As Maas herself writes in the front of this book that you should read the Azriel bonus chapter before starting this book, I have decided to start with the bonus chapter:
Azriel bonus chapter: This is set the night of the Winter Solstice. Amren, Mor and Varian have all gone to bed. Azriel has stayed, even though his shadows are urging him to go to sleep. He is envious of Rhys & Cassian and the fact they now both have mates.
Catches Elain sneaking back downstairs to leave a present for him - ear plugs to drown out the noise he must have to deal with living with Cassian and Nesta. He reveals he has a present for her too, didn't give it to her because Lucien was there at the party.
He gets her a gold necklace with a small rose on it made from stained glass (calls it a thing of secret, lovely beauty). She asks him to put it on her and he does. Az gets hard and he can sense she is turned on too. She seems to give him permission to give in and kiss her but he is interrupted by Rhys's voice in his head.
Rhys is at the top of the stairs watching them and demands in Az's head for him to go to Rhys's office. He pulls away from Elain and says it was a mistake.
Rhys demands to know what he is thinking, as he could have been caught by anyone including Lucien. Az questions whether the cauldron was wrong when it made Elain and Lucien mates. Thinks he should be with Elain as his two brothers are with her two sisters.
Rhys questions his plans and Az can admit to himself he hasn't thought further than the sexual fantasies he has about her. Rhys demands that Az stay away from her because Lucien could invoke the Blood Duel if he knew, which is an Autumn Court thing where they battle to the death. Az doesn't care as he believes he would win, but Rhys says it would ruin their alliance with the Spring Court, Autumn Court and Jurian & Vassa. Rhys once again demands he stay away from Elain or he will punish him for it.
Azriel leaves and flies to the House of Wind and plans to train but finds that Gwyn is already there, his shadows hadn't warned him so he has no choice but to land there. She apologises for being there, believed they would be gone the whole night so came to attempt to cut the ribbon again. He says it's fine, lies and says he is only there to get something he forgot. She teases him about it, knowing it is likely a lie.
They talk for a minute - about the party and then about the celebration she had with the other priestesses. She asks if he sings and if that is why he is called a shadowsinger. Explains he is a shadowsinger, not a title given to him. But she presses again to ask if he sings and he says he does.
Doesn't want her to ask him any more questions about singing so asks her to try cutting the ribbon again. Watches her for a while and gives her some advice on how to hold the sword. Then he excuses himself so he can go sleep.
As he walks away he can hear a faint singing and feels like his shadows sing back.
The next day he returns to the river house to get his presents and finds that the necklace he bought for Elain has been left with his stuff. He takes it to the library beneath the House of Wind and tells Clotho to give it to Gwyn but not tell her it came from him. She agrees, says Gwyn deserves something as beautiful as the necklace. Something sparks in Azriel's chest when he hears that. He leaves and pictures Gwyn and how she might look when she sees the necklace. The thought makes him smile. We are told he buries the image where it glows quietly and, again, this is described as a thing of secret, lovely beauty.
Prelude: A young Azriel is being kept in a cell beneath his family's keep. He is only allowed out once a day and can only visit his mother once a week for an hour. His half brothers had attacked and burnt him 3 years ago.
He doesn't remember all of the attack now, it comes to him in small flashes. Remembers that when he finally woke up for good after it that his hands were changed, the skin now scarred. He was then put back in the pen.
His mother is kept away from him, in her own room. A discreet stairway leads to it - how his father goes down to her. His half brothers call her a whore and tell Az that one day they'll sleep with her two.
He is kept locked up and his shadows are his only company. He does wing exercises to keep them as strong as he can, even though he has never flown. His mother says they fear him because he is Illyrian.
His shadows are his only friends. The wind speaks to him, telling him stories from the world. They tell him about a violet-eyed boy close in age (Rhys), another Illyrian living out in the snow and mud somewhere (Cassian) and a blonde girl who is also kept locked away, this time beneath a mountain (Mor).
