Feyre and Amren descend alone to the lowest level of the library, where no priestess waits and the darkness itself answers Feyre’s call. Feyre addresses the creature directly, names it Bryaxis, and tells it that she knows it was imprisoned there long ago. Because war is coming, Feyre offers a bargain: if Amren frees Bryaxis from its wards when the time is right, Bryaxis must fight for Feyre and Rhys.

Bryaxis does not immediately accept. It says the library is its home, so Feyre asks what it wants in exchange instead. Bryaxis asks for sunlight, moonlight, and stars, and Amren realizes that this means a window high in the mountain; Bryaxis also asks whether it may hunt freely on the battlefield and feed on fear. Feyre agrees, limiting that freedom to Hybern’s forces and to the duration of the war, and the bargain is sealed.

Afterward, Feyre uses the remaining hour to prepare for departure, changing into her fighting leathers and hiding the new bargain tattoo. Back in the town house, she tells the others only that Amren is still studying the Book for another way to nullify the Cauldron and stop Hybern. Privately, Feyre intends for Amren to keep searching while also preparing to break Bryaxis’s wards only when Hybern’s full strength is upon them. Feyre does not tell the rest of the Inner Circle about Bryaxis, and she is not entirely sure why she keeps it to herself.

As everyone gathers to winnow to the Illyrian war-camp, the group hesitates and silently takes in the town house and the peaceful sounds of Velaris. Mor departs first with Nesta and Cassian, and Azriel leaves with Elain. Alone with Rhys, Feyre finally tells him that Bryaxis agreed to fight for them in exchange for a window, and Rhys accepts the plan with dark humor, especially since Feyre has given up on winning the Bone Carver’s aid. Before winnowing away, Feyre and Rhys share a quiet moment of uncertainty, wondering whether they will see their home again, and Feyre promises that they will.