Tithes, Triggers and the City of Starlight
Day 2
Chapters 8-14
The Tithe & the Water Wraith
The cracks in Feyre’s world are no longer subtle—they’re gaping. Chapter 8 opens with the Spring Court’s tithe, a tradition that exposes the harsh class divide in Prythian. Feyre watches as Tamlin, unmoved and pitiless, demands payment from a starving water wraith. His refusal to help her, despite the court’s abundance, is a moment of quiet cruelty. Feyre’s response—giving away her jewelry to pay the wraith’s tithe and buy her food—is a small act of rebellion, but one that speaks volumes. That night, tensions boil over at Feyre undermining Tamlin’s authority. Tamlin snaps at Lucien for siding with Feyre, and in the heat of the moment, Feyre accidentally breaches Lucien’s mind. Coincidence—or the first flicker of Rhysand’s power?
Paint Kits & Power Plays
Tamlin’s apology comes in the form of a traveling paint kit, a gesture that lands awkwardly. I noted that Tamlin might genuinely be trying to make Feyre happy, unaware that her love for painting has faded. Angel Cakes disagreed, suggesting he’s clinging to the old Feyre, the one who no longer exists. Krystalyn, ever blunt, simply called him an idiot. Feyre tries to explain that his protectiveness is suffocating her, and Tamlin’s reaction—blowing up the study—is explosive and telling. Though he apologizes for days, Feyre retreats into silence, spending time in the library practicing her reading, writing, and mental shields. A month passes, and when Rhysand arrives again to uphold their bargain, he is not happy at what he sees, and Feyre doesn’t resist. She welcomes the escape.
Bargains & Breaking Points
Tamlin’s desperation is palpable: “You end her bargain right here, right now, and I’ll give you anything you want. Anything.” But Rhysand sees what Tamlin refuses to—Feyre is drowning. Back at the Night Court Rhysand asks Feyre about the moment Tamlin blew up the study. He hadn’t heard anything down the bond recently until that day, and it was terror that came through. Feyre insists that it was nothing more than an argument. “Is it why you look like your grief and guilt and rage are eating you alive bit by bit?” he asks, cutting through her refusal to talk about it.
Back at the Spring Court, Tamlin tightens his grip. Feyre’s magic surges again—this time claws like Tamlin’s—and Lucien notices. Ianthe manipulates Tamlin’s fear, invoking children and danger, twisting the knife deeper. During a group poll, 40% of us agreed with the theory that Tamlin knows how powerful Feyre truly is and is trying to keep her secret as a weapon for Hybern. The remaining 60% weren’t convinced.
Shields & Shattered Wards
When Tamlin shields the house to trap Feyre inside, it’s the final straw. Her magic cocoons her in protection, Rhysand shatters Tamlin’s wards with half a thought and Mor arrives to collect her. Feyre is rescued—and she makes the heartbreaking decision not to return to the Spring Court anytime soon. Rhysand offers her refuge in the Night Court, and when he prepares to leave, Feyre asks to go with him, afraid of being stagnant and locked away again. He agrees, but she must keep what she sees and hears a secret. “We are going to Velaris—the City of Starlight,” he says, and they winnow into a cozy townhouse nestled in a thriving city. Feyre is stunned. Cities like this shouldn’t exist in Prythian, and when she asks her handmaidens how it’s possible, they simply reply, “But what he did to shield this city is his story to tell, not ours.”
Secrets & Starlight
The townhouse they arrive in is one of Rhysand’s two homes in the city—this one is reserved for him and his family. It’s cozy, inviting, and shockingly normal. Feyre is stunned to discover that Velaris exists at all. A thriving city, untouched by war and cruelty, hidden from the rest of Prythian. When she asks her handmaidens, Nuala and Cerridwen, how it’s possible, they refuse to answer. “But what he did to shield this city is his story to tell, not ours,” Cerridwen says. And so the mystery of Velaris deepens.
In our poll, 100% of readers agreed that Feyre’s promise to keep Rhysand’s secret marks the beginning of the end for her relationship with Tamlin. Another poll asked where we’d choose to live if the High Lords weren’t involved - 67% chose the Night Court, while 33% (including myself) still held onto the Spring Court.
As three silhouettes appear at the frosted front door—one female, two winged males—Feyre senses something new. Not danger, but connection. The door hasn’t opened yet, but already, we’re falling in love with the characters waiting behind it. Velaris is more than a setting—it’s a turning point. And Feyre’s journey is no longer about surviving. It’s about choosing.
Final Thoughts
Velaris isn’t just a city—it’s a symbol. Of safety, of choice, of the quiet magic that comes when someone sees your broken pieces and doesn’t flinch. As Feyre steps into this new court, we’re stepping with her—into deeper questions about healing, autonomy, and the kind of love that doesn’t demand silence.
Do you think Tamlin’s love was ever truly safe? And if you could choose your court—no politics, no high lord crushes, just vibes—where would you call home?
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or poll responses. Whether you’re reading for the first time or rediscovering the magic, join us for tomorrow’s chapters as Feyre meets the Inner Circle and begins to reclaim her voice. The stars are just beginning to speak—come read with us.