He overhears his half-brothers' plans to hurt his mother and he had shattered the cell door and used his shadows to hide until he found them and attacked them before they reached her. His father and step mother appear, his father stops him and holds him and Azriel uses the shadows for the first time to go completely invisible and escape his grip.
This is the first time someone calls him a shadowsinger. His father's wife wants him gone or killed. But his father (Maxtus) can see how valuable he could be. She tries to argue with him and he slaps her. Tells her and everyone else to leave so he is alone with Az. Asks how long he has been able to speak with the shadows, asks what they tell him in the moment.
He says they tell him that his father's wife has dropped her sons to the infirmary and now goes to visit the guard she is having an affair with. She believes he doesn't know but he does and will one day make her pay for it.
His father is unimpressed, says anyone could know that and to tell him something no one else could possibly know. Say his father has weapons he is yet to use that could give him new levels of power. If he uses those weapons wisely he could control way more than he currently does. His father says that Az is to leave in the morning with his mother. He is to go to Lord Devlon's camp where he will be trained. If he proves himself then he may be allowed to be named his father's heir.
Azriel had no plans or desire to be his father's heir. Only way he was returning was when he came to kill them all.
Chapter 1: Azriel POV - Azriel is out on a mission, sent by Rhys & Feyre and should only be observing but can't stop himself from doing more. He had come here on word from one of his spies in the mountains surrounding Koschei's castle. They told him a long-slumbering powerful object had been woken and is on top the Montesere's Rothorn Peak.
The peak is being protected by creatures called windwolves. There are others there looking for it and his shadows tell him they are all male but from different places. Whatever object had once been there isn't anymore, it is a Made object.
These men are also talking about an ancient book etched in gold and a six-sided box. The box is supposed to contain Kochei's death and whoever has it will be able to control him/get what they want from him.
Az has been spotted by the windwolves but disappears using his shadows before they can get him.
Chapter 2: Feyre POV - She's visiting Storr for the first time and hates it. It is in the middle of the Northern Sea. It is a neautrol zone between Prythian and the continent and has a meeting spot built there.
They are here for negotiations - 9 in total her, Rhys, Mor and then 3 people from Vallahan and 3 from Montesere. Rask had been invited but they hadn't replied or sent anyone. Vallahan is represented by their King, Queen and Prince. Montesere sent their grand vizier, the Duke of Bernion (Valderic) and the Mistress of the Unseen.
Nyx is about six months old now.
Azriel is also there for the meeting but hiding in the shadows.
The Prince of Vallahan is a very skilled fighter but he is also moody like a teenager and not to be trusted. The Mistress of the Unseen wants to do a blessing before they eat the food and wine that Feyre & Rhys have provided.
Feyre thinks about Ianthe. Since she died, Feyre has learnt she was a false priestess. The Cauldron once appointed 12 High Priestesses to the Sacred Council along with the High Priestess of all of Prythian. They each had a sigil of a full moon with two crescent moons on either side of it on their foreheads. The High Priestess of Prythian had it across her collarbones instead.
There hasn't been a Sacred Council in 1,000s of years. Priestesses would get the tattoos put on them at an annual ceremony, but Ianthe hadn't had them done then and they were essentially fake. She can tell this Mistress is just as fake.
The Mistress closes her eyes and has more tattoos on her eyelids. They become a set of glowing blue eyes - it is spell work. She does her blessing and talks about blessed children, which reminds Feyre of the Children of the Blessed from the human lands.
The Mistress asks about Nyx, says the Unseen have told her he has an unbound soul. Rhys assures her that his Naming Day will be happening soon. The Queen asks why they haven't been invited and they explain it will just be family. They talk of an old story where a curse was bestowed on a child when someone wans't invited to their ceremony (Sleeping Beauty style).
While they begin to talk, Feyre uses her powers to try and search for a Made object. They know they are currently all searching for a Made object, but don't know if these people might already have found one.
Rhys wants to know why they haven't signed his treaty yet. They don't want to as it allows the humans to sell their land back to the fae, but they believe it is their land. Feyre can sense some kind of power in the Mistress that is quite dark.
