After Rhys leaves Windhaven, Cassian chooses not to confront Devlon and the Illyrian warriors while his temper is high. Instead of winnowing, Cassian deliberately exits the house in view of them, stretches his larger wings to provoke their resentment, and flies into the freezing mountains, using distance and cold to steady himself.

As Cassian flies through Illyria, Cassian reflects on the dangerous creatures hidden in the mountains and on Feyre's past bravery in the Steppes. Cassian then approaches Ramiel, the sacred mountain at the heart of the Night Court, and remembers the Blood Rite, when novices compete with bound wings, no magic, and no supplies to reach the summit and touch the ancient onyx monolith.

Cassian recalls winning the Blood Rite with Rhys and Azriel five centuries earlier after a brutal week of survival and combat. Cassian considers the rite pointless in some ways but also believes it can release Illyrian tensions that might otherwise turn into civil war, especially now that dissent is rising after the war.

After bowing to Ramiel, Cassian flies to the abandoned camp where Cassian was born. The place is buried under snow because Cassian destroyed it centuries ago after learning how its people cast out Cassian's mother, took Cassian from her, tormented her, and then refused to reveal where she was buried.

Standing in the ruins, Cassian understands again why training Illyrian women matters to him. Cassian wants females in the camps to have strength, resources, and hope so no one suffers as Cassian's mother did, while also remembering that Cassian's own power can become destructive if Cassian loses control. Cassian resolves to obey Rhys and return to Velaris for Solstice in three days, even as the thought of Nesta strikes Cassian painfully.