Essex, Pax, and Alden separate to investigate multiple leads, but divide and conquer is not going as planned. Meanwhile, the former Queen's location has changed dramatically. Her demeanor? Not so much. But sometimes a change of scenery can really open your eyes to things right in front of your face.

Phaedra, Pax, and Alden go inside the still-burning prison to talk with the Queen who is also a prisoner there. They want to know why Lysander was a target of the recent chain of killings. She points out that unlike the other killings, Lysander’s body is missing. For some reason, he was kidnapped, not killed.

They go back to get Valorie and the others. Phaedra wants to move them all for their protection. They also go to Pax’s to get his family as well. When his kids learn that they don’t know much about Dagmar, they are excited to help solve the mystery. Phaedra sneaks into Joya’s room and leaves her mech-wings for her to find. This way, she can help fix at least one of the many injuries that came from the fires.

Phaedra runs into Iona, who gave them information about the killings of Freyal and his girlfriend. Now Iona wishes she hadn’t helped, because she feels guilty about doing something that lead to the fires that destroyed her own neighborhood. Phaedra admits she doesn’t know if she would have destroyed the Taka-absorbing machine if she knew how bad it would have been for the people of the town.

Renna, who is a leader of the underground, shows up. They all talk with Dagmar, who has now woken up. She says that her memories have been removed.