Chapter 36

Feysand's consciousness merges as Feyre and Mor cut through Hybern soldiers in the city while Rhysand battles on a Hybern warship. Feyre discovers through their bond that Rhysand's powers have been mysteriously dampened, and she witnesses through his eyes as he confronts the King of Hybern himself on the enemy vessel.

Feyre and Mor systematically kill Hybern soldiers throughout the palace and city streets of Adriata. Feyre's magic—fire, water, and darkness—proves devastatingly effective; she uses an asp of water to drown one soldier and later summons complete darkness in a corridor to slaughter Hybern forces while remaining invisible to them. As they clear the streets, Feyre reaches toward Rhysand through their bond and discovers his mental shields have become fortress-like, suggesting he faces something dire. Breaking through briefly, she merges her consciousness with his. From Rhysand's perspective, she experiences his exhaustion and realizes his powers are mysteriously dampened—magic that feels "oily" and harder to control, preventing the decisive strike that could have ended the battle quickly. Rhysand has tracked this damper to a Hybern warship where he now stands on the main deck. As Feyre watches helplessly through his eyes, the King of Hybern emerges from belowdecks and smiles at Rhysand, revealing himself as the source of the power suppression.