Chapter 16

After recovering from her encounter with the Suriel, Feyre learns that faeries can lie and discovers Tamlin has glamoured her family's memories to protect them. The chapter culminates in Tamlin offering to show Feyre a closed gallery and providing her with painting supplies, a gesture that sparks unexpected feelings between them.

Feyre recovers from her near-fatal encounter with the Suriel while Alis brushes her hair. When Feyre questions Alis about the faerie incursions and potential war, Alis refuses to engage, revealing only that she works to support her sister's two sons, who age slowly and live far away. At dinner, Lucien and Tamlin learn of Feyre's successful trapping of the Suriel. Feyre challenges the claim that faeries cannot lie, and Lucien reveals it was an ancient deception used to manipulate humans—faeries can lie expertly and iron poses no threat to them. Feyre realizes she has been accepting their statements uncritically. When alone with Tamlin, he discovers her crumpled list of unfamiliar words and initially mistakes it for a violent poem, causing Feyre shame. Tamlin offers help writing to her family, but Feyre refuses. He persists, praising her accomplishments and asking if they can be friends, then reveals he has glamoured her family's memories: they believe she was called away by a wealthy aunt and have been warned of threats to Prythian so they will flee if the wall falters. Feyre is initially disturbed by the memory manipulation but recognizes Tamlin's protective intent toward her family. She asks for paint and brushes, and Tamlin enthusiastically offers her supplies and access to a closed gallery he promises to show her in two days. The chapter ends with Feyre experiencing unexpected attraction to the High Lord.