The Queen says that Rhys only rules a tiny part of Prythian and they have much bigger Kingdoms on the continent, question why they should listen to him. They also note that not even all of Prythian has signed the treaty - no Spring or Autumn Court yet.
Feyre confirms that none of them have a Made object.
They say Rhys has no power over them, even if he thinks he does. They know they have the Dread Trove and other powerful objects in their power. They admit they are seeking their own Made objects to add to their own power.
Rhys asks them about Koschei and warns them not to trust whatever he may have told or promised them. They all deny they are working with him.
They fail to get them to agree to a treaty or to not invade the human lands.
The Prince hints that Koschei's presence may have woken up many other Made objects. Everyone leaves them there except for the duke, who says he has no want for war. His King refused to come to the meeting and he lied to get the other 2 to come. Warns them to not get involved, the invasion will happen and if they come with the Trove they will only bring the war to Prythian.
He says the invasion is likely only going to happen once they also find Made weapons. Then he leaves.
Rhys calls to Az to come out of hiding but realise he has left and followed the royals from Vallahan.
Chapter 3: Azriel POV - Azriel is in Vallahan, looking down on the royal family's stronghold called Thrudheim. Sends his shadows out to report back on what the three returning royals are talking about. Hears that they are sending the Prince out the next day to search for a Made weapon. He was also present on Rothorn when Az was there spying.
The King and Queen were an arranged marriage and don't appear to be in love. The Queen wants the Prince to find the Made weapon, believes they should control it over Rask & Montesere. Az wants to work to break about the alliance between the three courts.
Az overhears the guards speaking about the Prince - they clearly do not respect or like him.
Az returns back to the others. He remembers four weeks earlier when a stranger had appeared outside the house - Bryce from Crescent City (For the recap of that particular part go here). When she had appeared his shadows told him she smelled of another world and that the bloodline was back. His sword had reacted to the one she carried. He hadn't drawn Truth-Teller since learning the truth about it.
The others are still angry that Nesta gave Bryce the Trove to take to her own world. even though she did bring it back. She has put them at risk if anyone from the other courts find out. Az still hasn't forgiven her, especially since Bryce had also taken Truth-teller with her.
Rhys doesn't want Az to follow the Prince. Feyre wants them to try and prove to other territories that Vallahan, Montesere and Rask are working with Koschei, as that might be enough to gain other allies against them.
They need to spy on all three and find what Made object they seek. Az to send Cerridwen and Nuala in Rask and Montesere. Mor reveals Valderic's sister is marrying the King's son. Mor reveals that she will be the one to return to Vallahan after Nyx's Naming Day.
Az is worried for her. Had loved her for 500 years - both born in darkness with father's who hated them and with unique powers used to find the truth. He had thought it meant they were made for each other.
Amren has tried to find a way to undo the stupid bond between Rhys and Feyre that they'd made that meant if one dies the other dies too. Az says he can't imagine ever being that in love, has never felt it and might not want it either.
Mor thinks Rhys & Feyre should visit Fomoria, a territory that hasn't responded to them yet. Amren seconds it but Feyre argues against it, wants to work on gaining Prythian allies first. Her and Amren get heated as they argue.
They plan to keep the Trove hidden for now. Also have 5 Made blades - the three that Nesta made - an icy sword, a dagger Eris has and Ataraxia. Then they also have Gwydion, the Starsword, that Nesta now had. And Truth-teller, Gwydion's sister sword.
Azriel stopped training the Valkyries after what Nesta did by giving the Trove to Bryce. Nesta has even stopped going to training with them.
Chapter 4: Cassian POV - Cassian follows after Nesta when she leaves, she has been cold with him ever since Bryce left. He doesn't feel like he can currently trust her after she handed the Trove over without speaking to anyone else. She tells him she thinks him and the others are stupid for holding a grudge still. Then she leaves, without looking back at him.
Nesta POV - She has winnowed to the coast, looking out at the Prison off the coast. She hasn't told anyone else that she can now winnow. Has been teaching herself over the last 2 weeks. She remembers Bryce and her parents - that Bryce told her she believed her 8-pointed star tattoo had been put on her for a reason.
