Dorian spends hours in the royal library searching his family genealogies for proof that magic has appeared before in the Havilliard line. He fears that if his power is real, his brother Hollin might eventually develop the same dangerous gift, and Dorian knows their father would destroy them both if he discovered it.

Dorian traces the Havilliard line back to Gavin Havilliard and Elena, the half-Fae princess of Terrasen, then studies the Galathynius records. The strength and restraint of Terrasen’s rulers make Dorian reflect uneasily on his father’s conquests and on the ruined throne Dorian may someday inherit. He also remembers Aelin Galathynius and her cousin Aedion Ashryver, whose hatred of Adarlan is understandable.

Finding no useful answers, Dorian thinks of Nehemia’s strange behavior around magic and of Celaena, then loses control when books burst from the shelves and slam into him. Terrified by the force still urging him to unleash it, Dorian hides the evidence, leaves the library pretending calm, and decides he can trust no one. He concludes that Baba Yellowlegs, the witch from the carnival, may be the only person who can give him answers.

Later, Celaena prepares nervously for Chaol’s birthday dinner, hoping the elaborate surprise will show him how much she values him. She takes him to a rooftop greenhouse above an apothecary, transformed into a glittering garden inspired by a song, with a private dinner of his favorite foods. Chaol is deeply moved because no one has done anything so thoughtful for him in years.

After dinner, Celaena and Chaol stand on the balcony overlooking the river. Thinking of the king’s threat against Chaol and the danger her secrets create, Celaena decides to confess the truth: she has not been killing the king’s targets, but faking their deaths and smuggling them away, with Archer next in line to escape. Chaol reacts in horror, turns pale, and tells Celaena she has gone mad.