Chapter Forty-Three

Nesta and Cassian meet with Eris in the Spring Court to inform him that most of his soldiers were killed by Azriel and Cassian while under enchantment by Briallyn and Koschei. When Tamlin appears and threatens them, Nesta confronts him directly, revealing her rage over his role in sending Elain and herself into the Cauldron, and forces him to stand down. Later, Nesta reflects on her feelings about the encounter and her growing sense of belonging in the House of Wind.

Cassian and Nesta arrive in the Spring Court, where Cassian struggles with allergies while they await Eris. When Eris appears, Cassian delivers bad news: most of his soldiers were killed during an encounter in the Bog of Oorid, with only two surviving. Eris accuses Cassian of unnecessary slaughter, but Nesta intervenes, pointing out that Eris's own soldiers were armed with banned ash arrows—weapons she infers came from his private stores—and questions whether he was working with Briallyn. Her pointed questions make clear she suspects Eris of potential treachery. Before the confrontation can escalate, Tamlin emerges in beast form and confronts them as trespassers. Nesta steps forward and unleashes her power, reminding Tamlin that he bears responsibility for sending both her and Elain into the Cauldron through his alliance with the King of Hybern. She demonstrates her silver flame power and threatens to kill him if he reveals their meeting to anyone. Cassian flies them both away to safety. Later that night, unable to sleep, Nesta returns to the library where she glimpses something moving in the darkness below before Cassian finds her. They discuss the day's events, and Nesta reflects on the House as a true home, something she never experienced before.