After the attack, Feyre realizes that Elain had accurately warned Nesta about the Ravens and understands that Elain is a seer. Mor confirms it, and Azriel carefully questions Elain because he has been the only one truly listening to her fragmented statements. Elain reveals that the missing sixth queen is alive and that the other queens betrayed her, selling her to a shadowy sorcerer-lord who keeps an important onyx box and holds other transformed women near a hidden lake.

As the conversation continues, Elain describes the queen as a firebird by day and a human woman by night, raging over a lake deep on the continent. Azriel identifies her as Vassa of Scythia, a young queen from a small but well-armed human realm. Feyre immediately sees the political importance of finding Vassa, believing that rescuing her could gain the Night Court a human ally and perhaps influence mortal forces before Hybern fully controls them.

The Inner Circle debates whether the mission is worth the risk. Cassian argues that the search could take too long and pull vital fighters away from more urgent needs, especially the looming meeting with the High Lords. Mor insists Elain's visions must matter and warns that ignoring them could be a grave mistake, but Rhys sides with Cassian that Mor is needed at home.

Before Feyre can offer herself, Lucien volunteers to go. He argues that his magical metal eye may help him detect spells and glamours, that he no longer belongs in either the Autumn or Spring Courts, and that he refuses to remain idle while the war worsens. Rhys accepts, agrees to winnow him as close as possible to the continent, and Lucien decides to leave the next morning. Rhys then sends Azriel, Mor, and Cassian to their own tasks while Feyre, Rhys, and Nesta withdraw upstairs, leaving Lucien and Elain alone.

In the bathing room, Feyre washes the blood from Rhys's hands. Rhys admits he deliberately did not shield himself because he wanted to feel the Ravens die, and he confesses that the attack has shaken him because he failed to keep the library priestesses safe in the one refuge they trusted. Feyre steadies him, insisting the blame belongs to Hybern, reminding him that they still have tools and choices left, and urging him to keep moving forward. Her reassurance restores some warmth to him, ending the chapter on a quieter note of intimacy and resolve.