Chaol has not seen Aedion or Dorian since Dorian discovered him meeting Aedion in the tomb. Chaol feels guilty but relieved that Dorian is spending time with Sorscha, because at least Dorian is not entirely alone. Chaol decides the rift with Dorian is worth it if it helps protect Dorian and serve Celaena, even as Chaol struggles with thinking of Celaena as Aelin.

Because the tomb is no longer safe, Chaol brings Aedion to Celaena’s secret apartment above a warehouse, which Celaena left to Chaol in her will. As Chaol uncovers the furniture, the place reveals Celaena’s wealth, taste, independence, and lingering ties to Terrasen. Chaol thinks bitterly about Arobynn Hamel, realizing Arobynn likely knew Celaena was Aelin and may have preserved the apartment because Arobynn expected Celaena to return after Endovier.

Aedion arrives and is deeply shaken by seeing this private piece of Aelin’s life. The apartment’s Terrasen colors, stag figurine, books, clothes, jewelry, and scent show Aedion that Aelin survived, changed, and lived a whole hidden life. Aedion privately resolves that when Aelin returns from Wendlyn, Aedion will never let her go again.

Chaol presses Aedion for information about magic. Aedion explains that when magic vanished, Aedion was imprisoned in Orynth and saw birds fleeing in two waves before people screamed and some died. Ren and Murtaugh had similar accounts from Skull’s Bay, while a Xandrian merchant described three waves in the Deserted Peninsula. The accounts suggest the disappearance of magic came in pulses from different directions, including a final inland source, but Aedion refuses to reveal Murtaugh’s full theory until a later meeting.

Aedion then challenges Chaol about serving the king despite knowing the king’s crimes. Chaol admits he grew up believing Adarlan’s conquest was bringing peace and civilization, but Celaena’s scars and Nehemia’s slaughtered people showed him the truth. Aedion asks how many Adarlanians might resist if they knew the truth, or if Dorian openly rose against the king, but Chaol remains focused on keeping Dorian safe and uninvolved.

Later, Dorian spends another hidden hour with Sorscha in a forgotten catacomb workroom, where they research ways to control his worsening magic. Sorscha reasons that iron, which resists magic, might dampen Dorian’s power if taken into his body, so Dorian drinks an iron-rich mixture and summons his magic by thinking of his fears and guilt. The test causes terrible pain but suppresses the magic, proving Sorscha’s idea may work. Overwhelmed with gratitude and attraction, Dorian kisses Sorscha, but her embarrassed withdrawal leaves Dorian uncertain whether she wanted it.