Nesta attempts to winnow to the prison to search for Made objects, but lands in the middle of the sea instead. Her clothes weigh her down and her magic is depleted so she can't winnow - she's going to drown. She notices something at the bottom of the sea, it is similar to the Mask and Harp and seems to be two twin pieces of something - feels like she can hear it calling out to her.
She is about to drown when she is rescued by Rhysand.
Chapter 5: Azriel POV - Az and Cassian are watching as Mor packs to leave. Az and Cassian are to go to Windhaven and meet with Devlon about patrol routes.
Feyre POV - Feyre is letting Elain plan the Naming Day, and they have begun to receive presents from people all over Prythian. Elain loves helping take care of Nyx, Feyre notes a hint of longing and pain in her voice when she talks about him.
This doesn't matter in the slightest but it must be noted: this book isn't long but already feels long, so do we really need to waste so much time talking about Feyre breastfeeding because this is the third time now.
Rhys and Feyre have sex.
Chapter 6: Azriel POV - Azriel is in the kitchen of the river house, licking and kissing up Elain's neck. Rhys had ordered him to stay away from her a year ago and he had, until a month ago. He found her in the kitchen a month ago and, even though he hadn't really spoken to her in that entire year since Solstice, he went up to her in the kitchen and kissed her. Someone had almost found them so he had left.
Went back a week later and they had kissed again. Then the next week and the next, where they just kissed and touched over their clothes. He can still smell her mating bond to Lucien.
His shadows aren't with him, they left as soon as he came in the kitchen. He feels like Elain is his last chance at happiness. He decides to open up to her and tell her about what happened to him as a kid but she cuts him off and tells him they could find a bedroom.
Azriel notes that Elain avoids his wings - she has still never touched them. (I didn't expect this ship to be blasted and buried by C6 and yet here we are. SJM I know thee well, this is not my first rodeo)
They are caught again by Rhys. Elain is now shaking as Rhys stares at them, angry. He tells them this is the last time they do this in his house. If they want to have sex then they can go somewhere else first or Elain needs to tell Lucien she wants to end their mating bond. Elain runs away from the kitchen without saying anything.
Rhys is very angry. Wanted to send Az to the human lands but can't when he smells of Elain, as Lucien is currently there. He quickly uses his shadows to get rid of the scent. Rhys talks of how horrible it felt when he found Feyre and had to live knowing she was with someone else. Feels bad for Lucien and won't deceive him. Once again states Az needs to either tell Lucien and destroy their alliance or simply take Elain somewhere else if he wants to sleep with her.
Rhys questions if Az still seems to think he has some right to Elain because of the three brothers, three sisters thing - he does (smh). Rhys says he won't punish him but he still looks at him with disgust. Rhys tells him to do what he likes, he has worse things to worry about and notes he is no longer proud to call Az his brother.
Chapter 7: Azriel POV - Az calls Nuala and Cerridwen to see him. Thinks of when he first drew his siphons, most only got one and he had pulled 7 from the flames. The siphons stones are described as a more turquoise colour. Then Cassian had gone next and drawn 7 red stones.
Az had killed his father and half brothers a decade after that.
The wraith twins arrive. They already know where they need to go. Tells them to make sure to stay hidden and check in with information every day. Let him know if they hear anything about a Made object, Koschei or a hexagonal box.
Nesta POV - Only her and Rhys know that she nearly drowned. He found her because he'd heard her calling out 'find me'. Tells her to tell him the next time she wants to go to the Prison and he will take her, he will also give her winnowing lessons if she asks.
Cassian had gone to Windhaven the night before and not come back. He stayed away more often these days. Since Bryce came they hadn't slept together. He sometimes came to bed but never touched her, hardly spoke to her. She wonders if their mate bond has broken beyond repair.
She has her Symphonia with her at the music hall, to record. On there she has a recording of Cassian saying that he loves her more than life.
Cassian doesn't return that night either so she goes to the river house the next day. He tells her Cassian has gone to see Eris, Amren has gone to the Day Court. Feyre and Rhys are leaving to go see Jurian and Vassa about Koschei.
