Aelin experiences an illusion in an ancient glen in Doranelle, where Maeve appears as a kindly aunt and tells her the story of a queen who walked between worlds. In the vision, Aelin believes she has spent peaceful months with Maeve, has mated with Rowan, and is preparing to return to Terrasen with Rowan at her side.

Maeve’s tale describes a powerful queen from a dark world who married the eldest of three conquering kings for access to his libraries, learned forbidden world-walking, and fled to a fairer world with her handmaidens. The kings followed, created three keys to permanently open gates between worlds, and warred against the world where the queen hid herself. As Maeve presses Aelin to guess where the keys are hidden, Aelin notices contradictions: missing scars, Rowan without his tattoo, and memories of blood, sand, and another life.

Aelin rejects the illusion, and Maeve shatters it by snapping the neck of the imagined Rowan, forcing Aelin to feel the false breaking of the mating bond. Aelin wakes on the altar in torment, with both arms ruined and Maeve standing over her. Maeve claims she is not the villain, says she wants to improve the world rather than destroy it, and offers Aelin a future with Rowan if Aelin helps her use the keys.

Maeve explains that Aelin’s worsening internal pressure comes from being kept in iron: Aelin’s magic needs release, and Aelin’s own blood is beginning to push her toward surrender. Maeve then reveals she is leaving for several days because a Valg prince has been captured near the southern border with collars meant for Maeve’s people. Maeve intends to take one of the Wyrdstone collars, bend the prince from Erawan’s control, and place the collar on Aelin to force obedience.

After Maeve departs, healers drug Aelin and replace the metal gauntlets, while Fenrys remains nearby and communicates support through their blinking code. Aelin understands that the collar would not merely break her but erase her will, forcing her to reveal the Wyrdkeys and swear the blood oath to Maeve. As Aelin struggles against the growing pressure of trapped magic, Fenrys repeatedly signals that he is with her.

Later, Cairn arrives and unchains Aelin, saying Maeve wants Aelin moved somewhere more secure because Morath has returned to the shores. Cairn drops Aelin into the repaired iron box and threatens to have one last stretch of private cruelty before Maeve returns with the collar. He also orders Fenrys to come along, ensuring Fenrys must witness whatever happens next.