After several days of near-silent travel through the underground river, Aelin and her companions reach territory infested by barrow-wights, treasure-hoarding creatures that dwell in ancient tombs and hate light. When Rowan spots gold in a cave opening, Aelin abruptly orders the boat stopped and jumps ashore with a lantern, prompting Rowan, Fenrys, and Gavriel to follow.

While the others enter the tomb passage, Lorcan and Elide remain in the boat. Their strained silence breaks into an argument over Lorcan’s betrayal on the beach: Elide condemns him for summoning Maeve and failing to protect Aelin, while Lorcan insists the blood oath left him almost no choice and that he was trying to keep Maeve from noticing Elide. Lorcan admits he cared about Elide, but the exchange ends with both hurt and unresolved.

Inside the tomb, Rowan realizes the passage was carved by mortal hands and leads to a chamber filled with treasure and guarded by a barrow-wight. Aelin does not use her fire against it, so Rowan destroys the creature with ice and wind. Aelin reveals her practical motive: they need funds for ships, horses, and whatever else lies ahead, so the group begins looting the dead king’s hoard despite Gavriel’s discomfort.

Fenrys shifts back into his Fae form for the first time since the rescue, joking weakly that they need more pockets. Aelin and Fenrys communicate through their silent blink code, embrace carefully, and agree to talk later about what they endured. When Aelin offers to free Fenrys from the blood oath if he does not want it, Fenrys refuses and declares it an honor to serve Aelin and her court.

Fenrys then reveals that Maeve killed Connall by forcing him to stab himself in the heart. Gavriel, enraged and grieving, vows Maeve’s debt will be paid. The group continues gathering treasure, but Aelin lingers to choose two rings from the hoard and offers them to Rowan as human wedding rings, proving that she still claims their vows despite her trauma.

Rowan and Aelin exchange the rings and repeat their vow, “To whatever end.” Rowan promises to remake Aelin’s tattoo and add another for both of them, but before he can ask to kiss her, Aelin turns toward the work ahead: retraining her body, rebuilding muscle, and reclaiming her strength. Rowan matches her attempt at humor and follows her back toward the river, understanding that deeper healing must wait.