Nesta awakens among a group of drugged male Illyrians, their wings bound. She is wearing only a nightgown in the frigid cold. She recalls Cassian’s description that there are three dropping-off points for warriors participating in the Blood Rite. Since she doesn’t see Gwyn or Emerie, she assumes the three females were each dropped into separate groups. Nesta knows she doesn’t have much time before the males wake up, and one is already stirring.

She is stunned to see a dagger sticking out of a tree trunk a short distance away, even though all weapons are banned during the Rite. She sprints for the dagger as the male follows and tackles her. To her surprise, Nesta manages to embed the weapon in the male’s neck, and he dies instantly. She immediately strips off his clothing and boots, leaving her nightgown as his death shroud, before searching for her friends.

Meanwhile, Cassian is beside himself, knowing the females have been abducted. The competition rules forbid him to intervene, or he and Nesta will both be killed. Rhys tells Cassian and Azriel that they must rescue Eris, who has been kidnapped by Briallyn.