Feyre and Amren climb the gray hill where the Cauldron has been hidden, following the bloody path Stryga has carved through Hybern’s guards and wards. Amren tears through the king’s protections with ease, while Feyre hears Hybern commanders below casually discussing which of her allies they want to torture or kill. Looking back, Feyre sees Mor and Viviane still locked in battle with Hybern forces alongside a white-haired female warrior and a unit of giant bears, underscoring that the wider battle is still raging and likely going poorly.

As Feyre and Amren continue up the cliff face, Stryga reveals herself at the base of the hill. Marked with Rhysand’s bargain tattoo, the Weaver silently signals Feyre to hurry and then throws herself at the guards on the main path, deliberately creating a diversion so Feyre and Amren can reach the Cauldron. At the same time, a surge of power from Nesta signals that she has begun drawing the King of Hybern away from the Cauldron.

The plan almost works. Hidden against the rock, Feyre and Amren watch the King of Hybern walk past them, focused on Stryga and Nesta’s power. Stryga confronts him with ancient pride, but the king crosses to her, flatters her beauty, and then snaps her neck before tossing her body to the naga-hounds below. The king then turns his attention toward Nesta’s power and winnows away, leaving Feyre and Amren a brief opening.

With grief and urgency, Amren orders Feyre to make the chance count, and the two of them rush to the now-unguarded Cauldron. Amren produces the Book and tells Feyre to place a hand on the Cauldron, and Feyre endures its overwhelming force by clinging to the self-knowledge she gained from the Ouroboros. But instead of reading from the Book as planned, Amren watches Feyre, closes the Book, and kicks it aside. Feyre realizes in shock that Amren has lied about her intentions all along and has brought Feyre into some other, hidden scheme.