Chapter 35

Feyre receives her mission instructions from Rhysand and demonstrates newfound control over water magic in her bedroom. Later, at a formal dinner aboard a pleasure barge, Feyre engages Tarquin in conversation about the Summer Court's treasures and learns of his progressive views on lesser faerie rights, while Rhysand flirts openly with Cresseida, leaving Feyre unexpectedly upset.

Rhysand visits Feyre in her seafoam-colored bedroom suite to remind her of her single task: to obtain a mysterious book without getting caught or making enemies of the Summer Court's leaders. During their charged confrontation, Feyre demonstrates spontaneous control over water, summoning droplets from the floor and manipulating them into sparkling formations—a power she did not know she possessed. Rhysand warns her not to reveal such abilities to Tarquin and departs after cryptically commenting on her value and the poison of excessive love.

That evening, aboard an ornate pleasure barge hosting roughly one hundred High Fae, Feyre sits beside Tarquin during a formal dinner. She learns that the Summer Court smuggled its treasures out when Amarantha took control, killing Tarquin's predecessor Nostrus. Feyre gains Tarquin's permission to view the treasure collection the following day by claiming interest as a merchant's daughter. During their conversation, Tarquin reveals his progressive ideology: he wishes to grant lesser faeries greater rights and a voice, believing the current hierarchy mirrors the cruelty of the mortal world. Feyre finds no deceit in him and reflects that she could easily befriend or love such a male.

However, Rhysand spends the evening seducing Cresseida with intense attention and physical intimacy, ignoring Feyre entirely. When Feyre realizes she feels genuine unhappiness rather than emptiness—an unfamiliar emotion tied to watching Rhysand with another female—she excuses herself to the stern of the barge for solitude. Amren is visible distracting Varian, Tarquin's ally. Feyre spends the final hour alone before the barge docks. When she disembarks, Rhysand and Cresseida are absent from the group.