Immediately after leaving the library, an enraged Slade is met by Osrik, a member of his Wrath who is upset to learn that Midas struck Auren. Slade repeats that he cannot kill Midas due to political repercussions and because Auren is not ready. He notes that Lu, another member of his Wrath, is watching the prince but has observed no threats yet.

Slade and Osrik encounter Midas, who invites them into the ballroom. There, Slade observes extensive gilding and realizes Midas has exhausted Auren’s power for a mere display of wealth. Midas’s royal saddles enter, accompanied by an old, robed attendant named Odo. Midas offers them to Slade, who refuses in disgust.

Midas reveals he knows about Deadwell and the unsanctioned village, Drollard, within Slade’s newly acquired territory. Despite them never being on official maps or paying taxes, he allows Slade to keep the land, as agreed, without punishment. In exchange, Midas demands that Rip—not knowing Slade is Rip—stay away from Auren, promising his people will leave Drollard once the commander departs Ranhold.

Outside, Slade decides his army will leave in two days, skipping the ball entirely. He will personally eliminate the spies Midas sent to Drollard. Conflicted about abandoning Auren, Slade heads into the woods alone to release his volatile rot magic.

The next day, Auren wakes after a sleepless night consumed by thoughts of Slade. Using her ribbons as ropes, she climbs from her balcony down to an abandoned guest room on a lower floor. She navigates the castle halls until she reaches the snowflake-adorned door of Slade’s royal quarters.

Someone else disguised in Slade’s fae form answers, and Auren mentally dubs him Fake Rip. He lets her inside to wait. She explores the sitting room, then enters Slade’s bedroom.

In his dressing room, Auren discovers a feathered coat and remembers throwing it in Slade’s face when he first revealed himself. The realization that he kept it overwhelms her. Returning to the bedroom, she impulsively leans down to smell his pillow. She accidentally turns the pillow gold.

Her sentient ribbons begin playfully rolling around in Slade’s bedsheets. As she tries to retrieve them, Slade returns and catches her, amused.

Mortified at being caught, Auren tries to explain herself. Slade reveals he is angry, but not with her. Auren tells him she wanted to explain her past: At age five, she was stolen from Annwyn during a war, smuggled into Orea, and sold to a man in Derfort who forced her into sex work as a child. She did not escape until she was 15.

She explains that when Midas found her, she was broken and had never known kindness from a man. She believed his possessiveness was love because she had no basis for comparison. Now she recognizes his treatment as another form of abuse, buried beneath his obsession with gold and himself. Auren tells Slade he is the first person ever to see her as a human being. She declares she is done holding back and tells him she wants him.

Slade’s initial silence makes Auren feel rejected, and she tries to leave. He stops her, admitting he has wanted her since they first met and was planning to leave the next day to respect her choices. But now that she has chosen him, he wants all of her. Auren agrees she wants all of him in return.

Slade determines they have about half an hour until sunset, when he can finally touch her without being turned to gold. He teases that she is in love with him, but she denies this. He asks Auren to undress for him so he can watch without touching. He pins her against the wall without making skin contact and promises to do more come nightfall.

Slade sits in a chair by the fire, waiting until the sun has fully set. Auren reflects that she would rather risk making mistakes than live with the regret of not taking this chance. She slowly undresses for him as he watches.

As dusk falls, Slade stands and begins undressing, removing his shirt to reveal the intricate power markings beneath his pale skin. Auren tells him he is beautiful, unafraid. When the sun sets, Auren confirms her gold-touch power is dormant. Slade kisses her.

Slade and Auren kiss fiercely, and he carries her to the bed. They have sex, and afterward, as they lie tangled together, Slade reflects on how close he came to losing her. He vows never to let her down. Auren asks if they can do it again, and Slade agrees.

Before dawn, Auren lies awake on Slade’s chest, savoring their shared intimacy. As dawn arrives, she dresses and tries to leave quietly. Slade awakens and stops her, teasing. In the sitting room, she finds Slade’s body double eating breakfast. The double jokes about her night with Slade until Slade enters and smacks his helmet, demanding an apology.

Slade and his double have a tense, coded exchange about an urgent matter requiring Slade’s attention, but Slade insists it can wait. After sending the double to the balcony, Slade asks Auren if she has regrets. She assures him she does not.

As Auren prepares to leave, Slade deliberately stalls her, encouraging her to eat more breakfast. Amused, Auren insists on leaving. Slade relents but invites her to visit the army camp that night, arranging for Lu to sneak her out through her balcony. Auren agrees.