Feyre and Rhys eat breakfast with Nesta and Elain before the sisters return home. Cassian leaves to help Azriel with the Attor, but not before provoking Nesta, and Rhys glamours the group so the sisters can safely mail their letter in the village. After crossing back into Prythian and returning to Velaris, Rhys leaves Feyre alone while he deals with what was learned from the prisoner.

When Rhys returns, Feyre refuses to be shut out again and insists on knowing everything. Rhys gives Feyre a choice, then lets her enter his memory of the Attor's interrogation in the Court of Nightmares. Through Rhys's perspective, Feyre sees Azriel force answers from the Attor, learns Hybern ordered Feyre's capture, sees that Hybern is preparing a massive army and fleet, and hears that Tamlin has sealed the Spring Court's borders. Once Rhys confirms the Attor has no more useful information, he orders Azriel to break its legs, shred its wings, and dump it off Hybern's coast as a warning.

Back in the present, Feyre pulls away when Rhys mentions Tamlin, and Rhys apologizes for deceiving her earlier. Feyre then writes Tamlin a direct letter stating that she left of her own free will, is safe, and is not coming back. The letter becomes Feyre's declaration of independence. When Feyre asks what comes next, Rhys explains that Azriel will spy on the mortal queens to find their half of the Book of Breathings, while he and Feyre hope to visit the Summer Court to deal with the Prythian half. Feyre rejects further coddling and, instead of retreating to brood, asks Rhys to show her Velaris at night.

Before dinner, Amren visits Feyre while Nuala and Cerridwen finish dressing her. Amren reveals that the twins are half-wraiths trained by Azriel and explains that Azriel still has them watch her movements despite Rhys's orders, because Rhys values defense, loyalty, cunning, and compassion more than rigid obedience. When Feyre asks about taxes, Amren also makes clear that the Night Court does not impose a Spring Court-style Tithe.

Feyre returns Amren's amulet from the Prison, only to learn that it never held any magic at all. Amren admits she lied because Feyre needed something to believe in to escape, and Rhys had only recognized the piece because he gave it to Amren long ago. By the end of the chapter, Feyre has seen the Night Court's ruthlessness and honesty more clearly, severed ties with Tamlin in writing, and chosen to move forward with Rhys and his court.