In the morning, Insa wakes to find the House transformed.  When she walks into the kitchen, she is set upon by several of the men of the House, accompanied by Percy and Noonien Kaur.  They suspect her of being a spy because Insa has been sent back in time, close to Tristan's initial arrival in the House.  In this timeline, however, the "Be Your Own Windkeeper" plague was never cured and the spell mutated, infecting woman after woman through contact, eventually spreading to the entire realm and Ebera.  The Ebene have lost interest in Shaldani, caught up in a brutual civil war, and Noonien is leading the men of the Phoenix House in a resistance movement against the homicidal women.

 

Quinn quickly clears up the confusion, assuring the men that Insa is not infected.  Tristan arrives, Niflheim in this timeline and part of the movement, and instantly falls in love with Insa, having never seen Mia.  Noonien, however, afraid that Insa will soon become infected, makes the decision that she must be sent back to the timeline where she came from.  Everyone but Tristan agrees that this is the best course of action.  Tristan immediately volunteers to watch after Insa while the others try to find a way to send her home.  Untrusting, Noonien assigns Quinn to be a silent chaperone.

 

Insa and Tristan talk, Insa telling him about their relationship back in her timeline.  Tristan begs Insa to stay, and if not, to allow him to go back with her, but Insa refuses.  Nevertheless, the two come close to engaging in a kiss when suddenly, T'kar, Insa's husband who is alive in this timeline, comes back to the House from a rescue mission.  Insa's obvious affection for him upsets Tristan who quickly flees the scene.  Insa uses the time to make peace with T'kar, without revealing his ultimate fate in her world.

 

The next morning, Insa visits with Tristan, revealing the whole truth to him.  He is heartbroken, but puts up a brave front.  Nevertheless, Insa is wracked with guilt, convinced she's led him down the same path that Mia led her Tristan.  Before she can begin to make amends, however, Adriana and a group of infected women attack the House on reports that a female is being held against her will.  Tristan and T'kar both fight to protect Insa, but Ariadne nearly guts T'kar with her claws.  Insa's terror at the prospect of seeing T'kar die a second time reaches Tristan and he selflessly defends T'kar, saving his life and sparing Insa the pain.  Realizing that Trista really does love her, no matter what the circumstances, Insa wakes to find herself back in her proper timeline.