Chapter 27

Feyre and her inner circle return to Velaris from the Hewn City and confront painful truths about recent decisions. Rhysand and Azriel reveal they made a pact with Keir and Eris to secure an alliance against Hybern, devastating Mor. Amren discloses her true nature as a former divine being who sacrificed her immortality and grace to escape the Prison, binding herself into her current mortal Fae form. Elain exhibits disturbing visions suggesting the Cauldron altered her mind as well as her body.

The group returns to the townhouse where tensions explode when Mor discovers Rhysand and Azriel negotiated with her father Keir and the despicable Eris without warning. Mor fears Keir will destroy Velaris, but Rhysand reveals he took precautions by securing agreements from the Palaces' governors and city businesses to refuse Keir service and shelter. Amren intervenes to prevent the group from fracturing, though Rhysand and Azriel are chastened for not warning them, particularly about Keir and Eris. Feyre acknowledges they cannot afford internal division during wartime. Cassian then asks about the mirror, prompting Rhysand to reveal the Bone Carver requested it—the Ouroboros—and that they plan to unleash the Carver as an ally. Amren reacts with fury, revealing the Carver can only be freed by being bound into a Fae body, a price she doubts he will accept without the mirror. Under magical shield, Amren confesses she is not what she appears: she was once a divine messenger and soldier-assassin serving a wrathful god. To escape the Prison, she sacrificed her grace and immortality, binding herself into her current form, thereby gaining the capacity to feel emotions she previously lacked. She warns that unbinding herself would erase her memory and care for them, reducing her to her former emotionless state. Elain interrupts, appearing from upstairs in a disturbed state, and describes visions: young hands withering, a black stone box, a fire feather melting snow, and an entity angry at something taken from it. The implication horrifies everyone—the Cauldron may have damaged Elain's sanity alongside her physical transformation. Azriel winnows away without explanation after hearing this. Later, Feyre confronts Nesta about her experience at the Hewn City with Amren, learning Nesta failed repeatedly at a training exercise involving magically defended treasures. Nesta cryptically suggests her cost was witnessing Elain's suffering while escaping unscathed. Lucien offers to arrange for Madja, the healer, to examine Elain. That night, Feyre finds herself overwhelmed with heaviness and despair. Rhysand joins her in darkness, and they hold each other while he admits his guilt over the pact and fears for what may happen if Amarantha reappears. Feyre offers silent support, and they remain entwined without discussing the Ouroboros further.