Chapter 8

Chapter 8 begins with Feyre still processing the emotional weight of her brief, yet significant, time spent with Tamlin. A week has passed since the events that threw her world into turmoil, and the quiet moments that followed have given her little reprieve. The Tithe, a deeply ingrained tradition in the Spring Court, is upon them—a time when all subjects are required to offer their tributes. Tamlin, having been called away to the border, leaves Feyre behind, alone with her swirling thoughts and her persistent nightmares. While she waits for his return, she is forced to reckon with her feelings, unable to escape the haunting memories of her time at the Spring Court and the trauma she has endured. Ianthe, who has chosen to remain at a distance, offers little comfort, as they both avoid the difficult topics of conversation—namely, the massacre of Ianthe’s sisters.

Feyre’s role during the Tithe is to simply observe, but the experience is anything but passive. She watches with growing discomfort as fae of all shapes and sizes come forward, offering their tributes in whatever form they can provide. While the Tithe is a deeply ingrained part of Spring Court tradition, Feyre feels the weight of it on her soul, especially as a water-wraith steps forward to plead for mercy. The wraith, desperate and visibly distressed, asks for leniency as it struggles to meet the tribute demands, citing the lack of fish in its lake. But Tamlin, ever the stickler for tradition, refuses to show mercy. His decision to uphold the rules without considering the wraith’s plight fills Feyre with a sense of injustice. She finds herself unable to stomach the harshness of the system, where compassion seems to be nothing more than a form of weakness, according to Tamlin’s viewpoint.

Unable to stand idly by and witness this unfairness, Feyre decides to act. In an effort to right the wrongs before her, she offers her own jewels to the wraith, covering the debt. This act of kindness is met with gratitude from the water-wraith, who expresses her thanks and promises to remember Feyre’s generosity, as well as the sacrifice she has made on behalf of the fae. Despite the wraith’s appreciation, Feyre’s actions are not without consequence. Her gesture is met with resistance and tension, particularly from Tamlin. At dinner that evening, he confronts her, accusing her of undermining the authority of the court and questioning her decision to act outside the rules. He claims that her act of kindness will make them appear weak to those who are watching, and that such generosity is a dangerous precedent. Feyre, however, stands firm in her belief that compassion should always come first, especially in the face of suffering. She reflects on her past struggles with hunger and poverty, and how they shaped her belief in helping others who are less fortunate. For her, the wraith’s situation was a simple matter of fairness, and Tamlin’s harsh adherence to tradition was the real problem. This disagreement marks a pivotal moment for Feyre, as she begins to see the cracks in her relationship with Tamlin, realizing that their differing values are creating an insurmountable rift between them. The chapter closes with an unresolved tension that lingers in the air, showcasing Feyre’s growing awareness that she cannot continue to ignore the vast ideological divide between her own compassionate beliefs and Tamlin’s rigid, traditional mindset. As the tension between them grows, so does Feyre’s internal conflict, forcing her to reconsider her place in the Spring Court and the future of her relationship with Tamlin. This chapter demonstrates the emotional complexity of Feyre’s journey, as she grapples with her values, her sense of justice, and the harsh realities of her environment.