Xora finds the SpiderParlor invaded by a new girl, one who somehow has always been there, and finds out that this new girl is not actually working - merely slapping a psychic imprint of having had sex onto her customers' minds after interrogating them. She seems highly interested in the noble houses of the city. Needless to say, Xora is highly miffled, seeing her "art" being misused like this.
Meanwhile and unknown to Xora and Velve, Ahriman is busily preparing to defend the house against the coming ShadowDragon mother.
Xora hires Velve to kill the interloper at the SpiderParlor, but seems strangely uncertain about it. In fact, she seems even more flaky than usual, and even suffers from some nosebleed. It might have something to do with the fact that nobody has seen her sleep or rest for the last few weeks. Anyway, Velve gets some suitable poisons and goes to engage the new girl, when Xora suddenly realizes this is a ShadowDragon. She abruptly takes over Velve's mind, possessing him and playing a country bumpkin from Menzoberanzan, and quickly gets thrown out with a sexual memory implant.
Returning to the house, the siblings are united in Ahriman's lab, along with an alchemist brought by Velve. Xora again proves her willfulness by preoccupying herself with some magic ward preparations rather than dealing with the problem at hand, but a meeting is held and then postponed for a more formal setting.
Ignoring this meeting, Ahriman and Zhe'raen go to the SpiderParlor and confront the ShadowDragon, offering to give it back its pup in exchange for peace. They bring it back to the house, where there is a huge confrontation, but matron eventually accepts the plan. Velve realizes the dragon is there in it's true form, merely concealed under an illusion. Xora, who has been channeling loads of power in order to reinforce the house troops against an eventual dragon attack, collapses in a bloody heap, but is supported by Nirl.
As the pup is about to be delivered, it turns out to have been tainted by DevilMother, so the ShadowDragon mother no longer wants it back! Enraged, she flies out over the town, fully visible, and is confronted by a small host of priestesses - who are immediately blown to bits, along with the noble house they were standing in front of. She then flies off, vowing revenge upon DevilMother. There is a huge fuss in town over this for several weeks.
MatronNemalzhi is unbearably smug, and in a very satisfied manner lightly reprimands Ahriman and Zhe'raen for bringing the dragon home, then turns to attend Xora - who recovers very swiftly and resumes her previous hectic lifestyle - only her eyes are turning more and more reddish every day...