Nesta tells him she plans to go see Gwyn tomorrow to ask her to do something. She hasn't really spoken to her since the Blood Rite. Az asks what she wants her to do - to write up everything that happened with Bryce when she was there.
Some of the info they learned in the caves when Bryce was there - 16,000 years ago the Daglan had ruled their world and been almost impossible to defeat. Then a fae/human coalition led by a warrior named Fionn had used the Trove and other magical weapons to defeat them. The Fae had then rose up and enslaved the humans.
For thousands of years there was mainly peace among the Fae. A High King & High Queen ruled Prythian. Theia was the first and last High Queen of Prythian. Her and Azriel had learnt that Theia madean eighth court that she ruled, the Prison. Theia eventually betrayed Fionn, her husband, to take Gwydion for herself.
Theia left their world with her two daughters and never came back. Silene, the youngest daughter, did make it back one day and made a record of the history in the caves below the prison.
She asks if he thinks about their time in the caves. She thinks they may still have more to learn about the Prison and the Trove.
Sensing something off with him she asks if Az is okay. He asks her if she thinks Rhys will ever forgive her for giving Bryce the mask. She tells him no, that he will likely learn to be civil with her again but that she doesn't believe he is capable of forgiveness.
Chapter 8: Cassian POV - Cassian is at the Autumn Court. Eris has a go at him for being late. Cassian tells him of the trouble happening on the continent. Eris already knows his father would side with the continent over them. Cassian asks when Eris is goin to kill his father and take his place but he doesn't answer.
Eris basically insinuates they have no chance of stopping the others from marching on the human lands if they want to. They trade a few barbs and Eris warns Cassian not to insult the Mother when she is the one who gave him his mate.
Eris says that once Nesta gets bored of Cassian, he is still happy to marry her.
Azriel POV - Az is in the town house when his shadows warn him of an intruder. Flies off to find the person, hiding near a ship. The creature has a white face and seems fae-like, it's body partly in the water. Az doesn't know what it is, uses his magic to trap it.
The creature says it has come to give a message to Rhys and Feyre, sent by Hybern. Hybern wants to meet with them to form an alliance. It then seems to disappear into sea foam after giving the message.
Chapter 9: Feyre POV - At the small manor house in the human lands where Lucien, Jurian and Vassa are staying. Vassa confirms Koschei is controlling what is happening on the continents. She believes the box with his life-thread in it can't be found. Vassa and all the other fae women he trapped in the lake are descended from the first Fae woman who trapped him in the lake. Vassa still hasn't been able to break the curse on her.
Lucien still doesn't know that Helion is his real father - Rhys thinks they should keep it a secret for now.
Rhys asks Vassa if he can look into her mind to see what she saw of Koschei but she says no.
Rhys wants Lucien to go to the Autumn court. He thinks Koschei will make a move soon and wants him to use a Veritas orb to record his memories if and when he shows up. Tells him to go and pretend to be there on Tamlin's behalf, looking to work with Koschei. While he is there he is to try and find proof that they are working with Koschei, to help Rhys and the others to get more allies on their side.
Lucien says he will think about it. Feyre feels bad and invites him to Nyx's Naming Day, says he can even stay at the house.
Chapter 10: Nesta POV - Feyre and Rhys want to go and visit Tarquin, try to get him to join their side. Nesta then goes to the temple and listens to Gwyn sing. Gwyn hasn't let the library since the Blood Rite and she didn't come to Nesta's mating ceremony to Cassian. Gwyn is still hurt that Nesta knocked her out during the Rite.
Clotho comes to talk to her, tells her the song Gwyn and the others are singing are about calling a lost sister home. Clotho gives her a gift for Rhys, Feyre and Nyx for his Naming Ceremony. It is a thread for him to use - it is a material she doesn't know and Clotho says it is the only one like it.
She talks to Deirdre and Roslin and realises that Az and Cassian haven't attended Valkyrie training for weeks either.
