While working on a Tarot assignment that references a riddle about the Palace of Souls, Darcy is surprised by Orion appearing at her window. He tells her he has just returned from dinner at Lionel’s house, where Stella used shadow magic to hurt Xavier. As they get intimate, he feeds on her blood, but they are interrupted by a knock at the door from Diego. Orion hides in the bathroom while Diego enters to apologize for past behavior.

Diego reveals that he can sense the shadows within Darcy, Tory, Darius, and Orion because his family practices dark magic. His grandmother used soul magic to bind her spirit to physical objects, including Diego’s hat, which allows him to hear and control the shadow voices. He confesses that his Uncle Alejandro, who works for Lionel Acrux, ordered him to spy on the twins, but he promises not to reveal their shadow curse. After Diego leaves, Orion emerges furious and orders Darcy never to see Diego again, warning that soul magic is dangerous. They argue about whether Diego can be trusted, but their argument ends in renewed intimacy.

During an evening run, Tory reflects on her secret practice with shadow magic and how she wants to set her Phoenix Order free. Caleb ambushes her and jumps off a cliff, forcing her to use air magic to save them both. They land on the beach and have sex. Afterward, Tory asks him to bite her, viewing it for the first time as a gift rather than the removal of her agency.

Back at The Orb, Tory tells Darcy about her solo shadow practice. Darcy is initially alarmed, but Tory argues that Orion is holding them back to ensure Darius remains stronger and that she needs to master the darkness to protect herself. Professor Gabriel arrives and uses stardust, a glittering substance used for magical transportation, to take them to the Baruvian Ravine for their first Order Enhancement lesson. He teaches them to summon their flaming Phoenix wings while keeping their full Order form hidden. Both sisters glide on the canyon’s updrafts before taking flight.

Darius arrives at Orion’s apartment to celebrate his 26th birthday, hoping he’ll stop obsessing over Tory. He finds Orion in stained sweatpants, planning to spend the evening alone, but convinces him to go out. He gives him expensive Pitball tickets as a gift. Gabriel unexpectedly arrives, having foreseen the party in a vision. He gives Orion a cheap plastic ring that is part of an inside joke, which Orion values more than Darius’s expensive present, making Darius feel excluded.

Gabriel reveals he has already modified their reservation at Celest, an exclusive nightclub, to include additional guests. Using stardust, they travel to the club where they discover Gabriel has invited Tory and Darcy. Darius is thrilled to see Tory despite pretending to be annoyed. He cannot stop watching her, but she pointedly ignores him. Gabriel suggests they play a game of dares where anyone who refuses or fails must drink Sourache, a magical shot that causes intense physical pain. For his first dare, Darius challenges Tory to be nice to him for the rest of the night. She refuses and takes the shot.

As Orion’s birthday party continues, he becomes increasingly intoxicated while trying to ignore his attraction to Darcy. Gabriel dares him to steal a neckerchief from a man at the bar, and Orion chooses Tory as his partner. He successfully distracts the man long enough for Tory to steal the neckerchief, which endears him to her.

For Darcy’s turn, Orion dares her to make Darius laugh, which she accomplishes by splashing water in Orion’s face. Later, very drunk, Orion tells Darius he loves him and that Darius should pursue Tory. Gabriel leaves. When Darius offers an after-party invitation that Tory ignores, he leaves. Orion takes the twins home, and after Tory departs for her own House, he and Darcy are left alone. He uses his Vampire speed to carry her to his empty classroom. As a birthday gift, Darcy presents him with handwritten vouchers for various sexual favors. His choice leads to passionate sex on his desk while he drinks her blood. Afterward, he feels happier than he has in years.

The day after Orion’s birthday, Darcy daydreams about their night together during Water Elemental class. Professor Washer attempts to use his Siren powers to read her emotions, but her Phoenix abilities block his influence. The Siren Max flirts with Geraldine again, trying to renew her interest in him, but she rebuffs him. Darcy catches Darius staring at Tory.

