Chapter 69
Chapter 67
Overview
Feyre and her court are ambushed at the human queens' palace. The King of Hybern reveals his alliance with Jurian and High Priestess Ianthe, then forces Elain and Nesta into the Cauldron to demonstrate its power of transformation to the mortal queens, turning both sisters into Fae. The chapter ends with Lucien discovering Elain is his mate.
Summary
Feyre and her Night Court allies arrive at the human queens' palace to find Elain and Nesta imprisoned. The King of Hybern explains his manipulation: he used Jurian, reborn as his liaison, to convince the queens that the Night Court is a threat, while offering them eternal youth through the Cauldron. He reveals that High Priestess Ianthe, whom Feyre confided in, betrayed her sisters in exchange for a vision of a Prythian free from High Lords' rule. When Feyre tries to stop him, the king unleashes devastating magic, shattering Cassian's wings and poisoning Azriel to prevent interference. Tamlin and Lucien are magically restrained. The king forces Elain into the Cauldron first; she emerges transformed into a Fae with pointed ears and enhanced beauty. Nesta is forced in next, fighting violently throughout. She emerges with even greater power and beauty, her defiance evident as she points a curse at the King of Hybern before being submerged. Upon emerging, Nesta immediately grabs Elain and holds her, weeping. Lucien, having removed his jacket to cover Elain, finally sees her face clearly and realizes she is his mate.
Characters
- Feyre ArcheronProtagonist; forced to witness her sisters' transformation into Fae and powerless to stop it
- RhysandFeyre's mate; shields her from the king's attacks but is magically restrained from intervening
- Elain ArcheronFeyre's younger sister; transformed into Fae by the Cauldron against her will
- Nesta ArcheronFeyre's older sister; forcefully transformed into Fae, emerges with exceptional power and rage
- The King of HybernAntagonist; orchestrates the betrayal and uses the Cauldron to transform the sisters as proof to the mortal queens
- CassianNight Court warrior; his wings are destroyed by the king's magic, later stirred by Nesta's voice
- AzrielNight Court shadowsinger; poisoned by the king to prevent the court from fighting back
- MorNight Court member; attempts to attack the king but is stopped when he threatens Azriel
- JurianReborn human; revealed as the king's ally working to turn the mortal queens against the Night Court
- High Priestess IantheBetrayer; sold out Feyre's sisters to the King of Hybern in exchange for his vision of High Priestess rule
- The Mortal QueensThree human rulers; witness the transformation and consider allying with the King of Hybern
- TamlinBeast; magically restrained and gagged; unaware of the king's plan to transform Feyre's sisters
- LucienTamlin's companion; discovers Elain is his mate after she emerges from the Cauldron