Chapter no 19 – 20

Chapter no 19

The protagonist is introduced to a gallery of breathtaking artwork, cleaned and prepared by Tamlin as a gesture of kindness. She is overwhelmed by the beauty and depth of the pieces, which evoke a powerful mix of joy, grief, and humility. Tamlin explains that the gallery has long been unused, and seeing someone appreciate it brings him satisfaction. The protagonist spends hours immersed in the gallery, feeling gratitude for the gift of this space and its meaning to her as an artist. Tamlin’s thoughtfulness touches her, though she struggles to understand his motives.

Her days begin to follow a routine as she paints tirelessly, experimenting with colors and ideas inspired by her surroundings. While some of her work frustrates her as inadequate, she continues to improve, often drawing inspiration from the Spring Court’s lush landscapes during her outings with Tamlin. However, when Tamlin is called away to protect his borders, she is reminded of the dangerous world they inhabit, his beastly form and bloodstained return contrasting sharply with the tranquility she tries to capture in her art. These moments reveal the duality of her new life—peaceful but shadowed by violence and loss.

As spring approaches, the protagonist is struck by the growing realization that she has been detached from her family, who remain glamoured and oblivious to her absence. Her feelings of guilt and isolation resurface, fueling her frustration with Tamlin for seemingly distracting her with paints and comfort while she grapples with the memory of being erased from her loved ones’ lives. In a heated moment, she confronts Tamlin in the garden, expressing her pain over leaving her family and questioning the morality of finding joy amidst her lingering shame and grief.

Tamlin reassures her, urging her not to feel guilty about pursuing happiness, even as she wrestles with her identity and place in his world. Their connection deepens through shared moments of vulnerability, including a lighthearted exchange where she playfully traps him in the woods. Despite the tension between their human and faerie natures, Tamlin’s affection for her and her growing comfort in his presence hint at a budding relationship built on mutual understanding, even if she remains cautious about his world’s dangers.

The tranquility shatters when the protagonist encounters a mysterious, malevolent force during a tense exchange between Tamlin, Lucien, and an invisible entity. This “Attor,” a messenger of a powerful “she,” underscores the perilous political tensions within Prythian and Tamlin’s tenuous position as High Lord. The encounter leaves her shaken, and though Tamlin assures her safety, she realizes the depth of danger surrounding her. The enigmatic figure of “she,” commanding such fear and influence, lingers ominously, foreshadowing greater threats to come.

Chapter no 20

After a tense dinner, the protagonist spends the evening painting a haunting image of the Attor, its skeletal frame and menacing wings reflecting her unease. The eerie creation leaves her unsettled, and she distracts herself by helping with preparations for Fire Night, a faerie ritual called Calanmai. As the day of the event arrives, the house grows eerily quiet, with all the staff gone, and the distant sound of drums and flickering bonfires draw her attention. Tamlin, armed and shirtless, sternly warns her to stay in her room and lock the doors, refusing to explain the nature of the ritual. His urgency unsettles her, but curiosity and the pull of the drums compel her to venture out into the night.

Defying Tamlin’s warning, the protagonist rides into the hills, following the mesmerizing drumbeats to the heart of the celebration. She discovers a gathering of High Fae and faeries, their features masked or obscured by magic. The bonfires and rhythmic drumming create an intoxicating atmosphere, but she remains cautious, blending into the crowd while concealing her human identity. Drawn deeper into the mysterious festivities, she finds herself near a cave adorned with flowers and pelts, where an ominous ritual appears to be underway. Despite her fascination, she feels out of place and increasingly vulnerable among the faeries.

Her unease escalates when she is confronted by three unmasked faeries who recognize her as human. Their cruel smiles and taunting words reveal their predatory intentions, and they seize her arms, mocking her attempts to resist. The protagonist struggles to free herself, but the faeries’ strength and malevolence overwhelm her. The bonfires’ revelers remain oblivious, and she realizes with dread that no one will come to her aid. Just as she is dragged toward the shadowy forest, a commanding male voice intervenes, and her captors recoil in fear.

The mysterious stranger, exuding a sensual and dangerous aura, rescues her with a few sharp words that send the faeries fleeing. His casual yet authoritative demeanor unsettles the protagonist, but she is too relieved to question his motives. As she steps away from his protective arm to thank him, she is struck by his breathtaking beauty, unlike anything she has ever seen. His presence is magnetic and enigmatic, leaving her both wary and intrigued.

This encounter introduces an air of danger and allure, contrasting the protagonist’s earlier experiences with Tamlin and Lucien. While the ritual’s mysteries and the stranger’s identity remain unclear, the protagonist is thrust into the heart of Prythian’s faerie intrigue, where beauty masks cruelty, and every choice carries unseen consequences. The night’s events deepen her sense of vulnerability and hint at the complexity of the world she has entered.