronts Orion about his lack of progress in finding the star. Orion deceives him with false leads. Orion seizes the chance to ask if he can spend time with his sister, Clara; he hopes he can weaken the hold of Lionel’s magic over her. Lionel refuses and taunts Orion by saying he had a sexual relationship with Clara even before the magic took hold of her. As Lionel departs, Orion comforts himself that he will soon see Lionel’s downfall.

Safely back at their hideout, the group examines the Imperial Star. Gabriel joins them and explains that the Imperial Star is shielded from magical sight, meaning Lionel’s seer, Vard, cannot detect that they have it. To keep it safe, Darcy places the Star in an amulet given to her by Darius. Later, alone with Darcy, Tory notices her sister’s lingering feelings for Orion. Recalling her own painful situation with Darius, Tory encourages Darcy to consider forgiving Orion, pointing out that at least there is still hope for them.

Xavier is happy that Darius and the others now have possession of the Imperial Star, and he is also happy that his mother, Catalina, has secretly escaped from his abusive father (Lionel believes that she is dead). Xavier turns his attention to trying to get Sofia’s attention, but his attempts have mixed success. The rivalry between Tyler and Xavier deepens. 

Later, Xavier and the other Spares are outraged to learn that the Zodiac Academy administration has forbidden Halloween celebrations. The prohibition is intended to avoid any socializing between individuals from different Orders. Gabriel (whom Xavier refers to as Professor Nox) recruits Xavier and the other Spares (the younger siblings of the Heirs) into Geraldine’s secret resistance movement. He tells Xavier about a secret Halloween party organized by the resistance movement. Xavier attends the party, eager to see Sofia, who has sent him flirtatious text messages. 

During the party, Xavier and Sofia slip away and begin kissing and caressing. Tyler interrupts them and Xavier and Tyler compete by simultaneously pleasuring Sofia. Afterward, Xavier feels more confident that he can eventually claim Sofia for himself. Xavier also witnesses a tense, intimate moment between Hadley (Caleb’s younger brother) and Athena (Seth’s younger sister), which implies that the two Spares are developing a romantic relationship.

During class, a conflict erupts between Max and his younger sister, Ellis. The two have a fraught relationship because Linda (Ellis’s mother) is not Max’s biological mother and she resents Max for being the Heir, rather than her biological daughter. Linda has persistently created rivalry and resentment between the siblings. When Ellis repeatedly attacks him, Max retaliates by humiliating her in front of their classmates, and a video of the incident goes viral.

The next morning, Max awakens to news reports broadcasting that he is illegitimate (his mother is not Linda, but another woman that his father had an illicit affair with). This news is even more damning because Max’s biological grandfather is a Minotaur (one of the Orders being persecuted by Lionel). Max’s father, Tiberius, phones him and reassures his son. Max tells his father that the other Heirs already know the truth about his parentage and will support him. Tiberius hints that Linda most likely leaked the story, since she was furious about the humiliating video of Ellis. He furthermore admits that Linda and Ellis likely want to challenge Max’s position as Heir but reassures his son that his status is secure.

Darius confronts Seth about his relationship with Darcy (referred to as “Gwen”). Seth confesses he has been faking it and sending taunting messages to Orion, hoping to provoke enough jealousy to make Orion admit his true feelings to Darcy. Darius agrees to play along with the plan. The two join Max, who reveals the scandal about his parentage and Minotaur heritage. Darius and Seth immediately record public statements of support, despite Max’s cautions that Lionel will be furious to have his son publicly support a Minotaur. Darius calmly reassures Max, “We’re brothers and this is what we do for family. No question. No debts. We’re just here for each other when we need to be” (447). 

Later, Darius and Seth find Caleb asleep in Tory’s bed. Both become jealous and enraged (although Caleb and Tory only find platonic comfort in sleeping together). Darius attacks Caleb but Tory intervenes, kissing Darius and telling him that she does not love or desire anyone except him. Darius and Tory are swept up in passion, although the Star-Crossed curse makes it extremely dangerous for them to have intimate contact. As a destructive storm erupts (a manifestation of their defiance of the curse), they flee together to a location where the magic is weaker and have passionate sex. Afterward, the force of the curse compels them to quickly go their separate ways. 

Later that day, Geraldine takes Darius and Xavier to her family home; her father, Hamish Grus, is hiding and protecting their mother, Catalina, there. Darius is overjoyed to see his mother finally looking relaxed and happy after enduring years of abuse. Over dinner, Darius learns that Catalina and Hamish are laying the groundwork for a rebellion against Lionel and his tyrannical power.

Geraldine confides to Darcy that she is attracted to Max but her loyalty to the twins makes her hate the idea of being with an Heir (who are technically their rivals for the throne). Darcy reassures her friend, encouraging her to follow her heart. Meanwhile, Seth continues to crave Caleb’s attention, using Darcy to make Caleb jealous. Darcy admits to Seth that she and Orion kissed during the mission to the Graveyard (to retrieve the Imperial Star) and he encourages her to pursue the relationship. 

Another full moon has arrived, giving Orion the opportunity to read more of the enchanted diary. Darius asks Darcy to come to the estate in case Orion needs help. Once she is there, Darcy and Orion begin arguing after he accuses her of wanting to be with Seth. Their conversation is interrupted by a call from Gabriel, who explains that he has a prophetic vision. At Lionel’s upcoming Christmas party, Gabriel will have chance to use the Royal Seer’s chair (a magical talisman that grants powerful foresight). Gabriel also suggests that Darcy and Orion use the party as an opportunity to search the home of Stella Orion (Lance and Clara’s mother) since Stella will be at the party. 

Darcy and Orion will be looking for a nymph hat (a magical hat that provides access to the memories of the individual who owned it). Darcy has previously been friends with a Nymph named Diego (who disguised his identity until the time of his death) and Diego gifted the hat to her. If she can obtain it, she will have crucial intelligence about the Nymphs and their alliance with Lionel, as well as proof of his treachery. 

With the plan solidified, Darcy and Orion read the diary. It instructs Orion to reform the Zodiac Guild (a group of powerful Fae sworn to protect the Imperial Star and the Vega line). Orion will choose loyal and trustworthy individuals to become members of the guild, and they will pledge their loyalty by enacting a magical ritual involving a chalice. Orion takes the first steps to prepare the chalice; it will not be ready for six weeks (thus the formation of the Guild cannot take place yet). The diary contains powerful spells, but these can only be enacted by Tory or Darcy once they are crowned.

On Christmas Eve, Tory attends Lionel’s ball at the Palace of Souls, maintaining her facade of being under his sway. She and Darius manage to slip away and let Gabriel into the palace. Their plan is to escort him to the Royal Seer’s Chamber so he can receive the vision promised to him by the stars.

While the party is underway at the palace, Darcy and Orion travel to Stella’s estate to find Diego’s hat. Because Lionel has taken all the Nymphs to his party as a display of power, the property is unguarded. They begin their search.

Darius stands guard while Tory escorts Gabriel through the palace’s secret passages. They successfully reach the Royal Seer’s Chamber where Gabriel sits on the enchanted glass throne and receives a cryptic prophecy about “two phoenixes,” a “deceiver,” a “man with the painted smile,” and the need to “choose your destiny” (505). They hurry out of the chamber to avoid being detected. Gabriel directs Tory to return to the party before anyone notices her absence; Darius helps Gabriel through the tunnels leading out of the palace. Before they part ways, Gabriel warns Darius not to break Tory’s heart again. Darius then returns to the party undetected.