After Rhys cuts Feyre out of his mind as he destroys the Hybern soldiers, Mor pulls Feyre back to herself in the streets of Adriata. Feyre vomits from the shock of what she has seen and tells Mor that the King of Hybern was not truly on the ship at all, but using some illusion or spell. That revelation explains why Rhys could not attack the king's mind.

As Feyre struggles to steady herself, she realizes the deeper cost of war. Seeing battle up close makes her understand why some rulers submit rather than fight, because war does not only kill people, it permanently changes the souls of those who survive it. Even so, Feyre resolves that for Velaris, Prythian, and the human lands, she will keep fighting no matter how often she must clean blood from her skin and blades.

Mor winnows Feyre back to the palace, where the halls are filled with wounded Summer Court soldiers, Illyrians, healers, and blood. Varian, exhausted and bloodied, recognizes Feyre and directs her to the oak dining room. Feyre expects to find Rhys there, but instead finds Tarquin commanding the aftermath of the battle.

Tarquin dismisses everyone else and confronts Feyre with cold anger. He says that after Feyre deceived him, stole from him, and later destroyed the Spring Court from within, Hybern gained easier access to Summer's shores, and he believed the Night Court had come to finish what Hybern started. Mor denies any alliance with Hybern, but Tarquin demands answers from Feyre alone. Feyre can only say that their dreams are the same, and when Rhys arrives he claims that he and Feyre had reasons for what they did and insists Hybern is responsible for its own actions.

Tarquin remains unconvinced and orders the Night Court forces to leave once Adriata is secure. Feyre offers their help anyway, and Rhys tells Tarquin that the attack was only a fraction of what Hybern intends and urges him to attend the coming meeting because Prythian needs him. Tarquin still tells them to get out. When Tarquin objects to Feyre speaking so boldly, Rhys publicly declares that Feyre is High Lady of the Night Court and may do as she wishes, leaving Tarquin and the surrounding Summer Court Fae to absorb the revelation before Rhys takes Feyre away.