Trapped with her hand on the Cauldron, Feyre fights to hold onto her identity as the object tries to consume her. Amren apologizes for lying, but Feyre cannot pull free, and even the combined magic she carries cannot save her. Her consciousness splits, and through the Cauldron’s search for Nesta, Feyre sees the battle going badly: Rhysand unleashes his terrifying hidden beast form, Helion transforms as well, and the two High Lords tear into Hybern’s forces before Helion breaks off to face a powerful Hybern commander.

The Cauldron then carries Feyre to Nesta and Cassian, who are waiting in a clearing to ambush the King of Hybern. Nesta is ready to strike the fatal blow, but Hybern arrives holding Feyre’s father hostage, using him to stop her. Their father tells Nesta that he loved her from the moment he held her and begs forgiveness for everything he failed to do; when Nesta pleads instead of attacking, Hybern snaps their father’s neck. Feyre can only watch and scream helplessly as Nesta’s power gutters out in shock and grief.

Cassian attacks immediately, shielding Nesta and driving Hybern away from their father’s body, but he is already exhausted and badly drained. After Nesta closes her father’s eyes and kisses his brow, her power surges back, but Hybern brutally overpowers Cassian, breaking his body and wing while taunting them. When Hybern crushes Cassian’s wing underfoot, Nesta explodes with power, blasting apart the forest and killing hundreds of Hybern soldiers, yet the outburst drains nearly all she has left.

Refusing to abandon Cassian, Nesta takes his Illyrian blade and tries to draw Hybern away from him. Hybern quickly disarms and strikes her, but Nesta uses the last of her power in a close-range blast that hurls him through the trees. She crawls back to Cassian and desperately tries to lift him, but cannot move him before Hybern returns. As death closes in, Cassian tells Nesta that his only regret is that they did not have more time together, kisses her, and promises to find her again in the next life; Nesta answers by covering Cassian’s body with her own instead of fleeing.

Still trapped within the Cauldron, Feyre offers anything, even her soul, if it will save them. Hybern raises his hand to kill Nesta and Cassian, but the blow never falls. Elain steps from the shadows behind him and drives Truth-Teller through the back of his neck and out his throat, stopping him as she snarls that he will not touch her sister.