Chapter 66

Kallias arrives with the Winter Court army as Feysand's forces prepare for battle. Mor confesses to Feysand that she is attracted to females and had a past lover in a human queen named Andromache, explaining her reluctance toward Azriel's romantic feelings. Meanwhile, the war council discovers Hybern is marching eastward toward the human lands to massacre them in revenge against the Archeron sisters, and Amren emerges from seclusion with the Book of Breathings, revealing she has found a way to stop Hybern's entire army.

Feysand wakes to news of Kallias's Winter Court army arriving at camp. She reflects on Tamlin's unexpected intervention the previous night and her painful physical recovery. After checking on her sisters and requesting food, she encounters Mor at the edge of camp near the Winter Court's impressive, well-organized forces. Mor leads Feysand to a secluded location to have an honest conversation. Mor reveals she prefers females romantically, having been forced to hide this preference due to her family's expectations around bloodline continuation and her betrothal to Eris. She confesses to having taken a human queen named Andromache as a lover during the War, but left her when Andromache needed to secure her royal line through marriage to a man. Mor explains she has slept with males—including Cassian and Helion—partly for pleasure but also to deflect attention and keep people from discovering her true sexuality. She clarifies she loves Azriel as family but not romantically, and has avoided accepting his romantic feelings to spare him false hope. Feysand promises to keep Mor's secret and support her unconditionally. Later, in the war tent, Helion reports that Hybern's army has shifted direction and is marching due east. The council deduces Hybern intends to cross a major river and massacre humans in the human lands as revenge against the Archeron sisters. Rhysand declares they will fight to protect the humans, and Feysand proposes immediately winnowing civilians to safety in Tarquin's Adriata. As the meeting concludes, Amren emerges with the Book of Breathings, announcing she has discovered a way to stop Hybern's entire army.