Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death by suicide and child death.

Diem prepares for the Challenging. After donning her sleek leather outfit, she studies herself in the mirror and asks her friends what they think. Everyone approves.

Before the Challenging, Diem and Luther encounter Aemonn, who is the same horse that Luther rode on the day he met Diem at the hunting cabin. Luther explains that he borrowed Aemonn’s horse that day. Diem realizes that Aemonn, not Luther, is the Descended who Henri witnessed killing the half-mortal boy.

On the way to the arena, Luther stays by Diem’s side. Relieved, she feels his aura move around her.

Diem and Luther ride to the arena together. Before the Challenging, Luther reveals that Teller and Lily recently kissed. They discuss the prospects of their siblings’ relationship, and then Luther gives Diem a new medallion. The phoenix on the medallion that Aemonn gave her had sapphire eyes, but this medallion from Luther has “dark gray diamonds” for its eyes (513). Moved, Diem kisses Luther, losing herself in the moment until Remis interrupts. Teller encourages Diem before the battle.

Remis begins the Challenging.