Kai brings Paedyn his copy of Shadow and Soul, the book about Astrum. They spend the next hours lying together and reading in Kai’s cabin. He begs her not to leave when she moves to go.

Kai wakes up, horrified to discover that Paedyn is missing. He races up to the deck to find her bound and gagged. To his horror, the sailors push her over the ship’s edge. He uses the power of one of his retinue, who has Telekinesis power, to pull her back up before she hits the water (Kai’s magical power is that of a Wielder—he can use other Elites’ magical powers in their proximity). Once she’s safe, he clutches her to his chest.

Paedyn is terrified that she’s going to die until Kai saves her. He begs to know if she’s okay while holding her in his arms. Afterward, Torri calls Paedyn and Kai into his cabin, apologizing for his crew’s behavior. Kai warns him to watch his men. Back in Kai’s cabin, Kai makes Paedyn promise that she’ll keep her dagger nearby.

The Reckoning raises a white flag as they approach Izram so that Izram knows they come in peace. A captain of the guard meets them on shore and escorts them to the castle. Inside, they meet with Queen Zailah. She hears Paedyn’s pleas for peace. Impressed, she lets her stay in the castle but demands that the others return to the Reckoning. She’s wary about making any agreements with Ilya, given their fraught history.

Kai sneaks into Paedyn’s room in the castle that evening. They talk intimately and spend the night together. In the morning, Kai wakes to Zailah by their bedside. She confronts him for betraying Kitt by being with Paedyn and forces him to leave before Paedyn wakes up.

Paedyn is surprised to see Zailah in her room when she wakes up. She admits that she saw and talked to Kai. Then, they discuss the life of a queen and what it entails. They also discuss the kingdom’s future. Zailah gives Paedyn advice, confident that she’ll make a good ruler, and accepts her trade proposal.

Paedyn and Kai spend the return trip to Ilya in Paedyn’s cabin. They discuss their relationship and what will happen when they return to Ilya. Kai admits that it worries him to choose between her and Kitt.

Edric’s advisor Oliver Rowe proposed a plan to Edric. He brought Edric his daughter Myla, offering her as his new queen. She was a talented Elite who would make a good match. She had a son from another relationship, but he was very powerful, and Edric could claim him as his son. The men decided to tell the kingdom that Iris died two years prior in childbirth with Kitt; shortly thereafter, Edric secretly married Myla, and they’d since had a son. The subjects wouldn’t know any different because they hadn’t seen or heard word of Iris in years.

Kai and Paedyn spend a few days apart on the ship; things have been tense since their last conversation about the fate of their relationship. Kai has occupied himself gambling with the crew but is constantly worried about Paedyn. Finally, one night, they run into each other on deck. While they’re making amends, the boat starts rocking violently. A giant monster emerges from the water. Kai is terrified that he and Paedyn will both die. He tries protecting her, but Paedyn reminds him that this is her Trial.

Paedyn races toward the monster and stabs it to death with her dagger. She and Kai run into each other’s arms. The crew chants her honorary nickname: the Silver Savior.

As the Reckoning approaches Ilya, Paedyn and Kai stand on deck and discuss everything they’ve overcome and everything they still have to face. They’re unsure of what will happen to them and afraid that they might hurt each other. Finally, they dock. On shore, they greet Kitt and tell him about the Trial. Kitt insists that Paedyn will “make a fine queen” (313).

Kitt throws a feast in honor of Paedyn’s return. During the dinner, Kitt’s cousin Andy teases him about staring at Paedyn. When Blair enters, Kai notices how upset Paedyn looks. She gives a toast that sounds like a threat to Blair; Kai overhears Kitt scolding her.

After the feast, Kai, Kitt, and Paedyn retreat to the cellar to drink and talk. The brothers reminisce about their childhood. Kitt exclaims at how much he’s missed Kai.

Paedyn and Ellie discuss Paedyn’s wedding, including the dress and flowers. Afterward, Paedyn has a restless night’s sleep, filled with dreams of Adena. Upset when she wakes up, she sneaks out and heads to Loot Alley. She’s overwhelmed by memories and sadness and returns to her and Adena’s old fort. There, she runs into an unfamiliar man, who blames her for Adena’s death. Paedyn realizes that he is Adena’s former lover, Mak. The two mourn Adena together.

Kai and Kitt joust in the training ring the next morning. They talk about their relationship and swear their loyalty to each other.

Paedyn finds a letter from Kai under her door. Because they’re trying to spend less time together, Kai thinks they should start passing letters. She writes back immediately thereafter. They continue exchanging notes for the rest of the day. In each letter, Paedyn fights the urge to tell Kai that she loves him.

In the years after marrying Myla, Edric noticed how close Kitt and Kai became. He’d fallen in love with Myla and was impressed by Kai’s powers but had no affection for the boy. Meanwhile, he saw how hard Kitt tried to please him.

Overwhelmed by emotion from her trip to Loot Alley, Paedyn sneaks out of her room that night to find Blair. She finds Blair outside her chambers, and an altercation ensues. Lenny tries to intervene, but the women start battling each other. It ends in Blair’s death.

After hearing about the battle, Kai races out in search of Paedyn. He’s relieved to discover that she’s alive, and they talk about what happened. Paedyn admits that killing Blair hasn’t brought Adena back, but at least she avenged Adena. Kitt joins them and announces that Paedyn’s third Trial will begin the next day. Kai notices that Kitt looks unwell, but Kitt insists that he’s just tired.