Chapter 7

Feysand encounters three mortal Children of the Blessed at the wall, and after Feysand psychologically manipulates them into fleeing, the Hybern royals Brannagh and Dagdan pursue and brutally murder them in the woods. The group discovers the mutilated bodies the next morning, revealing the twins' violent response to being denied their prey.

Feysand and Lucien travel with Jurian, Brannagh, and Dagdan along the wall between the mortal lands and Prythian. Three young mortals appear seeking to settle in the immortal lands as tribute, but Feysand refuses them entry, using her mind magic to implant false, terrifying memories of Prythian's dangers and orders them to flee. She also plants a command for them to escape to the continent and warn others of the coming war. Brannagh and Dagdan are visibly frustrated by this interference, but Feysand physically prevents Brannagh from pursuing them across the wall. That evening, Feysand sits by the fire with Jurian while Lucien is away. Jurian reveals his motivation: he seeks revenge against Miryam for leaving him, driven by madness and obsession. He also unexpectedly defends Rhysand's character, claiming Rhys sacrificed his legion to save Miryam during the War and that his current vilification is calculated strategy. Jurian warns that Hybern will kill them all. The next morning, Lucien wakes Feysand with warning of blood scent in the camp. The Hybern royals are missing. Feysand and Lucien discover the three mortals' mutilated bodies in the woods beyond the wall, slaughtered by Brannagh and Dagdan hours earlier. Jurian explains they crossed the wall at night to hunt down the fleeing mortals. Feysand and Lucien cover the remains with their cloaks. Lucien argues the royals killed to send a message about their power and that the mortals would have died anyway. Feysand decides not to bury them, instead choosing to send a different message.