Silene’s recording continues, revealing that Prince Aidas of Hel had long hunted the Asteri and secretly advised Theia through portals. Needing allies, Theia brings her daughters to Parthos, where humans and Fae argue until a human scholar presents a devastating discovery: the Asteri infected Midgard’s water with parasites that warp magic and bind magical beings to them.

The humans explain that the Asteri turned a coming-of-age ritual into a harvest: the “Drop” releases a concentrated blast of power that is contained and fed to the Asteri, while refusing the ritual leads the parasites to drain immortals until they wither like humans. Bryce is horrified to realize the Asteri’s control is biological and systemic, not only political. Despite despair, Theia secures roughly ten thousand Fae and opens Hel’s doorway, bringing fifty thousand soldiers led by Aidas and his brothers, but Pelias—now commanding the Asteri’s forces—proves an overwhelming match.

On the eve of a decisive attack, with Aidas absent and reinforcements days away, Theia refuses a futile stand. She hands Helena the Horn, orders Silene to take the Harp and dagger, and keeps the Starsword, transferring protective starlight into both daughters using the Harp’s power to move magic. Theia warns that Pelias intends to seize the sisters to legitimize his rule and force heirs, then rides into battle on a winged horse to buy them time.

As Silene and Helena flee toward a stone archway gate, their own people race up the mountain with children, begging to be saved, while wolf-shifter Fae close in as enemy hunters. Helena abruptly chooses sacrifice: she uses the Harp to shove Silene through the gate and charges away to draw pursuit. Silene sees Theia fighting Pelias; Pelias blasts Theia down, takes the Starsword, and drives it through Theia’s head. Silene escapes between worlds as the Horn sounds and is cut off, sealing the passage behind her while the stranded people’s screams fade.

Silene admits she decides to let the truth die, then carves a cosmic map and record into the stone chamber. Over time she walls off the mountain-palace, turns it into a prison by trapping monsters—former “pets” of the Daglan/Asteri—and leaves the land barren. She later marries a High Lord’s son and becomes lady of the Night Court, keys the Prison’s wards to her infant son’s blood, and hides the Harp, history, and a buried weapon as a secret inheritance within the bloodline. Nesta and Azriel note that Rhysand does not know; Bryce, furious at Silene’s choices, rejects her plea for forgiveness.