Feyre enters the Wolf’s Den and finds Nesta seated in the shadowed back of the tavern with three well-dressed High Fae males, playing cards and drinking. Feyre observes how thin and detached Nesta has become since the war, imagining her as a queen without a throne. Through the bond, Rhys notes that Nesta is winning at cards and warns Feyre to mind her own business.

Feyre dismisses Nesta’s companions by politely asking for a private word with her sister. Once seated, Feyre provokes Nesta by asking which male Nesta planned to take home, but Nesta answers coldly that she had not decided. The sisters sit in tense silence, each refusing to yield, while Rhys silently remains nearby in the cold outside.

Nesta guesses that Rhys is waiting because Feyre and Rhys are rarely apart. Feyre turns the conversation to Elain’s dinner invitation and asks why Nesta did not attend. Nesta claims she wanted to hear the tavern musicians, then deflects by pointing out that Elain used to enjoy parties before being forced into the faerie world.

Feyre argues that Elain is slowly readjusting and that a tavern would overwhelm her, then presses Nesta about Solstice. Feyre asks what it would take to make Nesta come, offering to reason with her for both Elain’s sake and Feyre’s own. Nesta rejects the holiday, insists Feyre and the others have their lives while Nesta has hers, and refuses to join their “merry little band.”

Feyre tries one final appeal by invoking their father, but Nesta reacts with immediate rage and orders Feyre to leave. Feyre withdraws rather than cause a public scene, but Nesta stops her to remind Feyre that Nesta’s rent is due next week. Feyre turns the demand into a condition, saying Nesta must come to Solstice if Feyre is to ensure the rent is delivered, then leaves under the gaze of Nesta and the tavern patrons.