She asks Gwyn for her help to write down the account of events that happened recently - with Bryce. She brushes Nesta off, says she will think about it. Nesta invites her to the ceremony but she says no. Again tries to coax her out of the library but Gwyn says she is happy in the darkness there.
Chapter 11: Azriel POV - Azriel is in Windhaven and goes to visit Emerie in her shop. Emerie is the first female Illyrian to win the Blood Rite so Az had offered her the chance to draw a Siphon from the flames but she had refused.
Az hates the tattoos he has on his body. Has tried to get scars in battle to help cover them. Also hates his wings, his shadows. Az in this book just hates everything about himself. He hates the Illyrians but knows they will need to work with them and go to battle with them, will be glad to watch many of the men die.
Feyre POV - In the Summer court visiting Tarquin, who doesn't want to join them in the fight against the continent. We once again hear about her leaky breasts (SJM where is your editor and can I have a word?!?) He won't send his soldiers to die in a war they can't win. He points out the humans there know that Prythian is sympathetic to humans and yet has not sent anyone to ask for help. Says he can't join them when they have no hope of winning, won't ask that of his people.
Chapter 12: Nesta POV - Nesta returns to the House of Wind, hoping to speak to Cassian but he isn't there. Talks to the house, it puts wood and cinders in her lap and then crafts them into an image of the punching block they used for training. Shows it disintegrating the way it did when she hit it. She stays up to see him but Cassian never appears.
Feyre POV - The Winter Court and Dawn Court also don't seem to want to work with them either. Rhys says they could rebuild the wall, stronger than before. Even if they do that, it likely means their enemies would then come after them instead.
Feyre brings up the idea of Rhys being High King but he doesn't want it. Is angry at the mere suggestion and says he won't do it, it would make their lives miserable. He says they will build a wall around the human lands, one around Prythian and one around the Night Court if needed.
Azriel POV - Az is at the town house, avoiding the others so he doesn't have to tell them about the messenger from Hybern.
Chapter 13: Cassian POV - Cassian has only just got back and had barely enough time to get ready for the ceremony. Notes that Nesta seems angry with him, is barely speaking to him. He realises before this he hadn't seen her for 3 days. Tries talking to her but the man seems incapable of being anything but a dick so it doesn't go well. Then tries coming on to her but she quickly leaves. She tells him she has wanted to talk to him for days but he hasn't even given her the chance as he has refused to even be around her.
Feyre POV - Elain sees Lucien arrive and is angry. Feyre forgot to mention she had invited him. The ceremony starts.
Chapter 14: Feyre POV - The ceremony has them give blessing to Nyx and then their friends and family come forward to do the same. Mor offers the gift of truth, Cassian wishes him true friendships. Nesta comes next, touches their hands wrapped in the cloth Clotho gave them for the ceremony but stops. Feyre orders them to take the ribbon off - they can sense something.
They can't get the ribbon off. Then suddenly the whole place goes dark. Feyre recognises the darkness for what it is made from; fear.
Chapter 15: Azriel POV - Azriel hadn't sensed whatever was there and his shadows hadn't either because they weren't there, they had fled when Elain was close. The darkness is Bryaxis.
Az can hear shouting. Elain screams, Lucien shouts for her before he cries out in pain. Az creates a blade of light which shows him bodies strewn across the floor - Rhys, Cassian, Feyre and Nyx. There's blood on them and him too and Truth-Teller is in his hand. He has killed them - but he knows this isn't real. Sees Mor's naked bloody body with a note nailed to it saying he did it.
Feyre POV - Feyre can hear Nyx screaming as though someone is hurting him. She begs for the darkness to to leave Nyx alone and that she'd do anything to keep him safe. Asks if she'd trade Rhys for Nyx. She knows it isn't real and needs to snap out of it. The darkness clears and she sees what remains of Nyx in front of her.
Chapter 16: Nesta POV - Nesta also knows what the darkness shows her isn't real. Keeps seeing her father dying, her mother too. Sees Feyre bleeding out after giving birth. Shows Cassian hating her, being distant. She manages to snap out of it, sees everyone else in the temple crying and screaming over what Bryaxis is showing them.
