In this chapter, Nesryn finds herself trapped by a mysterious spider-like creature who reveals the shocking truth about Maeve, the supposed Queen of the Fae. The spider claims Maeve is actually the Queen of the Valg, a dark and powerful race from another world. Nesryn, desperate to buy time as her companion Falkan attempts to free her, asks the spider to tell her the story of Maeve’s origins. The spider agrees, framing it as a “gift” for Nesryn’s boldness, and begins a tale of deception and conquest.

The spider recounts how Maeve originated from a dark, cold world ruled by three Valg kings—Orcus, Erawan, and another unnamed brother. Maeve, a queen of extraordinary power, married Orcus but grew restless. Using her abilities, she discovered a way to travel between worlds, eventually arriving in the Fae realm. She manipulated the minds of the Fae rulers, Mab and Mora, making them believe she was their long-lost sister. Over time, she erased all memory of her true identity, embedding herself as a permanent fixture in Fae history.

When the Valg kings pursued Maeve across worlds, she disguised herself as a Fae queen, using her knowledge of their strategies to wage war against them. She stole their magical keys, which allowed travel between worlds, and banished two of the kings, including Orcus. However, the third king, Erawan, escaped her grasp when the fire-king Brannon intervened, taking the keys without fully realizing Maeve’s true nature. The spider hints that Maeve’s dark power allowed her to manipulate even Brannon’s perceptions.

The chapter ends with Nesryn piecing together the implications: Maeve is not Fae but a Valg queen who has deceived an entire civilization for centuries. The spider’s tale underscores Maeve’s cunning and the depth of her deception, leaving Nesryn—and the reader—to grapple with the revelation that one of the most powerful figures in their world is a hidden enemy. Meanwhile, Falkan’s slow progress in freeing Nesryn adds tension, as time runs out for her escape.

The chapter opens with Nesryn confronting the dark and sinister figure of a spider, which reveals itself as a storyteller of ancient and powerful lore. Nesryn, despite her fear, seeks to learn a story—one that might provide insight into the dark forces at play. The spider, with a wicked chuckle, begins recounting a tale from a distant, bygone world where three kings of shadow and pain ruled a desolate land. This story serves as a mythic parallel to the current struggle, illustrating the nature of power, darkness, and betrayal that echoes through the histories and legends of their worlds.

The narrative the spider shares centers on Maeve, a powerful queen whose dark magic and ambition transcend worlds. Originally allied with Orcus, the eldest Valg king, Maeve’s restless nature drives her to explore realms beyond her own, piercing the veil between worlds using her gifts. She secretly leaves her realm, seeking other lands and forbidden knowledge. Her intent is to escape her own fate and find a place where she can rule invisibly, hiding among near-immortals and manipulating their perceptions through her formidable powers. Her actions set into motion a chain of events that threaten to destabilize entire worlds.

As the story unfolds, the spider describes how Maeve’s departure triggers a brutal pursuit by the Valg kings, who learn of her defection and seek to reclaim her. Orcus and his brothers acquire the keys to control the gates between worlds, enabling them to sweep across realms with their armies. Maeve, foreseeing her enemies’ actions, plans her own defiance by establishing a hidden refuge among the near-immortals, the queens Mab and Mora. She cunningly implants the idea of a third queen—her—within their minds, ensuring her influence endures even if she remains concealed, demonstrating her mastery of manipulation and dark magic.

The chapter concludes with the revelation of Maeve’s strategic cunning. She steals the keys from the Valg kings and manages to send two of them back to their realm, only to be betrayed by her own ambitions when the youngest king, Brannon, recognizes her threat. Despite her brilliance and deception, her plans are thwarted, and she is left in a state of near-victory, yet vulnerable. The story underscores the themes of power, treachery, and the enduring influence of dark, ancient magic, illustrating Maeve’s complex character and the perilous nature of her ambitions.