Chapter Fifteen

Nesta encounters a lingering darkness in the library's lowest levels that seems drawn to her Cauldron-Made nature, and later that evening shares an emotionally charged conversation with Cassian about his past and his powers, which culminates in a tense, sensual encounter between them.

While shelving books on Level Six of the library, Nesta is drawn to the darkness below and experiences a profound, otherworldly sensation—a darkness that calls to her and feels older and more primal than ordinary shadow. Gwyn, another priestess, rescues her using an Invoking Stone and reveals that others have reported similar encounters with a lingering presence. They discuss Nesta's origins as Cauldron-Made, and Gwyn advises her to avoid the lower levels. During morning training, Cassian continues working on Nesta's balance and posture before sharing his traumatic backstory: he was born to an unwed mother in a brutal settlement, separated from her at age three, and she died alone while he was at Windhaven. He explains how training sustained him through hardship and mentions that Rhysand changed laws in the Night Court regarding assault. That evening at dinner, Nesta tells Cassian about her encounter with the darkness in the library. Cassian becomes alarmed and describes Bryaxis, the being that once dwelled there—a creature of pure fear with no physical form that he has seen before and dreads encountering again. He also recounts his imprisonment of several primordial creatures in the Prison, including the terrifying Lanthys and Blue Annis, detailing the scars they left. When Cassian presses Nesta about whether she has powers, she deflects and eventually attempts to leave. Cassian blocks her exit and, after she admits her fear, deliberately provokes her power to surface. This ignites a charged physical encounter where Nesta pushes him against the wall and he speaks of having desired her since she was human. He deliberately steps away, leaving her flustered. Later in her room, unable to sleep and overwhelmed by desire, Nesta touches herself while thinking of Cassian, achieving multiple releases before lying exhausted in the darkness.