Disguised as Ianthe, Feyre walks into Hybern's camp with Azriel hidden in shadow behind her. She learns the disguise is convincing enough to fool the guards, but the deeper she goes, the more she sees the camp's brutality, including a tortured young woman from the Children of the Blessed hanging near the king's revelry. Feyre wants to help her, but she stays focused on Elain because being discovered too early would ruin the rescue.

Jurian intercepts Feyre in view of the King of Hybern and immediately realizes who she is. While pretending to flirt with Ianthe, Jurian tells Feyre that Elain is alive, untouched, and chained inside the king's tent with steel and magic. He quietly gives Feyre a plan: ask to pray before the Cauldron, take Elain to the western cliff, and meet him there. Jurian also warns Feyre not to let Hybern capture her alive.

Inside the tent, Feyre and Azriel find Elain bound and gagged but unharmed. Feyre drops the disguise long enough to reassure her, while Azriel removes the gag and tries to break the chains with his power. The magic on the restraints holds, and when Jurian's promised diversion erupts outside, Azriel decides there is no time left. He lifts Elain and leads their escape through the back of the tent under a cloak of shadows as Feyre arms herself with ash arrows and kills one of the hounds pursuing them.

The flight to the western cliff turns into a desperate chase as Hybern's hounds track them and the king joins the pursuit. Jurian has left the tortured girl there for them, but before they can escape, the king shoots Feyre through the shoulder with an ash arrow. Tamlin then appears in beast form and throws himself at the hounds, buying them time. Azriel carries Elain and the rescued girl, Briar, into the air, while Elain helps fend off a hound attacking him. Feyre forces herself into a running takeoff despite her wound, and a sudden spring wind lifts her clear of the cliff. She then uses Helion's power to burn a hole through Hybern's wards so they can escape.

After they winnow to the outskirts of the Night Court camp, Azriel's power nearly gives out and both he and Feyre urgently need treatment. Briar identifies herself as the rescued human, and Rhys and Nesta rush to meet them. Nesta breaks down with relief when she sees Elain safe, and Elain, still chained, kisses Azriel's cheek before Helion is called to remove the king's bindings. While Azriel is sent to Thesan for healing, Feyre lies down with Elain and Nesta beside her, and the three sisters cling to one another in a quiet, hard-won reunion.