Chapter 38

Feyre and Amren infiltrate the underwater temple on Tarquin's island to steal the Book of Breathings from its hidden chamber. Using Tarquin's identity and power, Feyre unlocks the sealed lead doors and retrieves the artifact, but the chamber's power recognizes her deception as she escapes.

Feyre struggles through a day of deception with Tarquin, walking his city and meeting his people while planning their theft. She realizes Tarquin and Cresseida would never have willingly surrendered the Book, justifying her actions as necessary to prevent the King of Hybern's armies from destroying the Summer Court. After dinner, Rhysand leaves instructions for their departure, and Feyre is given Illyrian fighting leathers. Under cover of night, Rhysand drops Feyre and Amren near the temple at low tide. They wade through muck to the interior chamber, where they sense the Book's presence like a "clawed hand" running down their spines. Finding a sealed lead door beneath the mud, Feyre places her hand on it and mentally shifts into Tarquin's form and essence—becoming his sea, sun, and warmth—to bypass the lock. They descend a spiral staircase into cold, putrid water and navigate an unguarded stone hall to a second lead door. Again using Tarquin's identity, Feyre opens it, revealing a dry chamber protected by an invisible threshold. On a dais sits a small lead box containing the Book, whispering and demanding to know who approaches. As water begins trickling from above—the tide returning—Feyre forces herself to touch the box, mentally asserting that she is Tarquin and his master. The box quiets, but as she snatches it, an ancient voice hisses "Liar" and the chamber door slams shut.