Rhysand visits the Spring Court and finds Tamlin’s estate lifeless despite the surrounding spring weather. The manor is neglected, its roses reduced to thorns, fountains dry, doors clawed, and rooms silent or destroyed. Tamlin answers the door himself, haggard and bleak, with no servants, sentries, or Solstice warmth in sight.

Inside the dim library, Rhysand realizes Lucien’s Solstice visit was likely motivated by pity rather than reconciliation. Rhysand questions Tamlin about rumors that the Spring Court borders are not being enforced after the wall’s fall. Tamlin admits there are no sentries left to enforce them and refuses Rhysand’s offer to send Night Court warriors to patrol.

The conversation turns hostile as Rhysand baits Tamlin about Feyre, the war, and the consequences of Tamlin’s choices. Rhysand’s anger deepens when Tamlin sneers about protecting humans from faeries, prompting Rhysand to remember Tamlin’s role in the murder of Rhysand’s mother and sister. Rhysand accuses Tamlin of nearly destroying Feyre and says Tamlin deserves his empty house and isolation.

Rhysand expects Tamlin to attack, but Tamlin only lowers his eyes and tells Rhysand to leave. Rhysand winnows away unsettled, recognizing that Tamlin is so broken he has not even shielded the house against assassination, as if waiting for death.

Back in Velaris, Rhysand finds Feyre shopping and tells her everything he said. Feyre comforts him without excusing Tamlin, and Rhysand admits he went both out of concern for the borders and because he wanted to say those things, perhaps even kill Tamlin. Still angry, Rhysand leaves Feyre to run errands, joking that she should paint his nude portrait.

Rhysand goes to Neve, his jeweler, to look for Solstice gifts. He decides Feyre would not want jewels, but when Neve presents pieces suited for Amren, Rhysand recognizes their strength and beauty as fitting his friend and buys all three.