Cassian leaves the Solstice gathering in anger after Nesta’s cold departure. He catches up to Nesta at the gate, intending to confront her, but can only offer to walk her home. Nesta refuses, but Cassian follows beside her through the snowy streets, watching for ice and trying to mask his concern with teasing.

Nesta notices the wrapped parcel in Cassian’s hands, and Cassian reveals it is her Solstice gift, something he spent months finding. Cassian reflects on Nesta’s withdrawal since the final battle with Hybern, remembering how Nesta once shielded Cassian with Nesta’s own body and was ready to die with him. Cassian knows about Nesta’s drinking and lovers, and though Cassian tells himself not to care, his thoughts show that Nesta still deeply affects him.

The walk turns into an argument. Cassian accuses Nesta of playing games and urges Nesta to try harder for Feyre and Elain, while Nesta insists she was dragged into this court and wants Cassian to stop trying to force Nesta into the Inner Circle. When Cassian takes Nesta’s hand and asks Nesta to talk to him, Nesta pulls away, silently dismisses him, and walks on.

Cassian does not follow at first. Wounded by Nesta’s rejection and by his own sense of worthlessness, Cassian hurls Nesta’s gift into the Sidra, where the ice closes over it as if it never existed.

The chapter shifts to Nesta’s point of view after Nesta reaches her apartment and locks herself inside. Nesta knows Cassian secretly followed from the skies until Nesta entered the building, so Nesta lights the faelight to make him leave. Alone, Nesta examines the banknote Feyre gave her for three months’ rent and feels no shame, only emptiness.

Nesta’s numbness is revealed as a lasting consequence of trauma. Nesta has barely felt anything for months, has grown thin, and cannot light a fire because the sound of wood cracking reminds Nesta of breaking bones and a snapping neck. After hearing Cassian’s wings outside, Nesta sinks to the floor in the dark, surrounded by silence and feeling nothing.