News reaches the Night Court that Hybern has launched a major assault on Adriata. Amren has received only a warning from Varian to prepare the Night Court’s defenses, and Azriel reports that Summer is dangerously exposed: Tarquin’s forces are scattered, only part of his fleet remains in Adriata, and his nearest land troops are days away. Realizing Summer cannot withstand the attack alone, Rhys orders an immediate response and sends Cassian to ready the Illyrian legions while Azriel flies ahead to scout.

As Cassian and Azriel arm themselves and depart, Mor arrives prepared for battle. Feyre and Mor wait in the town house for the signal to join the fighting, while Nesta and Elain remain in Velaris under Amren’s protection. Nesta questions whether Feyre and Mor will truly fight, and the exchange underscores the emotional distance still between the sisters. When Rhys silently signals that the troops have arrived, Mor winnows herself and Feyre to Adriata.

From a hill above the bay, Feyre sees the scale of the battle for the first time. The waters are red with blood, ships burn, civilians scream, and Tarquin’s white-sailed fleet is desperately outnumbered by Hybern’s gray ships. Rhys has already winnowed in the Illyrian forces, but even his immense power seems diminished, suggesting Hybern may be using faebane or another countermeasure. Mor, shaken by the reality of war despite her long experience, notes that no other courts have come to help Summer.

Rhys orders Feyre and Mor to defend Tarquin’s palace, where enemy soldiers have broken through on the northern side. Before winnowing inside, Mor gives Feyre blunt instructions about killing, staying close, and leaving the wounded to healers, forcing Feyre to confront the reality of battlefield violence. Inside the palace, they find chaos: higher-ranking faeries appear to be barricading themselves in the upper floors while lesser faeries are left exposed below. Mor identifies about fifty Hybern soldiers three levels down and climbing upward, and she and Feyre move to intercept them.