Chapter Fifty-Five

Nesta and her companions discuss the aftermath of defeating Lanthys and securing the Harp. They learn about ancient history involving the Daglan and the Wild Hunt, debate how to handle Briallyn's threat, and Rhysand proposes that Nesta seduce Eris through dance at the Winter Solstice celebration to strengthen their alliance. Later, Nesta visits her childhood cottage with Cassian, confronting painful memories of her family's poverty and her own failures.

Back at the House of Wind, Nesta presents the Harp to Rhysand, who decides to lock it away with the Mask, kept separate and warded. Nesta describes a vision Lanthys showed her of a possible future together with hounds resembling beasts in the Hewn City, and asks about a fourth object in the Trove—ancient bone—which Rhysand cannot confirm exists. Rhysand explains the history of the Daglan, near-godlike beings who ruled before the Fae, enslaved by heroes including Fionn who wielded Gwydion. The Wild Hunt was a Daglan weapon used to terrorize their subjects. Amren was imprisoned during this Age of Legends and missed Fionn's fall and the rise of the High Lords. They discuss Narben, a lost death-sword, and confirm that Nesta's blade killed Lanthys. Feyre and Cassian argue against pursuing Briallyn directly, fearing a trap. Rhysand proposes using Nesta to seduce Eris through dance at the upcoming Winter Solstice to reinforce their alliance and reassure him of their commitment. Cassian vehemently objects, but Nesta agrees, deciding to relinquish Ataraxia to Rhysand. That night, she practices Mind-Stilling exercises. Days later, after Cassian's injuries heal, Nesta asks him to accompany her to her childhood cottage in the mortal lands. There she confronts the decay and her painful memories: her father's sacrifice of comfort, her mother's death in the bedroom, the figurines he carved, and her own cruelty toward him during their poverty. She realizes her father chose the bed for his daughters' comfort and that her anger blinded her to his love. Cassian listens without judgment, and they leave together as he invites her flying.