Alone in the mountain cabin, Feyre bathes, eats, and turns over the revelation that Rhys is her mate. Remembering how frantically she reacted when he was wounded, Feyre recognizes that her need to protect him ran deeper than ordinary loyalty. She also feels relief that her failed relationship with Tamlin was not simple betrayal, even as she remains hurt that Rhys kept the truth from her while she suffered guilt and confusion over wanting him.

After sleeping alone in the cold, empty bed, Feyre wakes and judges herself for running away. She realizes she did exactly what she had once said anyone would do with Rhys, and she is ashamed that she left him injured without even hearing his explanation. Remembering Rhys's insistence that he truly sees her, Feyre begins to suspect that she has refused to see him just as clearly.

By midday, isolation and boredom drive Feyre to explore the cabin. As she searches through drawers, cupboards, and storage rooms, she notices that the retreat feels lived-in and affectionate rather than formal, and she recognizes it as a true family space for Rhys and his inner circle. In the storeroom, Feyre finds preserved paints, canvases, and brushes, and the discovery pulls her back to a part of herself she had neglected. She immediately gathers the supplies and spends the rest of the day and night painting.

Feyre covers the main room with seasonal motifs and images inspired by Mor, Cassian, Azriel, Amren, and Rhys. When Mor arrives the next evening, she finds Feyre splattered in paint and the room transformed. Mor reports that there is still no news about Feyre's sisters, but Rhys is recovering despite being angry. Feyre thanks Mor for not revealing her location, and Mor urges Feyre to speak with Rhys because, although he makes mistakes, he usually has reasons for what he does.

While Feyre keeps painting, Mor speaks about her grim visit to the Court of Nightmares and her violent hatred for her parents, explaining that Rhys would let her kill them if she chose. Their conversation turns to the tangled dynamics among the inner circle, including Mor's history with Cassian and Azriel's deep insecurity. When Mor asks whether being Rhys's mate and part of their court and family is truly so terrible, Feyre finally answers honestly: it is not. By the end of the chapter, Feyre has not solved the conflict with Rhys, but she has accepted that the bond and the belonging it offers do not repel her.