Chapter Twenty-Six

Nesta finds Cassian brooding in the dining room over his frustrating meeting with Eris. Seeing his distress, she initiates a sexual encounter with him in the dining room, which is interrupted by Azriel's deliberate arrival.

Nesta enters the dining room to find Cassian in a dark mood, staring at his food. When she asks what's wrong, he reveals that his meeting with Eris left him feeling inadequate and outmatched—Eris called him a mongrel bastard and made him feel like a stupid brute unable to match the Autumn Court heir's cunning. Nesta recognizes the deep wound this inflicted, understanding that Cassian is fundamentally good in a way she admires. Moved by his pain and desperation to lift his spirits, Nesta initiates physical intimacy, kissing his neck and then moving to perform oral sex on him in the dining room. Cassian, initially hesitant, allows himself to be undone by her touch, eventually taking an active role. They are interrupted by Azriel, who deliberately appears to intervene. After Cassian quickly composes himself, Azriel arrives at the table with full knowledge of what he interrupted, commenting on their display and advising Cassian to save something for later. Nesta hastily leaves, and Cassian's earlier gloom is dispelled by the encounter.