This chapter picks up where the Prologue left off. Alex wakes up from her black out on the Hutch’s bathroom floor to the sound of breaking glass. She looks outside and sees that Mercy’s mother has come for the weekend, alerted by Alex’s roommate that something is wrong with Mercy. Mercy and her mother help to clean up Alex and the space. Alex returns to the dorms and gets back to class.

Alex continues investigating the Bridegroom’s case. In Darlington’s notes, she finds a list of dates with the names of young women who died in New Haven. Each date matches the founding of a new society. Alex concludes that the murder of a young woman creates a nexus of power. Since Tara was killed on an open plot of land, it is possible that a society needing a new home has arranged for the murder. Alex’s suspicions of Dean Sandow rear up once again. She finds out he is at a party at the President’s house and decides to confront him there.

Alex gets Dean Sandow to talk to her in private. When she confronts him with her suspicions, he confesses to Tara’s murder, regretful that the ritual had been unsuccessful.