Empire of Wild

Content Warning: This section of the guide mentions sexual assault.

Joan feels panic as she sees the lodge beginning to burn. She watches from her hiding place as Victor helps to take various members of the ministry out of the building. When he realizes that Cecile and Ivy are missing, Victor prepares to go back into the building, but when an explosion occurs inside, he is dragged away from the building. This is the explosion that kills Cecile.

Joan watches as Victor begins to walk away from the building but notices that he seems to be walking erratically and behaving oddly; she realizes he cannot cross the salt she has laid out. She realizes that Victor is possessed or held captive by a rogarou.

As the fire rages and the members of the ministry are distracted, Joan leads Victor deeper into the woods. He is subdued by the salt and the ace card (given to her by Ajean) and follows her calmly. Victor seems to be coming closer to remembering who he is. When Joan mentions her husband, he says, “I think I know him” (265). Joan begins kissing and caressing Victor, hoping that their sexual connection will bring him back to his identity.