Chapter 34

Feyre is captured by the Attor and brought before Amarantha, the High Queen who has enslaved Tamlin and conquered Prythian. She declares her love for Tamlin and offers herself, learning that Amarantha tortured and killed an innocent human girl named Clare Beddor in Feyre's stead. Amarantha agrees to free Tamlin if Feyre completes three monthly tasks or solves a riddle, but warns that failure means death. The chapter ends with Feyre being brutally beaten by faeries.

The Attor drags Feyre through the Under the Mountain catacombs into a vast throne room where Amarantha holds court. The High Queen, commander of the King of Hybern's forces, lounges on a black throne beside a masked and silent Tamlin, who appears emotionally disconnected. When questioned, Feyre declares she has come to claim Tamlin out of love. Amarantha reveals she has tortured and killed a young human woman named Clare Beddor—revealed to be the same girl Feyre sacrificed by giving her name to Rhysand instead of her own family's. Feyre realizes her action directly caused Clare's death. Despite this horror, Feyre insists she still wants Tamlin. Amarantha finds this amusing and offers a bargain: Feyre must complete three tasks at monthly intervals, or alternatively solve a riddle to instantly break Tamlin's curse and free his entire court. If Feyre fails any task, she will be killed. Feyre notices Amarantha wears a ring containing what appears to be a human eye—revealed to be Jurian's eye and consciousness, kept alive through dark magic. Though terrified and recognizing the danger in making bargains with faeries, Feyre agrees, seeing Tamlin's eyes briefly widen in response, which she interprets as continued love. Immediately after the agreement, Amarantha orders the Attor and other faeries to beat Feyre severely as a "greeting," leaving her bloodied and unconscious.