Lilith awakens three days later in a luxurious bed in Vale’s mansion, feverish and weak. Vale assures her he did not bite her and explains that one of her captors accidentally stabbed her shoulder. When he demands to know why she was willing to undress for her attackers, she responds pragmatically that complying was better than being killed. Vale is appalled but has no answer when she asks what else she could have done.

When Lilith tries to stand, she collapses, and Vale catches her. The vampire is unsettled by her weakness because he previously thought her “infallible,” a compliment that makes her laugh bitterly. Vale observes that she is very ill and senses death near her. Lilith is worried about Mina, but she agrees to recuperate at the mansion after Vale offers to send a human messenger boy to check on her sister daily.

Unable to rest, Lilith repeatedly tries to leave her bed. To keep her occupied, Vale gives her books written in Obitraen, including graphic erotica. When she teases him, he agrees to read a book on vampiric history to her. She falls asleep to his voice and awakens carefully tucked in bed.

Feeling better, Lilith explores the cluttered mansion and discovers a room filled with exquisite weapons. Vale explains that he was the third-best general in the House of Night and kept the weapons to prevent them from being used against his former soldiers.

Later, Lilith draws his blood. They flirt, and Vale’s gaze lingers on her mouth. A loud banging interrupts them. Vale reluctantly answers the door to find a faceless figure.

The faceless being is a magical messenger from Obitraes. Vale is enraged and crushes the letter the figure delivers. He explains that the Rishan are asking him to lead a war. Although the Hiaj rulers are unjust, he says that the prospective Rishan king is unworthy of the throne.

Lilith confronts him passionately, comparing his refusal to help his people to the way humans allow others to die from the plague because their “principles” don’t let them consider options the White Pantheon condemns. She describes the helplessness she felt during the attack and when she watches her town die, nearly sobbing as she thinks of Mina withering away.

Moved, Vale asks her to show him his blood through her lens. She projects it on the wall, enthusiastically explaining the magical, life-affirming properties she sees in it. Vale insists vampire blood has never helped anything, but Lilith maintains it could save the townspeople. Vale tells her she is the one saving them, not his blood, and he offers to help her any way he can.

Vale begins studying with Lilith constantly, helping her find and translate relevant Obitraen books. Time blurs together as they work, and he forces her to rest when exhaustion overtakes her. Three more days pass, and Lilith’s health improves. She considers leaving but admits to herself she does not want to go. She finds a kinship with Vale in their shared curiosity. One day, as she excitedly explains a theory, she catches him staring at her. Embarrassed by her uncharacteristic display of passion, she freezes. Vale calmly observes that she is “a very beautiful woman” (75).

A week after the attack, Lilith feels guilty for being away from home for so long and decides to return to Mina. Vale provides a fine horse for the journey, and his hands linger on her waist and thigh as he helps her mount the steed. He asks permission to write to her. She knows that it’s unwise for her to have more evidence of her interactions with a vampire because this is considered blasphemy against the White Pantheon, but she immediately agrees. They part, promising to see each other in a month.

When Lilith arrives home, Mina hugs her frantically. Lilith stiffens, feeling her sister’s frailty and noticing the dust left on her clothes. She feels guilty for having been happy at Vale’s mansion and for not having written to her sister. Later that day, Mina brings her sister a letter that has arrived from Vale. The message contains annotated pages from his books and a short, stilted message offering his continued help. Lilith smiles, seeing a deeper meaning in his words. Mina warns her to be careful, fearing that someone will discover Lilith’s relationship with the vampire.

Lilith and Vale’s correspondence increases in frequency until they are writing to each other multiple times a day. His messages include personal details and drawings, including a sketch of a nightbane flower with a playful note that recalls his flirtatious observation that her blood would taste “[s]weet with a bitter bite” (84).

Meanwhile, Mina’s condition worsens. Lilith is terrified to find Thomassen comforting a crying Mina in their kitchen because she realizes her sister is beginning to confront her mortality. Unable to help Mina accept death, Lilith retreats to her work. She notes Thomassen’s suspicious stares but is too distracted to worry about him.

One morning, four frantic letters from Vale arrive. He has found an old text detailing experiments on distilling vampire blood. With this breakthrough, Lilith’s new potions begin healing her lab rats, and she finally creates a successful cure.

