Cairn leaves Aelin chained to the altar with shards of glass still embedded in her legs and feet. When Aelin wakes, Fenrys eventually enters the chamber not as a wolf but in his Fae form, visibly devastated by Connall’s death and Maeve’s cruelty.

Aelin uses their blinking code to ask whether Fenrys is all right, and Fenrys answers no. Fenrys takes Aelin’s hand, and Aelin silently apologizes, recognizing the horror of what Fenrys has just endured with his twin’s body left behind.

Fenrys admits that he did not know Connall hated him so much. Maeve has allowed Fenrys only enough freedom to remove the glass from Aelin’s wounds before returning to his usual place against the wall, but Aelin refuses at first, wanting Fenrys to remain in his male body long enough to mourn and to offer her the comfort of a friendly presence.

Aelin breaks down, not because of the glass alone but because she realizes Rowan is not coming for her. The thought should relieve her, since his absence means he is safer from Maeve, yet it also devastates her.

Fenrys retrieves Cairn’s pincers and begins removing the glass from Aelin’s wounds as quickly as he can. Aelin turns away and endures the renewed pain while Fenrys silently cries, their shared tears filling the chamber as he works.