Episode 4 of Shadow and Bone season 2 opens with the grandeur of the Royal palace enveloping Alina and Nikolai. Nikolai's bold proclamation of their betrothal sends ripples of shockwaves throughout the palace halls, causing even his mother's eyes to flicker with anxious glances. Amidst the tumultuous atmosphere, Vasily, Nikolai's cunning brother, spies Mal and Alina engaging in a clandestine conversation, unbeknownst to the world.
Assuming they were alone, the pair shared a tender moment, vowing to each other that their love would persist, albeit hidden in the shadows. Mal, however, urged Alina to prioritize the quest for the elusive Firebird, yet Alina remained steadfast, convinced that Ravaka was more than a desolate swamp and deserved to be saved through the art of diplomacy.
David, who narrowly escaped Alina's failed attempt to harness her power, stumbled into the palace, revealing Kirigan's sinister machinations to Nikolai and Alina. He recounted Genya's sacrifice to aid his escape and begged for their assistance, emphasizing the invulnerability of these shadow creatures. As the commander of the Second Army, Alina faced a momentous decision. However, distrustful of David, she ordered him to be confined in the holding cells.
Genya's desperate attempts to flee were thwarted as she was imprisoned alongside Baghra, her once-beautiful face now marred with gruesome scars. When Kirigan appeared, he glared at her with disdain, ultimately ordering her removal, unable to bear the sight of her scarred visage. He intended to use her as a grim warning, a grim reminder of the consequences of disobedience.
Kaz's elaborate plan of vengeance and retribution hung in the balance, yet before its execution, he warned Inej that if things went awry, she must flee the city with her brother, without hesitation. The plan involved Wylan and Jesper distributing Komedie Brute costumes and vials of a potent compound to the Dregs. Haskell's gang, now under their command, would provide cover as they infiltrated Pekka's clubs, tarnishing their reputation with this sinister compound.
Meanwhile, Nina and Kaz made their way towards the Emerald Palace. Unexpectedly, Nina turned and slapped Kaz across the face, a stark contrast to their usual camaraderie.
Elsewhere, Mal approached Nikolai, revealing a potential weapon that could obliterate the shadow creatures — an ancient sword known as the Neshyenyer, capable of piercing through the darkest of shadows. The original sword had been stolen, but with the aid of a skilled team like the Crows, they might find it and tilt the balance of power in their favor. Consequently, Tolya and Tamar devised a plan to journey to Ketterdam with Zoya and Mal to propose this strategy. Tragically, before their departure, Mal was knocked unconscious and abducted, imprisoned for his alleged desertion from the army. Vasily, Nikolai's brother, watched with smug satisfaction as his devious plan unfolded, leaving a trail of intrigue and danger in its wake.
Nina cunningly lures Kaz to Pekka's lair, where Pekka, unaware of his men's mischief, brutally assaults Kaz. The chaos outside, with his crew spreading the illusion of a resurgent Firepox Plague, remains undetected by Pekka until it's too late. Nina's duplicity is revealed as she had been manipulating Pekka from the start, never truly betraying him. Her elaborate scheme was a means to tarnish Pekka's business.
With a gun pointed menacingly at Kaz's head, Pekka's intimidation is shattered when Kaz triumphantly reveals his trump card: Alby. Kaz smiles mockingly, brandishing Alby's toy train as proof that the boy is safe, buried six feet deep. Kaz demands Pekka repent for his crimes, but the crime boss is oblivious to the name of Kaz's brother, Jordie. Enraged, Kaz forces Pekka to kneel, gun still aimed, and drops a pen, compelling him to sign a document clearing his crew of murder charges, thus freeing Inej.
At the cemetery, Pekka arrives with his men, scrambling to cleanse the dirt, only to be startled by the sight of Alby arriving unscathed in a horse-drawn carriage. The shock on his face intensifies as he watches his father being arrested for Tante's murder. Kaz hands Inej the signed document and dismisses her, albeit reluctantly, for her disobedience in freeing prisoners without his consent. In truth, this seems like a feeble excuse to set Inej free, to allow her to live her life and protect the one he holds dearest.
During Nikolai and Alina's wedding, Vasily prepares to stir up trouble, poised to deliver a damning speech that would expose Alina's alleged affair with Mal. However, before he could utter a word, the Fold suddenly engulfs the venue, unleashing a sinister shadow creature that ravages the wedding, tearing Vasily in two. As Alina and the others flee the chaos, she stumbles upon Kirigan, who appears to be inside her mind, paralyzing her. Yet, he is not a figment; he stands before her, standing shoulder to shoulder with the shadow creature, proposing a partnership. When Alina refuses, Kirigan unleashes the monster on her friends, who happen to be standing by her side. Alina's forcefield falters, but as her power erupts, propelling the pair backward, the ceiling begins to crumble, threatening to bury them all.
