Content Warning: The source material features depictions of oppression, discrimination, and graphic death and violence.

Two days after Bryce Quinlan disappears and her allies are captured, Lidia Cervos—the Hind to the Asteri, but also Agent Daybright for the Ophion rebels—remains undercover in the Triarii. Meanwhile, Autumn King Einar Danann renounces both Bryce and Ruhn Danaan as his children. The Asteri inform Einar that Bryce is no longer in Midgard. It’s widely believed that Hel is the only realm that can be accessed through Midgard, so it’s assumed that Bryce is there. The Fae king is not punished but required not to speak of his meeting with the Asteri.

As Asteri Guards permanently monitor the portal Bryce crossed, the Asteri task their 1,000 mystics—special enslaved Vanir capable of seeing into other worlds—with locating Bryce. The Asteri’s efforts convince Lidia that Bryce must not be in Hel as they’ve claimed.

Meanwhile, the Asteri have created new weaponry: an army of battle-ready mech-suits that don’t require a pilot to operate. This tech spells trouble for the human rebels. As the Hind, Lidia is charged by the Asteri with interrogating the imprisoned Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian (formerly the Helhound). Throughout their torture sessions, Lidia attempts to telepathically communicate with Ruhn but is ignored by him.