A Court of Wings and Ruin
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Thirty Two
Overview
In the aftermath of the Ravens’ attack, Rhys learns Feyre bargained with the creature in the House of Wind’s pit to survive, while the enemy’s actions confirm that Nesta took something significant from the Cauldron and is now a prime target. The Inner Circle also realizes Hybern breached Velaris with a rare ward-breaking spell, forcing them to hide this vulnerability and tighten their defenses before meeting the other High Lords. At the town house, Elain’s strange insight sharpens into a major revelation when Azriel identifies her as a seer, potentially giving them a new advantage in the war.
Summary
After the attack in the House of Wind, Cassian gives Feyre and Nesta brandy while they recover in the library. Rhys arrives with blood on his hands after finishing Hybern’s Ravens, and his anger sharpens when he sees the black tattoo on Feyre’s arm marking her bargain with the ancient creature in the pit. Feyre explains that she promised the creature company someday, not herself specifically, and Rhys confirms the Ravens are dead after he searched their minds.
Rhys turns to Nesta and presses her about why Hybern is hunting her so aggressively. The Ravens’ attack confirms that Nesta took something from the Cauldron important enough to make her a higher priority than Feyre, and that the mortal queens also want revenge because she deprived them of immortality. Rhys explains that Hybern used a powerful one-use spell to break through the city’s wards, and Amren is now adapting the defenses and searching Velaris for any other hidden threats.
When Feyre asks how help arrived, Rhys says Clotho rang an alarm bell in the library and Cassian reached the pit first. Through Rhys, Feyre sees Cassian’s memory of finding Nesta stumbling from the darkness and rushing to him, only to point him toward Feyre and warn him about Hybern. The moment reveals both Cassian’s panic and Nesta’s instinct to protect Feyre even while terrified. Rhys then orders that the city be locked down at night because Amren is about to begin hunting whatever Hybern may have left behind.
Back at the town house, the Inner Circle gathers with Elain, Mor, Lucien, and Azriel to decide how to handle the breach. Rhys insists they must keep this second successful infiltration secret so the other High Lords do not see Velaris as vulnerable before their meeting in ten days. As they discuss their lack of allies, Elain quietly says that a queen might come, then distinguishes her from the queen cursed by the Cauldron and describes another queen with “feathers of flame.” Azriel realizes what the others have only half understood: the Cauldron made Elain a seer, and her visions may become crucial to the coming war.
Who Appears
- Feyrerecovers from the attack, explains her bargain, and helps interpret Hybern’s motives
- Rhysandkills the Ravens, assesses the breach, and orders secrecy and stronger defenses
- Nestashaken after the attack; her stolen power from the Cauldron makes her a major target
- Elainquietly offers prophetic insight about a queen, leading to recognition of her gift
- Cassianrescues the sisters first, steadies Nesta, and recalls finding her in the pit
- Azrielreturns from guarding the house and identifies Elain as a seer
- Lucienstands watch at the town house and worries about Elain’s condition
- Morstays with Elain and raises concerns about their lack of allies
- Amrenworks to adapt the wards and prepares to hunt hidden enemies in Velaris
- Clothoalerts the court to the attack by ringing the library’s spelled alarm bell