- On the walk to the temple for the ritual, Zoey notices that Stevie Rae is being quiet. She asks why, and Stevie Rae tells her that Elizabeth—whom Zoey bonded with over Erik's hotness—died. This happens to kids whose bodies reject the Change; they just suddenly die.
- Stevie Rae and Shaunee reassure Zoey that the Full Moon Ritual is nothing to be afraid of. As they enter the temple, a vampyre, Anastasia, draws pentagrams on their foreheads with oil.
- The temple is a peaceful place lit by sconces. Zoey stands with her friends.
- A tall male vampyre speaks the ceremony—Zoey's friends ID him as Loren Blake, Vampire Poet Laureate—and Nefret enters, dancing and looking beautiful and ethereal.
- She invokes each of the four directions, and everyone faces each corresponding direction for the element being invoked (east for air, south for fire, west for water, and north for earth). Finally Nefret invokes spirit.
- Funnily enough, each time an element is invoked, Zoey feels something corresponding—the Mark on her forehead feels tingly, too.
- Nefret encourages everyone there to make a wish/prayer, and Zoey wishes that she'll finally find a place to belong and call home.
- Overall the ritual feels amazing to Zoey. But then she remembers that she has to go to the Dark Daughters ritual next, and that's icky.