Nyktos and Seraphena continue their conversation in the privacy of his office, where he tells her that he chose to get his Kardia removed because he saw what the loss of love did to his father and to his uncle, so he didn’t want to repeat either of those mistakes. When Nyktos asks her opinion on the plan, Sera hopes that it works, but then she realizes that she can now hope too–that maybe she could have a future without an early death, and she felt a bit selfish for it because it would mean more attacks until the plan was carried out in full. And to think all the theories as to why he was not listed in the Primal list was because he was a traitor and was suspicious. Seraphena also accepts to take on a charm that will make it difficult for her to be taken against her will. Nektas asks a few more questions, and reveals that Eythos could raise the bones of the dead, but it’s not the same as restoring life to the recently departed.

Nyktos also tells Sera that the Rot should disappear once the Embers of life are in him, which fills her with relief, because it means that there is a future for her realm/country. Still Sera wants to do something to ease the situation in Lasania, but Nyktos tells her that anything from Ilisseum would quickly degrade as it moved between the Primal and Mortal realms.The author did a splendid job with her, and I will be happy to read another book with her as the main character, as long as the long inner monologues are toned down a bit. Nyktos tells Ector that Sera was attempting to make her way to Dalos to kill Kolis, and then Nyktos takes her to his room and tells her that she’s going to be sleeping within arms length of him.

He tells both Seraphena and Nyktos about the Star, a type of diamond that is the conduit that would transfer the essence.Penallaphe believes that Kolis won’t show up or care about the Consort Celebration, but he has been known to meddle in things. He warns her that they will most likely be getting unwanted visitors due to Bele’s Ascension, and she needs to stay hidden until the coronation, but Sera wonders if it wouldn’t make more sense to cancel the coronation as in five months she would go through the Culling and die anyway.