Later at the office, Tatianna and Trystan’s sister bring Evie to Tatianna’s room. Evie asks what this is about, to which Tatianna cryptically replies, “I’m afraid this will hurt, my dear” (283).

Meanwhile, Trystan has narrowed down the list of spy suspects to a single person: Tatianna. This makes him feel ill. As he goes to talk to her, he hears Evie screaming in Tatianna’s chamber, and he breaks down the door to find Evie crumpled on the floor while Tatianna holds the enchanted dagger, but all is not as it seems. Because the dagger absorbed some of Evie’s blood when the blacksmith stabbed her, the only way to make her unhealed wound stop hurting is for Evie to expose herself to the pain. Blade arrives; he needs Trystan’s magic to keep the office standing because the guvres are having sex and causing a ruckus. Trystan goes with Blade, leaving Evie screaming from pain due to her exposure to the dagger. Trystan isn’t sure whether he can “keep his power from eviscerating someone” (289) until her ordeal is over.