Nesta spots Bryaxis, manages to call Ataraxia to her hand as Bryaxis jumps at her and she swings for it but it dodges it. She smacks her face into a wall, breaks her nose.
Bryaxis says they called to it today, came back to where sisters wait for it (the song they sang?) She tries killing it but the creature manages to escape and head towards the House of Wind. She uses her magic to send the sword after the creature and manages to hit it.
She runs to warn Clotho but she insists that Bryaxis has returned to the lowest level of the library and they have come to an agreement. Feyre says she must kill the creature after what it did to Nyx. Clotho says she won't allow it, Bryaxis simply answered the call of the song for lost sisters, that Bryaxis is a she and a lost sister.
Feyre says if Bryaxis ever leaves the library she will kill her.
Chapter 17: Feyre POV - Feyre and Amren finally apologise to each other.
Azriel POV - Az has avoided Elain since he arrived but he knows she is there because his shadows aren't. They refuse to come in the room while she is there. Lucien gifts Feyre a rabbit her father carved before he died, something she can give to Nyx.
Az's shadows can sense how Nesta is being destroyed by the distance between her and Cassian.
Az asks Lucien who he and Tamlin spoke to in Hybern when they worked with them. Reveals about the messenger they sent. Rhys reprimands him, knows he is only questioning Lucien about it to try and make him look bad in front of Elain.
Chapter 18: Nesta POV - Cassian is there, but still being weird. Hadn't even bothered to come when Madja was healing her broken nose and arm. She asks what Bryaxis showed him but he doesn't want to talk about it.
He asks what she was going to gift Nyx, she says that she was going to wish for him to find inner peace.
They snap at each other but then she kisses him. But then she gets upset thinking about how he wasn't there for her when she was being healed. She starts to cry. He hugs her, she tells him she loves him and that she is sorry about the Trove, but it felt right to give it to Bryce. Explains he was angry, felt like she shut him out. They then have sex.
Feyre POV - They suspect maybe Hybern sent Bryaxis, also note she seems darker than before and maybe Koschei is to blame.
Chapter 19: Lucien POV - Lucien came to the ceremony and say Elain for the first time in 9 months, the last time was on the Winter Solstice. Lucien hasn't been with anyone in a very long time, won't even get himself off to thoughts of Elain.
Lucien decides he should finally try to talk to Elain, if only to apologise for what happened back in Hybern, when they'd been sent into the Cauldron.
He knocks on her door and hears her answer. He opens her door and finds her on the bed, both her and Az naked.
Chapter 20: Azriel POV - Az hadn't sensed Lucien coming because his shadows had once again fled from Elain (Az can't take a very unsubtle hint apparently). Az had been interrupted before they could do anything.
Elain tells Lucien that this is a misunderstanding. Az commands his shadows to come back to him but they refuse. Lucien threatens to rip out his throat, tells him to get away from Elain and leave.
Elain starts crying as they shout at each other, waking up the others. Cassian comes in first and is shocked at what he sees. Nesta is next, then Rhys, Feyre and Mor.
Lucien asks Rhys if he knew this was happening and he admits he did. Lucien spits at his feet, tells them they're all terrible. That they let this happen and still asked him to do dangerous work for them. He asks Feyre if she knew too and she admits it, spits at her feet too.
Lucien tells them he is done working with them. Az's shadows reveal Lucien's heart is breaking, his soul is cleaving but he doesn't care. Then Lucien tells Az he hopes he receives all the pain and suffering that he deserves after this. Then tells Elain he won't be back to bother her again.
Then Lucien turns himself to flame and attacks Azriel. Lucien plans to kill him and Rhys is contemplating letting him. But puts a wall of shadow between them. Cassian grabs Az and holds him back.
Lucien leaves. Rhys then demands Az leave too but he doesn't so Mor grabs him and winnows him away. Then she slaps him (deserved). She asks what he was thinking. Asks if this is because of her and that she doesn't love him the way he wants. They fight and she tells him if Lucien demands a Blood Duel then Az is on his own. She leaves.
