That evening at the kjaer in a meadow behind the castle, Galantia sits with Malyr and Sebian. She spots Lorn arguing with and punching Lord Aros of House Batana, her fated mate whom she continues to reject.

At the crowd’s urging, Malyr pulls Galantia onto his lap to court her. He gives her a bracelet decorated with buttons and speaks the first oath, pledging to treasure her. Using a knife, he publicly cuts a blue silk ribbon from her other wrist—a courting gift from a secret suitor—as a public warning, threatening to castrate anyone who dared court her.

Malyr performs a grooming ritual, running his fingers through her hair, and speaks the second oath, promising to care for her. He then offers her a blackberry held between his lips. Galantia takes the berry with her mouth, their lips meeting in a lingering almost-kiss. When the crowd applauds, they pull apart. He speaks the third oath, vowing to provide for her, then leads Galantia to dance. She panics, having forgotten all the steps to the Raven dance, but the music that starts to play is familiar to her.

The musicians play a Dranadian song instead of the expected Raven dance. Malyr leads Galantia in a human dance she knows by heart, explaining his mother taught him as a boy.

Malyr tells her he will always show her public respect but remain cruel in private. When she asks whether he will ever tire of hating her, he says his hatred is necessary to avoid betraying his family—yet he holds her close with trembling fingers, suggesting his feelings conflict with his duty.

Galantia asks what would happen if she were not a Brisden. Malyr freezes, looks away, and refuses to answer. He quickly speaks the fourth oath, promising to fly with her, and releases her. Overwhelmed, Galantia excuses herself and walks away from the festivities.

Galantia storms into the dark wetlands. Sebian and Malyr pursue her. When she confronts Malyr about his confusing behavior, he becomes enraged that she abandoned him publicly and grabs her throat. Sebian pins her arms while Malyr performs oral sex on her. When Malyr attempts penetrative sex, Galantia sees it as her opportunity to become pregnant. However, he sees through her plan, instead penetrating her anally. Malyr then releases his shadows to stimulate her, turning pain into pleasure. When Galantia orgasms, “cry[ing] out in bliss and defeat alike” (290), Malyr makes a final oath: He vows to protect their young, adding he would never let his child near her father.

Sebian cleans and comforts Galantia under an oak tree while Malyr sits apart. She asks if they often share women; Sebian explains Raven courtship allows multiple suitors, but the female chooses. They almost kiss when a flock of birds taking flight breaks the moment. Galantia is reminded of a white seagull she used to see along the shores as a child. However, Malyr appears, surprising her, and corrects her, saying it was a dove she must have seen as there are no white seagulls on their shores. Sebian falls asleep.

Galantia approaches Malyr. He reveals Sebian’s family was burned alive in a raid by Prince Domren while Sebian, delayed by an injured animal, was absent from his guard post. He arrived to find them dead and was badly burned trying to save them. Galantia realizes Sebian’s guilt drives his need to protect her.

Malyr asks about a salt crystal pendant her father wears, claiming it was taken from him and meant for his fated mate. When Galantia mentions seeing Malyr reading about The Endless Ache—the pain of separation from a fated mate—he silences her and hides them in shadows.

Galantia overhears Lorn and her fated mate, Lord Aros, arguing. Lord Aros insists that he loves her despite knowing about the “rape” she experienced in the “dungeons.” When Lorn responds that only someone who was there could understand it—referring to Malyr—Malyr quickly covers Galantia’s ears so she can no longer hear. Galantia is confused, unaware of what happened in the dungeons and unsure what Malyr is hiding.

Once they are gone, Galantia asks what will happen to their marriage if he finds his true mate. Malyr insists that he no longer wants to find his mate as he is no longer the person he was supposed to be because of the dungeons. He does not want his mate to “suffer” with him but vows that Galantia will do so.

The next morning, Sebian secretly observes Malyr watching Galantia style the hair of Tjema. After Tjema leaves, Sebian and Galantia have sex on her desk. He reflects on the intimacy he feels but holds back from kissing her.

Leaving, Sebian sees Cici exiting Malyr’s chambers with mussed hair. He confronts Malyr, who deflects by noting Galantia is sleeping with Sebian. Sebian observes, however, that Malyr has not actually slept with Cici. When Sebian asks why Malyr gifted buttons rather than true courting treasures, which are collected by his anoa, Malyr insists that those things will remain in the life that “should have been” (310). Malyr says he will not give them to a woman who can never truly be his—then notes that Sebian, who will not kiss Galantia, should understand.

Snow begins falling. Malyr spills ink on a letter informing Lord Kullen that Prince Domren and 50 riders were spotted far north seeking a new alliance. When Sebian learns Domren’s party has no archers, his desire for revenge flares. Malyr refuses to weaken the army before the wedding and Galantia’s departure to free Marla in 11 days, but Sebian declares he will go north alone to kill Domren and demands Malyr mark the location.

Galantia waits in the stables. Malyr arrives and informs her Sebian has flown north to hunt Domren, suggesting Sebian’s initial pursuit of her was revenge—a way to hurt his enemy by sleeping with his betrothed. Though Galantia doubts this, uncertainty lingers.

Malyr mounts her on his horse and gives her a riding lesson, then challenges her to canter across a meadow. She accepts, and as she rides, Malyr shifts into five ravens that soar playfully around her. When the horse stumbles, he reforms and steadies her.

Galantia sees a genuine smile on Malyr’s face. He reveals he often watches her and knows her habits and what makes her truly happy. When she asks why, he says she is “beautiful” then warns her that, if she runs from his charm this time, the only arms left are his as Sebian is gone.

At the western coast cliffs, Galantia and Malyr watch Raven commoners and children fly. Malyr speaks reverently of his younger sister, Naya, who died young. Galantia apologizes for her role in Harlen’s death; Malyr says he killed Harlen by failing to unleash his disobedient shadows to help them escape.

Malyr tells her that by Raven custom she is already his mate for accepting his gifts. To reassure her of his commitment, he reveals he has been sending grain and supplies to Tidestone, to be delivered after Marla is freed. The assurance brings relief but also the realization that security without love is not enough.

They observe a young Raven man kiss a girl who slaps him. Malyr explains the berry-feeding ritual at the kjaer was “the kiss of the raven” (331), which is reserved for a mate. At the same time, refusing to kiss someone is a sign of permanent rejection. Galantia realizes with anguish that this is why Sebian has never kissed her.

Malyr sees her distress and gives her a deep, passionate human kiss. Overwhelmed, she breaks away and says they should return. On the horse, she admits that she knows he will hurt her again. Malyr agrees, asking how else he can reconcile his powerful feelings for her, then turns her head forward and whispers that if he looks too long, he might forget who she is—a Brisden. This gives her a powerful hope that he could one day love her, which she struggles against during the ride home.