Serpent & Dove

The rescue team is within sight of the Chateau, though only Hélène can see it. Reid senses Lou’s energy in this place. He thinks he’s lying to himself, but Coco can feel her too. Coco reveals to Reid that she and Lou were childhood friends despite their guardians’ disapproval. Coco didn’t know about the planned sacrifice, but when Lou disappeared, Coco believed she was dead. Coco escaped to Cesarine to get away from her aunt, and to her surprise, Lou discovered her there. Coco blames herself for the argument about Reid at the palace. She tells Reid he’s Lou’s best chance and makes him promise to get her out and let Coco handle helping Ansel, Beau, and Hélène.

Reid worries about breaching the gates, but Hélène approaches and tells them they’ll be walking through the front doors of the Chateau since men are allowed in as consorts. With magic, she changes everyone’s appearance and casts a protective bubble around them. After holding Reid’s Balisarda, Hélène reveals that it was forged by Angelica’s tears, not by Constantin. She tells him he needs to leave it at camp because the witches will detect its magic.

Because it is Modraniht, many witches are outside the castle looking for consorts. In disguise, Beau, Reid, and Ansel approach a group of witches, who invite them to the castle. As they approach, they see Coco on the arm of another witch, but Hélène is nowhere to be found. They begin to cross the bridge to Chateau le Blanc.

The snowy courtyard of the Chateau teems with witches. Reid is deeply uncomfortable that all these women have come to celebrate Lou’s death. Ansel and Beau remain close to Reid, but Coco has disappeared in the crowd. They enter a great hall where Morgane sits on a throne, with an emaciated Lou floating beside her. Reid feels instant rage, but Beau cautions him to be circumspect. Reid looks for Hélène but doesn’t see her. As the witches sit to feast, Reid meets up with Coco.

Hélène puts her hand through a window and touches Reid. Having used all her power to disguise the others, she can’t change her own form and therefore can’t come inside. Hélène tells them to wait for her signal: She has planned an arrangement. Then she disappears.

Reid dances with a witch while waiting for the signal. Manon relays something to Morgane and she smiles. Reid gets a bad feeling. Coco says she’ll create a diversion, and the men ready for action. Morgane begins her speech, stating that tonight the Goddess will answer their prayers. Before proceeding with the sacrifice, she brings out a bound Hélène. She says Hélène plotted against Lou and must be condemned. Lou and Reid scream as Morgane stabs Hélène.