Even his shadows won't come close to him, as if they are disgusted by him too. He goes to the town house, flings Truth-Teller across the room.
Chapter 21: Nesta POV - Elain is still crying. Says nothing will ever be okay, which is what Bryaxis showed her earlier that day. Feyre asks if she loves Az and she doesn't answer.
Azriel POV - Az goes to the House of Wind to collect clothes and weapons. He hears one of his shadows let out a little melody. Steps into the House and his shadows sing again. Then he hears a female singing in the house and follows the sound. The house and shadows seem to be leading him towards the sound.
He follows them, turns a corner and gets hit in the head with a rock. Gwyn is there and suddenly stops singing. His shadows are gathered by her and he describes them like dogs wagging their tails and asking if they get a treat now they have found her. Realises the rock that hit him was her Invoking Stone. They talk for a little while but he is in a terrible mood and is miserable company, leaves and goes to bed.
Gwyn POV - Gwyn notes how terrible at conversation Az had been, even more so than usual. She returns to the library. She can still smell Az's scent, describes it as cedar and night-chilled mist.
Gwyn had gone upstairs to try and find Nesta, to tell her she would do what she asked. Gwyn is grappling with the fact she enjoyed killing the Illyrian during the Blood Rite, had found it easy to do. She felt it was safer for her to stay down in the library. She thinks she is a monster.
Chapter 22: Nesta POV - Rhys calls her to his study. Rhys brings out Ataraxia, the Mask, Harp, Crown, Gwydion and the other blade she made and tells her to take them. Says him having them cost her time against Bryaxis and next time he wants her to be able to kill the thing.
She asks him to teach her how to create her own pocket realm to keep them in. And also how to kill with magic like he can. He agrees to (Why am I getting carranam vibes?)
Feyre POV - Elain finally appears and apologises for any shame she brought them, Feyre tells her there is none but Nesta points out she chose to do it while Lucien was in the house. Points out she hasn't tried to get to know him, Elain doesn't want to. Nesta says she has every right to reject the bond and yet she hasn't yet. She says the Elain she knows would have treated him with more respect.
Elain says the Elain they knew died in the Cauldron. Says they are happy to leave her alone, that they never ask her to do anything of importance.
Elain says she once had a man she loved, Graysen, who loved her to. Elain says she doesn't want to be here in this house or city. Elain and Nesta fight, both say they don't recognise or like who the other is now. Elain storms out.
Nesta tells Feyre that she can winnow now. Explains about the presence she felt in the water that asked her to find it. Thinks it might be an object similar to the weapons.
Nesta invites Feyre to come train with her and the Valkyries. Thinks making Azriel start training people again will be good for him. Tells her what Bryce told her about the star tattoo on her back. She tries to give Feyre Gwydion but she tells her to keep hold of it for now.
Chapter 23: Azriel POV - Cassian finds him and helps him work out until he is exhausted. Az sends his shadows out and they return with Erebos, a spy used to get people talking. Erebos is made entirely of shadow. He sends Erebos to the human lands to spy on Lucien, to report back anything to him.
Erebos asks about Truth-Teller, calls it a blade that sings. That it lets out a Song of Songs.
He thinks he should try to find Elain so they can make some kind of plan together.
Chapter 24: Nesta POV - Nesta is about to attempt to winnow to the prison again when Amren appears. She knows Rhys gave her the Trove. Tells her to apologise to Rhys for handing the Mask over to Bryce. Also tells her to explore the hidden passages of the Prison and find more ways to save them. Tells her to take Gwydion with her. Nesta finally closes her eyes and manages to winnow to the Prison by herself. The prison steals Gwydion right out of her hand.
Mor POV - Elain has come to find her and asks Mor to take her with her. Says she can help her, that they're both attractive and that can be useful as it can get people to agree to thing they usually wouldn't. Says she will do all she can to help her, that she is Made and a Seer and could be of use. Mor asks her about Az but she just says she can't stay there. Finally Mor relents and takes Elain with her to Vallahan.
A Court of Splintered Harmony
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