Rowan and Chaol remain motionless for hours while Aelin and Dorian stand within the Wyrdmarks, staring into nothing as the night passes. Dorian suddenly returns to himself, collapses, and tries to reach Aelin again, but Aelin releases his hand and the wound that joined them seals.

Dorian realizes Aelin has deceived him and the others. He explains through his grief that their combined power was not enough and would have destroyed them both, but Damaris summoned Dorian’s nameless father, who took Dorian’s place so Aelin could finish forging the Lock. When Dorian tries to reenter the circle, the Wyrdmarks bar him from Aelin.

Rowan understands that Aelin planned to spare Dorian all along, even if Dorian’s father had not appeared. Rowan sees that Aelin allowed Dorian to help only to bring herself to the point where she could complete the sacrifice alone. Chaol holds Dorian back and apologizes to Rowan, while Rowan realizes he must watch his mate die after her final lie.

Inside the forging, Aelin joins hands with the nameless king and lets her magic pour into the Lock again. The king’s power is far weaker than Dorian’s, but it is just enough to help. Aelin endures the agony as payment for the years she believes she spent running from Terrasen, even while knowing Rowan may never forgive her.

As the Lock nears completion, Aelin thinks of Rowan’s plea for her to return and of his inevitable waiting. The nameless king, fading as his last power is consumed, gives Aelin a message from her parents: they are proud of her, love her, and believe the debt has been paid enough. He vanishes completely, erased as his power flows into the Lock.

Aelin falls to her knees and gives the last of herself. The Lock seals and becomes real again, but the cost is catastrophic: Aelin’s magic disappears entirely.