Emerie joins training at the House of Wind and proves as awkward with balance as Gwyn had been. Cassian explains that clipped wings disrupt an Illyrian female's natural counterweight and balance, then asks which healer clipped Emerie. Emerie reveals that her father did it himself and that she fought him during it, which made the damage even worse. Cassian is visibly sickened and furious, offers to bring Madja to examine Emerie, and backs off when Emerie refuses. To spare Emerie further discomfort, Nesta cuts off the discussion and pushes Cassian to continue the lesson.

As training continues, Gwyn and Emerie keep talking and quickly settle into an easy friendship. Their conversation turns to books, and Nesta discovers that Emerie also loves romance novels. The shared enthusiasm transforms Emerie's mood, and the three women begin bonding over favorite authors and recommendations. Gwyn, who usually reads adventure and scholarly material for Merrill, hesitantly agrees to try one of Emerie's milder romances.

Rhys arrives exactly on time to take Emerie home. Gwyn reacts to him with surprise and awe rather than fear, but she soon withdraws, and Nesta notices that Gwyn is less at ease around Rhys than she has been around Cassian. Rhys greets Nesta coldly, and Cassian drapes an arm over Nesta's shoulders as if to keep the peace. Rhys then slips into Nesta's mind and warns her to treat Gwyn with kindness and respect, showing that he still assumes the worst of her. Nesta angrily shuts him out. Afterward, Nesta asks Emerie whether she will return, and Emerie admits that the tea and spices Nesta sent reminded her that a wider world exists beyond Windhaven. Because of that reminder and Nesta's earlier harsh truth, Emerie decides to keep coming and hopes training will make her less afraid.

While the women talk about books, Cassian privately confronts Rhys mind-to-mind for baiting Nesta and refusing to see the good changes in her. Rhys admits fault and apologizes. Cassian also makes clear that he kept close to Nesta because Rhys, with Feyre pregnant, is too volatile to risk near someone Feyre loves and might defend. When Emerie and Gwyn rejoin them, Emerie thanks Cassian and Nesta before leaving with Rhys. As Rhys flies her away, he dryly notes that the House reeks of sex, making it clear that he has guessed Cassian and Nesta are sleeping together.