Farrow arrives in a panic. He warns Lilith that a group of townspeople led by Thomassen are coming to kill Vale and then her because they blame the vampire for the plague. Lilith refuses to flee and tells Farrow to take Mina to safety instead. When an enraged Mina confronts Lilith about going to Vale, Lilith sees how close to death her sister is. The dust gathering at her feet makes it clear that Mina isn’t well enough to travel.

After a heated exchange, Lilith injects Mina with the cure, which is still untested on humans, tells her to lock the door, and prepares to leave. Farrow, seeing a ruthless new side of Lilith, insists on accompanying her. She grabs an axe and they depart.

Lilith and Farrow ride hard toward Vale’s mansion. She feels foolish for not realizing her association with Vale would endanger him. The townspeople, driven by fear and desperation, believe sacrificing Vale to Vitarus will end the plague. As they approach, Lilith smells fire and burning flesh. She rides through Vale’s gates to find the estate covered in blood.

At first, Lilith is relieved to see only human blood, but she then spots trails of black blood leading to the garden. She finds Vale on his knees, grievously wounded with severe sunburns on his wings and face. She throws herself in front of Vale to shield the vampire from Thomassen and his few remaining men.

When she desperately claims Vale could be the cure to the plague, Thomassen realizes the truth about her work and his hatred intensifies. He raises his sword. Lilith attacks with her axe, striking his shoulder and throat. In the chaos, she is wounded. Farrow joins the fight. Vale, in a desperate burst of strength, kills two men and rips Thomassen’s heart out before collapsing.

Lilith and Farrow drag Vale inside. They realize that a vampire killing a high-ranking acolyte will likely draw Vitarus’s wrath. Lilith decides to burn the bodies to hide the evidence. She gives Farrow the bag containing the cure and instructs him to take it to Adcova. Vale urges her to go, but she refuses, saying she still owes him roses. Farrow leaves with what feels like a final goodbye.

Lilith wants to treat Vale’s injuries, but he insists that she burn the bodies first to reduce the risk of Vitarus discovering what happened. She reluctantly creates a pyre. By dusk, she returns, worried that she should have healed him first. Vale directs her to glowing bottles of Obitraen medicine in his study. She helps him to his bedroom and applies the magical potions to his wounds, especially the severe sunburns.

Lilith is overcome with guilt because she believes her carelessness led to the attack. Vale reassures her that this is not the first time humans have used him as a scapegoat, and he notes that Farrow is in love with her. She admits they were together once, but she could not give him what he wanted. Vale announces he has decided to return to Obitraes and describes his great love for the House of Night empire he once helped build. Though Lilith knows he must leave for both their safety, the thought pains her. Vale admits he is no longer sure he wants to go back home, implying he has given part of himself to her. He asks why she came back for him, and she lies that her work is not done. He makes her meet his gaze and asks her for whatever time she is willing to give him. Overwhelmed, she confesses that she is dying from a lifelong illness. He repeats that he will take whatever she offers. Moved by his acceptance, she kisses him.

The kiss deepens, and Lilith and Vale move to his bed. He kisses her neck, lingering over her pulse, and she momentarily wishes he would bite her. Although Lilith usually avoids eye contact, she agrees to face Vale so that they can gaze into each other’s faces as they have sex. Afterwards, he holds her close. A sudden dread settles on Lilith because she fears losing Vale.

The next day, Lilith awakens in Vale’s arms. Looking out the window, she sees the sky warped with unnatural swirling clouds and flickering lights that signal a god’s imminent arrival. The phenomenon centers over Adcova.

Lilith tells Vale he must leave immediately. He offers to go to Adcova with her or flee together to draw Vitarus away, but she knows the vampire’s presence would only intensify the god’s wrath. Vale admits he is desperate and tells her she does not have to face this alone. Lilith realizes how precious their connection is and wants to beg him to stay. Instead, she gives him the fourth rose and tells him to leave. He doesn’t argue.

Lilith hurries back home and sees Mina in the fields behind their house. For the first time in months, there is no dust around Mina. Mina looks up at the sky where Vitarus has appeared at the center of the swirling clouds.