Chapter 25 — Rune: Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Rune arrives at Oakhaven Park, the estate that once belonged to Seraphine Oakes before the queen exiled her. She rides her horse, Lady, into the surrounding forest to avoid Octavia Creed's patrol. Once hidden among the trees, she strips off her damp clothes and changes into her evening dress. She braids her hair in a style Nan taught her, then inspects the bullet wound on her arm from Laila's shot. The wound is a flesh wound—bloody but not deep—so she binds it with a cotton strip from her saddlebag and pulls on gloves to conceal the bandage. She also retrieves four sheets of tracing paper and a fountain pen, rolls them tightly, and tucks them into her bodice. After blowing two long notes on her whistle to send Lady home, she follows the footpath toward the house, intending to slip in unnoticed so people will think she's been at the party all along.

As she approaches, she overhears Alex say, “All that’s left to do is sell Thornwood Hall.” She tucks the question away and steps out of the woods, adopting her usual mask of a superficial party girl. She joins a group of young men around a fire, including Noah Creed and Bart Wentholt. Alex, wearing a lion mask, immediately notices her and drapes his coat over her shoulders, insisting they go inside. He leads her away from the group, his tone sharp beneath the friendliness.

In a private study, Alex removes the coat to inspect her arm and sees blood seeping through her glove. Rune explains that Laila shot her at the old Seldom mine, where she went looking for Seraphine, and that Gideon set her up. She burns her bloody gloves in the fireplace to destroy evidence. She asks Alex for an alibi—to say she arrived at the party with him. Alex agrees, but only if she accepts his offer to come to Caelis for a month. While they talk, Rune climbs onto a chair and traces the prison map that hangs over the mantelpiece, copying each of its seven concentric circles onto her tracing paper.

Alex then reveals that he is leaving permanently, not just for a month. He wants Rune to leave with him and never come back, promising opera, ballet, and freedom from fear. Rune refuses, insisting she has to save Seraphine and other witches. Alex presses her, asking what happens after she succeeds, and points out that she will never be free in the New Republic. Rune admits she doesn't believe she can save everyone and that she expects to be caught eventually. Alex argues that she deserves a life beyond hiding, but Rune becomes defensive.

Finally, Rune confesses her deepest guilt: she betrayed her grandmother, Kestrel Winters, by leading the Blood Guard to their house and watching her die without denouncing the executioners. She believes she deserves punishment, not salvation. Alex tries to reassure her, saying Kestrel wanted her to live and that she did what she had to do to survive. He pushes back her mask and gently holds her face, asking if she believes she deserves to be hurt or hunted. Before she can answer, Verity bursts into the room, notices the bandaged arm, and asks what happened.

Key Events

Rune changes into her evening dress and bandages her bullet wound, concealing it with gloves.
She overhears Alex mention selling Thornwood Hall, hinting at his permanent departure.
Alex drapes his coat over her and leads her to a private study, where he sees the blood on her glove.
Rune explains that Laila shot her and Gideon set her up, then burns her gloves to destroy evidence.
She traces the prison map from the wall, securing a copy for her rescue mission.
Alex reiterates his offer to help rescue Seraphine if Rune comes to Caelis for a month, then reveals he's leaving forever and wants her to leave with him.
Rune refuses, confessing her guilt over her grandmother's death.
Alex tries to reassure her, but Verity interrupts and notices her arm.

Character Development

Rune is consumed by guilt and self-loathing. She believes she betrayed her grandmother and therefore deserves to die. Her confession to Alex reveals a deep wound that has shaped her entire mission: she wants to save other witches to atone for her failure. She also struggles with the idea of a happy ending, dismissing it as a fantasy she doesn't deserve. Her refusal to leave with Alex shows her commitment to her cause, even at the cost of her own safety.

Alex emerges as both a protector and a persistent suitor. He is angry that Rune put herself in danger, but he also shows tenderness by bandaging her wound and trying to comfort her. His offer to leave with him is not just about escape—it's about giving Rune a chance at a life free from fear. His question, “Do you believe you deserve those things?” challenges Rune's self-destructive mindset.

Their relationship deepens as they share a moment of vulnerability, but it's interrupted by Verity, leaving the emotional tension unresolved.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Masks and hidden identity are central. Rune wears a fox mask, Alex a lion mask, and both conceal their true selves. Rune's mask hides her tears and her identity as a witch, while Alex's mask hides his anger and his plans to leave. The act of pushing back masks—Alex pushes his own and then Rune's—signifies a desire for honesty and connection.

Betrayal is explored through Rune's confession about her grandmother. She feels she betrayed Kestrel by not denouncing the executioners, and she also feels betrayed by Gideon, who set her up. The chapter highlights how betrayal can be both external and internal.

Guilt and self-loathing drive Rune's actions. She believes she deserves punishment, which fuels her reckless rescue missions. Alex's attempts to counter this guilt show the theme of redemption and the possibility of forgiveness.

Freedom vs. entrapment is a recurring motif. Rune is trapped in her role as a witch hunter and her guilt, while Alex offers freedom in Caelis. The prison map she traces symbolizes the literal entrapment of witches, but also her own psychological imprisonment.

Deception and alibis are practical tools for survival. Rune burns her gloves to hide evidence and asks Alex for an alibi, showing how she must constantly lie to survive.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for both plot and character development. It reveals Alex's permanent departure, which will likely affect Rune's plans and their relationship. Rune's confession about her grandmother adds emotional depth to her motivation, explaining why she is so driven to save other witches. The chapter also sets up a potential conflict with Verity, who discovers Rune's injury and may become suspicious. The traced prison map gives Rune a concrete tool for her rescue mission, advancing the main plot. Finally, the unresolved tension between Rune and Alex—interrupted by Verity—leaves readers eager to see how their relationship evolves.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Rune burn her gloves, and what does this action reveal about her priorities?

Rune burns her gloves because they are stained with blood from her bullet wound, which would reveal that she was injured and raise questions about her whereabouts. By destroying the evidence, she protects her cover as a party guest and avoids suspicion. This action shows that Rune prioritizes her mission and her safety over her own comfort, and it highlights her willingness to destroy anything that might expose her true activities.

2. What is Alex's offer to Rune, and why does she refuse it?

Alex offers to help Rune rescue Seraphine if she comes to Caelis for a month, but then reveals he wants her to leave with him permanently. He promises a life of opera, ballet, and freedom from fear. Rune refuses because she feels obligated to save as many witches as possible, and she believes she doesn't deserve a happy ending. She also feels that leaving would mean abandoning her mission and betraying the memory of her grandmother.

3. How does Rune's confession about her grandmother affect the reader's understanding of her character?

Rune's confession reveals that her guilt over her grandmother's death is the driving force behind her actions. She believes she betrayed Kestrel by not denouncing the executioners, and she feels she deserves punishment. This explains why she takes such risks and why she rejects Alex's offer of escape. It also makes her more sympathetic, as readers see that her bravery is rooted in a deep sense of unworthiness.

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