Chapter 47

Feyre, Rhysand, Cassian, and Mor travel to the Illyrian war-camp in the northern mountains, where Rhys confronts the camp leader Devlon about female warrior training and claims a house for their use. Rhysand then takes Feyre away to train in private, where he reveals the full truth about the deaths of his mother and sister: Tamlin's father and brothers killed them, and Rhysand and his own father killed Tamlin's family in retaliation, though his father also murdered Tamlin's mother against his promise.

The chapter opens with Feyre reflecting on her night dancing with Rhysand and his Inner Circle in Velaris, and the conflicted feelings this stirs given her recent departure from Tamlin. Azriel prepares to leave on an intelligence-gathering mission while Amren continues work on the Book. The group winnows to the brutal Illyrian war-camp nestled in frozen mountains, where Rhysand immediately asserts his authority over camp leader Devlon, ordering him to prioritize female warrior training and to vacate his mother's old house for Rhysand's use. Devlon's dismissive attitude toward Feyre prompts Rhysand to declare her "his" in a tone that frightens the Illyrian warriors. Rhysand and Feyre then fly to a remote clearing where Rhysand explains his efforts to develop female Illyrian warriors despite widespread resistance, including the historical practice of wing-clipping. During a training session where Feyre demonstrates control over water magic, Rhysand reveals the truth about his family's deaths: Tamlin's father and brothers killed his mother and sister in the Illyrian wilderness years ago; Rhysand accompanied his father in retaliation and personally killed Tamlin's brothers, but his father also murdered Tamlin's mother despite promising not to harm her. When Rhysand's father attempted to kill Tamlin as well, Rhysand stopped him—and Tamlin killed Rhysand's father in self-defense, causing the High Lord power to shift to both of them. The revelation devastates Feyre, who realizes Tamlin had hidden this crucial history from her. Her emotional response triggers a display of combined elemental magic—ice, water, and fire—which she realizes she can now weave together from all the courts' powers she has absorbed. The chapter ends with Feyre approaching Rhysand and requesting to paint him, to which he responds with flirtation.