Chapter 32

Feyre recovers from an attack by King Hybern's forces on Velaris and discovers she has made a bargain with an ancient creature to save herself; Rhys and Cassian respond with brutal force. The group gathers to assess the threat and learn that Nesta possesses unknown power taken from the Cauldron, making her a priority target for Hybern.

In the family library, Cassian provides brandy to Feyre and Nesta after an attack in the city. Rhys arrives with blood on his hands from killing Hybern's Ravens; Feyre bears a new bargain tattoo on her forearm, having agreed to provide the creature "company" in exchange for protection. Rhys interrogates Nesta about what she took from the Cauldron, but even Amren cannot identify it. Rhys explains that Hybern used a fleeting spell—a powerful, single-use magic capable of breaching wards—to infiltrate the city. Feyre gathers that Cassian discovered Nesta first during the attack, pulling Rhys toward the danger with desperate strength. Through Rhys's shared memory, Cassian witnessed Nesta's panic and fear as she called out for Feyre's location. Rhys then issues a severe warning: Amren will hunt through Velaris that night, and no one must be on the streets after moonrise. At the town house, the group convenes with Elain, Mor, Lucien, and Azriel. Rhys insists the priestesses remain silent and the city's people learn nothing of the breach to avoid destabilizing their position before a critical meeting in ten days. Elain speaks cryptically of a queen with "feathers of flame," revealing knowledge beyond normal sight. Azriel realizes the Cauldron transformed Elain into a seer.