Chapter 24

Feysand and her companions prepare to travel to the mortal realm to meet with the human queens. Mor reveals her traumatic past in the Court of Nightmares and decides to remain in Velaris rather than accompany them. Feysand chooses to fly with Azriel instead of Rhysand, and together they cross the wall into the human lands.

The group begins their journey to the mortal realm after no word arrives from the Summer Court. While preparing, Feysand discusses with Mor what humans wear, leading Mor to share her harrowing backstory. In the Court of Nightmares, High Fae females are treated as commodities, and when Mor's power awakened at seventeen, she became a coveted prize for breeding into powerful bloodlines. Though her family celebrated this, Mor endured the trauma in silence. She reveals that Cassian risked everything to help her escape the court years ago, and she harbors deep feelings for him despite believing herself unworthy. Mor decides not to accompany the group to the mortal realm, fearing she cannot behave appropriately around other humans given her history, though she plans to meet the queens when they arrive. Before departure, Feysand extends a warm gesture to Mor, acknowledging her strength and inviting her to meet her sisters someday. When the time comes to travel, Feysand chooses to fly with Azriel rather than Rhysand, a choice that surprises the High Lord. Azriel carries her across the sea toward the wall, and as they approach, Feysand experiences the crackling power of the barrier for the first time as a faerie. Azriel guides them through an invisible tear in the wall's magic, and they emerge over the snowy human lands—Feysand's home.