A Court of Mist and Fury
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Sixty-Five
Overview
Hybern reveals that Ianthe betrayed Feyre’s family and uses the Cauldron on Elain and Nesta to prove to the mortal queens that immortality can be granted. The Night Court and even Tamlin are powerless to stop him, and Cassian is maimed while Azriel is held hostage as leverage. Elain survives as Fae, Nesta emerges altered in a more ominous way, and Lucien’s sudden recognition of Elain as his mate reshapes the personal stakes of the war.
Summary
Feyre watches in horror as the King of Hybern brings in Elain and Nesta, bound and gagged, and explains how the trap was arranged. Jurian helped Hybern win over the mortal queens, and Hybern reveals that Ianthe betrayed Feyre by giving him the details needed to seize her sisters. Hybern presents the Cauldron as a gift of immortality for the queens and decides to use Elain and Nesta as proof that the transformation can be survived.
Feyre, Rhysand, and the others try to resist, but Hybern crushes them with his power. Rhys shields Feyre, Cassian throws himself in front of Azriel and has his wings brutally shredded, and Mor is forced to stop her attack when Hybern threatens Azriel’s life. Tamlin and Lucien both object, with Tamlin saying this was not part of his bargain, but Hybern ignores them and magically restrains anyone who moves against him.
As Elain is dragged to the Cauldron, Feyre begs Hybern and the queens to stop, offering herself and pointing out that she and Jurian already prove the process works. The queens refuse her plea, and Elain is forced under the Cauldron’s water. After a terrible pause, Elain emerges alive but transformed into High Fae, more beautiful and now pointed-eared, shocking everyone and confirming for the queens that Hybern’s promise is real.
Hybern then orders Nesta to be put in next. Lucien is unexpectedly released long enough to cover Elain with his coat, while Nesta fights savagely all the way to the Cauldron. Cassian, half-delirious from pain, still stirs toward her voice. Before Nesta is forced completely under, she points at Hybern in open defiance, a gesture that reads as a curse and a promise.
Nesta emerges changed in a way Feyre instantly senses is different from Elain’s transformation, as though Nesta took something from the Cauldron in return. She rises filled first with rage, power, and cunning, then rushes to protect Elain. While Nesta clings to her sister and Lucien stares at Elain, he finally understands what he is seeing and says, stunned and broken, that Elain is his mate.
Who Appears
- Feyre Archeronwatches helplessly as Hybern remakes her sisters and learns Ianthe betrayed her family
- King of Hybernreveals his scheme, restrains everyone, and forces Elain and Nesta into the Cauldron
- Nesta Archeronfights savagely against the Cauldron, emerges transformed, and immediately protects Elain
- Elain Archeronis forced into the Cauldron first, survives, and is remade into High Fae
- Rhysandshields Feyre, endures Hybern’s power, and is forced to watch without intervening
- Lucienobjects to Hybern’s cruelty, covers Elain, and realizes she is his mate
- Tamlintries to stop Hybern after learning this violation was not part of their bargain
- Cassianprotects Azriel, has his wings shredded by magic, and still reaches toward Nesta
- Azriellies poisoned and wounded, becoming Hybern’s leverage against Mor and Rhys
- Morriganattempts to attack Hybern but retreats when Azriel’s life is threatened
- Jurianis revealed as Hybern’s ally who helped sway the mortal queens
- Iantheis exposed as the person who sold Feyre’s sisters to Hybern
- The mortal queensdemand proof of Hybern’s promise and allow Elain and Nesta to be used