Chapter Fifty-Seven

At the Winter Solstice celebration in the Court of Nightmares, Nesta dances with Eris under a plan to gauge his allegiance, delivering a breathtaking performance that captivates him. Cassian interrupts to dance with her himself, and afterward Eris shockingly proposes to Rhysand that he will give anything—including armies against Briallyn and Beron—in exchange for Nesta as his bride, claiming it would repay Cassian for the broken betrothal to Mor.

The Winter Solstice celebration opens in the Court of Nightmares, decorated lavishly for three nights of festivities. Cassian dreads the event because Nesta is scheduled to dance with Eris to showcase her value and secure the Autumn Court's alliance. Feyre arrives pregnant and announces it to the assembled crowd, displaying her swollen belly in a glittering black dress. Nesta and Elain enter dressed in Night Court black, positioned as members of the royal family. Rhysand gifts Eris a Made dagger (created by Nesta, though this is concealed and attributed to a family heirloom) to demonstrate goodwill. Feyre asks Nesta to dance in her place due to pregnancy-related nausea. Nesta's dance with Eris is extraordinary—she moves with such precision and grace to the music that she performs the dangerous twelve spins solo, leaving the entire room breathless. Her performance is so captivating that even Cassian worries Eris has become genuinely interested in her beyond their political calculations. After multiple dances, Cassian interrupts and demands a turn. Eris insults him, but Nesta manipulates the situation by suggesting they share her as a dance partner. Cassian then dances with Nesta, followed by Azriel, while Cassian guards her from admirers. Through a mental link Rhys establishes, Cassian and Mor witness Eris proposing an extraordinary bargain: he offers to give Rhysand anything he desires—armies against Briallyn and Beron, anything short of his firstborn—in exchange for Nesta as his bride. Eris claims this also repays Cassian for his role in breaking Eris's betrothal to Mor. Rhysand remains noncommittal, telling Eris he will discuss it with Nesta, but allows Eris to keep the dagger. Cassian seethes with rage at the proposal but restrains himself.