Brannagh and Dagdan stop Feyre as she prepares to flee the Spring Court, with Ianthe bloodied and helpless beside them. The twins reveal that Ianthe has been slowly dosing Feyre with crushed faebane and that the apple Feyre recently ate was poisoned heavily enough to suppress her powers for days. Feyre realizes the twins mean to dispose of both her and Lucien now that they know she planned to escape.

When the twins move against them, Feyre chooses not to abandon Lucien. She attacks first by winnowing directly into combat with Dagdan, using the knife training Cassian drilled into her to survive against a far more experienced opponent. Feyre notices Dagdan is trying to stall until the faebane weakens her completely, so she shifts tactics and burns Brannagh badly, forcing Dagdan to lose focus.

That opening changes the fight. Lucien winnows behind Brannagh and beheads her before she can react, and the bond between the twins seems to snap. Dagdan immediately turns on Lucien, but Feyre intercepts him and kills him by driving a knife through his eye. With her strength rapidly failing, Feyre orders the broken-minded Ianthe to tell everyone that Feyre killed the twins in self-defense after Tamlin and Ianthe failed to protect her.

Feyre tells Lucien she is returning to the Night Court, but Lucien refuses to stay behind. He insists on coming because he wants to get his mate back, making clear that Elain is now his goal. Feyre reluctantly allows it, and the two of them spend hours winnowing in short, exhausting bursts until the faebane drains what remains of their magic.

In the foothills, Feyre decides they cannot risk calling for help and instead must use one of the ancient cave portals. Summer is too dangerous for her, and the only viable route leads to the Autumn Court, despite the danger it poses for Lucien. As they enter the portal together, Feyre reflects that letting the Spring Court fall to Hybern may unite the other courts against a common enemy, and Lucien tells her the girl he knew died Under the Mountain, confirming how fully Feyre has changed.