The Attor grins as Amarantha announces Feyre’s second trial in a bare, gilded chamber. The floor lowers Feyre into a pit split by an iron grate, revealing Lucien chained on the far side. Two massive, heated spiked grates begin descending to crush them both. Amarantha points to an inscription and three levers labeled I, II, III, telling Feyre to answer the puzzle in time.

Feyre realizes the inscription is beyond her limited reading ability and panics as the spikes descend. With seconds left, pain flares in the eye tattoo on her palm whenever she reaches for the first or second lever, but not the third. Trusting Rhysand’s silent signal and his star-flecked gaze above, she pulls the third lever. The grates halt inches from her head, and the mechanism retracts.

As the platform rises, Feyre nearly breaks, but Rhysand speaks into her mind, ordering her not to cry and to stare Amarantha down. She composes herself, walks out without looking at Tamlin, and returns to her cell before collapsing into hours of sobbing.

Rhysand visits, shocks her into stopping by licking away her tears, and taunts her about her secret illiteracy. He spares her escort duties for the next night but promises further torment at his court, including forcing her to learn to read. When he leaves, Feyre realizes his intervention kept her from shattering completely.