Rhonin frees Raina’s ankles. He reminds her vaguely of Mena. She surveys the camp, noting around 50 soldiers, dozens of horses, and nearly 1,000 crows. She watches Nephele, who’s locked in a prison carriage, and wonders whether the Eastlanders also captured Colden. At the healer’s tent, Rhonin reveals that he’s a spy and had nothing to do with harming Helena. He informs Raina that the prince is meeting with Vexx and Killian, and that after the meeting, Raina is to heal the prince and then his soldiers under Vexx’s supervision.

Killian will soon move south with some Witch Walkers. Raina is devastated to learn that Colden surrendered to save Winterhold after the prince used excessive fire magick. Rhonin continues to explain that once Raina finishes healing, the army will move south to Malgros and then across the Malorian Sea to Itunnan in the Summerlands, likely aided by traitorous Northlanders. Rhonin tells Raina to use a dagger he slips into her bodice to escape and free Nephele. She’s to stab him in the process and flee.

Through eye signals, Raina asks Rhonin why he hasn’t killed the prince. He explains that the prince has leverage over his family and that the crows would report any death. However, Raina realizes that she can kill the prince without consequences. Rhonin advises her to hold on, reminding her that “there is no victory without sacrifice” (269). Raina prepares for what’s to come.

The prince enters with Nephele. Rhonin unties Raina’s hands while Vexx ties a rope around her neck. The prince begins questioning her, and Nephele translates. He demands to know how her healing works. Raina explains that she weaves the threads of wounds. He’s fascinated, wishing everyone could see such threads to escape death. He tells Raina to prove herself by healing a wound on her arm, which she does, and then demands that she heal him.

When Raina tries, the threads in the prince’s body feel wrong—smoldering, foul-smelling, and decaying. His soul threads are damaged, and Raina detects husks of other threads, likely remnants of stolen lives. She sings a spell in Elikesh, which Nephele can’t translate. Upon touching his temple, Raina sees a vision of a dying prisoner, possibly the source of the prince’s leached power.

A commotion outside cuts the session short. A crow delivers urgent news. Furious, the prince orders that Raina and Nephele be locked up and that the prisoners begin marching south. On the way to the carriage, Raina sees Vexx kneeling and begging before the prince. Rhonin and Killian argue about Raina’s placement; Rhonin wins and shoves Raina inside a prison carriage. There, she finds that the only other prisoner is Colden.

Colden asks Raina about Alexus. She signs that Vexx killed him. Colden never learned Raina’s language but infers that something’s wrong with Alexus. As the carriage speeds forward, mist follows them. Colden urges her to prepare for chaos. Raina grabs the dagger just before the carriage flips and shatters. Another carriage has also crashed. Raina hears battle cries. She pulls her dagger from Colden’s shoulder and picks his locks.

Suddenly, the mist forms into Neri (a man-wolf hybrid and God of the North), surrounded by wolves. Neri confronts Colden, mocks his efforts, and lifts the frost curse Colden once placed on him. Despite Colden’s protests and Raina’s attempts to intervene, Neri stares her down, paralyzing her with fear before vanishing.

Neri tells Raina to tell “him” that his debt is paid and disappears. Colden is distraught, unable to access his frost powers. Nephele arrives and hugs Raina. Colden reminds them that they must fight. He tells them Neri removed the curse, and they find Killian dead nearby, retrieving her keys to free the Witch Walkers.

They return to the camp to find Eastlander bodies scattered and Alexus at the center of the chaos, bearing a starburst scar from the God Knife. Raina realizes that Alexus must have released Neri before being stabbed. The Witch Walkers chant support spells to help in the fight against the remaining Eastlanders. Everyone fights, including Helena, Rhonin, Nephele, and Colden. Raina sees the prince and Vexx observing the chaos. The prince inhales a soul, making himself stronger.

Raina attacks soldiers. Alexus chants in Elikesh, enabling Raina to form a magical amethyst sword. She kills her foe but loses control of her power. The prince appears, and crows swoop down, devouring souls. Raina ignites the birds, burning them in midair. The prince and Vexx vanish. As Raina prepares to pursue Vexx, a burning wind erupts. The Witch Walkers fall silent. Raina sees the prince holding Nephele at knifepoint with the God Knife.

Raina, Alexus, Colden, Helena, and Rhonin understand the prince’s retaliation. He reduced the Witch Walkers to ash. The prince claims that he needs Nephele’s power because his current mage is failing. Raina realizes that he’s already siphoning Nephele’s magick. She charges at him, but he disappears with her in smoke. Colden tries to pull Raina out of the shadows just as their souls are both sucked into a red cloud.

In the Shadow World, Raina sees thousands of souls and a gate guarded by a wraith-like entity that labels her a trespasser. She finds Colden and Nephele, both bound by crimson shadows. Raina feels tethered herself. The prince arrives, threatening Colden. Closing her eyes, Raina sees the Winter Road, where Alexus, Helena, and Rhonin hover over her body. Alexus carves runes into both their bodies, linking them.

Raina realizes that the prince uses the Shadow World as a portal. She clings to Nephele and Colden, trying to summon magick. At last, she forms fire. She lashes out at the prince, wounding him. However, when she attempts to flee with her companions, the prince recaptures Nephele and Colden, choking Raina. They fight. Raina nearly wins until the prince pins her and raises the God Knife.

In pain, she slips into a void. She hears Colden urging her to save Nephele. He releases her hand and vanishes. Grieving, Raina holds onto Nephele and moves toward the light.

Alexus, regaining his power after centuries, feels Raina return. He reflects on their bond and the runes that now connect them.