Chapter 40

Feyre faces her second task: a death trap where she must solve a riddle by selecting one of three levers while spiked grates descend toward her and Lucien, who is chained on the other side of a gate. Unable to read the inscription, Feyre is guided by Rhysand through their newly formed bond, ultimately choosing the correct lever and surviving. After collapsing emotionally in her cell, Rhysand visits her and forces her to confront her feelings.

Feyre is brought before Amarantha in a gilded cavern for her second trial. The floor sinks, lowering her into a pit divided by an iron grate. On the other side, Lucien lies chained to the floor. Amarantha explains that Feyre must solve a riddle carved into the wall by selecting one of three stone levers marked I, II, and III; the wrong choice brings doom. Two massive spike-encrusted grates begin descending from above, glowing with heat, designed to crush and impale both Feyre and Lucien. Feyre discovers she cannot read the inscription—only recognizing basic words. As the grates descend dangerously close, the eye tattooed on her palm burns whenever she reaches for levers I or II, preventing her from selecting them. Through their bond, Rhysand mentally guides her to remain composed and choose lever III. When she pulls it, the grates stop and rise, and she survives. Back in her cell, Feyre weeps for hours, overwhelmed by her inability to read and her dependence on Rhysand's help to survive. Rhysand appears and, finding her in despair, licks her tears away to shock her out of her breakdown. He reveals he knows about her illiteracy and hints at forcing her to learn to read when she comes to his court. Feyre is furious but realizes his intervention prevented her complete emotional collapse.