That evening, Darcy receives a message summoning her to Principal Nova’s office. She panics that her relationship with Orion has been discovered when she finds Orion waiting outside. Nova shows them a photograph from the birthday party of Darcy touching Orion’s arm, which was posted online. They successfully convince Nova that Darcy has an unrequited crush on her professor. Nova scolds Darcy for inappropriate behavior, suggests she find a mate her own age, and warns of severe consequences if she continues to pursue Orion. Afterward, Darcy retreats to a bathroom, believing they must end their relationship. Orion follows her into a stall and insists they cannot stop; they only need to be more careful. Darcy admits she wants a future with him. They agree to continue more cautiously.

Walking back through The Wailing Wood, Darcy encounters Seth Capella, the Alpha of a Werewolf pack. He reveals Darcy is his pack’s unwilling Omega and pleads with her to formally challenge him, explaining it is the only way he can remove her and reunite with his pack. Taking pity on him, she agrees. His pack emerges from the woods, and he shifts into his giant Wolf form while Darcy must fight as a Fae to hide her Phoenix nature. He bites her leg and breaks her ribs. She submits by shouting that he wins. He immediately releases her, shifts back, heals her injuries with genuine remorse, and leaves with his reunited pack.

Caleb arrives late to Cardinal Magic class. Professor Orion docks House points, and they share a moment of rivalry, as they’re both strong Vampires. Seth boasts about having sex with his pack now that they have reunited, earning a detention from Orion. For their advanced lesson, Orion assigns the Celestial Heirs—Darius, Caleb, Max, and Seth—to practice voice illusions. Caleb texts Tory multiple times asking her out, but she rejects him.

The Heirs create illusions of Tory’s voice making crude jokes, which sparks a debate about their ongoing plan to subjugate the twins and ruin their claim to the throne. Caleb argues that the Vegas were not born to submit and will eventually match their skill and exceed their power. Max and Seth want to crush the women while they still hold advantages. Darius remains indecisive and postpones the decision until a Saturday meeting.

Max becomes fixated on Geraldine and approaches her desk, unleashing his full Siren power to make her desire him. The entire class is affected, but Geraldine remains immune. Orion stops Max but commends Geraldine. Max vows to make her fall for him regardless. The Heirs notice that Darius has been darker since the Lunar Eclipse and resolve to get him to open up during their Saturday gathering.

While playing a hunting game with Caleb through Jupiter Hall, Tory hides in Orion’s office. After Caleb leaves, Orion lectures her on the dangers of the hunt, explaining that it dangerously amplifies a Vampire’s primal bloodlust and instincts. Tory reveals she created the game to have a chance of avoiding being bitten. They share an unexpectedly friendly moment, and she asks him to call her by her first name. She accidentally admits she drinks heavily every night to avoid nightmares from the shadows but lies when he presses her about practicing proper control. She refuses his suggestion to seek help from Darius. After Caleb loses the game by running out of time, he furiously throws fireballs at The Orb, proving Orion’s point about a Vampire’s lack of control during a hunt.

Later, Gabriel Nox tells Tory she must ask Darius for stardust to continue their flying lessons, assuring her his vision shows Darius will provide it if she asks tonight. Reluctantly, she goes to Darius’s room late that night. He gives it to her but insists they talk. When she lists the ways he has hurt her, her fear triggers the shadows. She begins draining his magic as the shadows feed on his power. Darius does not fight back, instead lowering his defenses and urging her to resist the darkness. A memory of waking safely in his arms after the Eclipse helps her regain control. He promises he will never let the shadows claim her, but when she demands to know why he cares, he cannot articulate an explanation or apology. Frustrated, Tory takes the stardust and leaves. When he assumes she is going to Caleb, he makes a cutting remark. They reaffirm their enmity as she returns to her room. She sinks onto her bed, crying.