Feyre wakes as Kallias and the Winter Court army arrive, and she immediately reflects on Tamlin's intervention during the rescue. She concludes that Tamlin had likely been acting as a spy within Hybern's ranks and had sacrificed that position to save her, which complicates her feelings about him. Still injured, Feyre checks on her own recovery, worries about Azriel's condition, and heads out into camp, where she sees the Winter Court's elaborate forces settling in and notices Briar already being gently absorbed into their care.

Mor meets Feyre near the edge of camp, and their uneasy tension from earlier finally breaks. After explaining that Briar is safer with the Winter Court and that Azriel is alive but healing slowly, Mor confesses the truth she has hidden for centuries: she prefers females and has never loved Azriel as he loves her. Mor explains that fear of her family's cruelty, the breeding expectations of the Hewn City, and the trauma of her past led her to hide this part of herself, take male lovers as cover, and keep Azriel at a painful distance. She also reveals that she once loved a human queen named Andromache and has never fully recovered from that loss. Feyre promises to keep Mor's secret and support her whenever she is ready to live openly, and the two reconcile with warmth and humor.

Feyre then tries to find Amren so they can discuss both the Suriel's clue about the Book and the plan to retrieve Bryaxis, but Amren has locked herself inside a heavily warded tent and refuses to let anyone in. Frustrated, Feyre returns to the war-tent, where the High Lords and commanders are studying new intelligence. Helion's scouts and Azriel's spies both confirm that Hybern's army has unexpectedly changed course and is now marching east instead of north.

As the leaders debate Hybern's aim, Cassian realizes the movement is a trap built around logistics. Hybern first forced the allied armies to spend their strength on repeated winnowing and scattered engagements, and now he can march south toward the human lands while a major river prevents the exhausted Fae forces from quickly following. Nesta, Feyre, and Elain understand that Hybern is also acting out of spite against them personally: Feyre killed his priestess, Nesta stole from the Cauldron, and Elain was taken back from him. Rhys argues that the real issue is larger than the Archeron sisters, because the wall is gone and the Fae must decide whether they will abandon defenseless humans or defend them as part of a new world.

The alliance agrees to go, even though the battle will likely be disastrous, and Feyre proposes using the night to winnow as many human civilians as possible to safety in Adriata before Hybern arrives. Before the plan can fully take shape, Amren finally enters with the Book and announces that their true objective must be the Cauldron itself. She says the Book will serve as a distraction and makes clear that the four Made women, not the High Lords, must reach the Cauldron. Amren has found a new strategy that could do more than stop Hybern's magic: it might destroy his entire army.