Crown of Midnight opens with Selena emerging victorious in the throne of Glass Battle, and is now the King's champion, tasked with eliminating his designated targets. However, she's devised a clever ruse. She fakes their deaths instead of killing them. When the King orders Selena to eliminate Archer Finn, a figure from her past associated with Aribon Hamill, suspecting his involvement in a clandestine movement, she bargains for more time to gather intelligence from him. Meanwhile, the bond between Kayal and Selena strengthens, while things remain tense with Dorian. Eventually, Dorian opts to let Selena go, recognizing the impracticality of their relationship. Dorian's bothersome cousin Roland arrives, drawing their disdain. Despite Roland's induction into the King's council, Selena observes his conspicuous black ring, worn by the King, Duke Parrington, and the deceased Cain, Parrington's former champion, sparking her curiosity. Selena and Kayal reminisce about their past romances, while spending time together in Kayal's room. Selena shares anecdotes about Sam, while Kayal recalls a lost love taken by Roland. Their discussion turns to Rork Farron, Sam's murderer, who has been dead for nine months. Kayal discloses that Wesley, Aribon Hamill's former bodyguard, killed Farron. Wesley had worn Selena about seeking revenge on Farron, for seeing the trap that led to her exile to end of the air. Kayal also reveals that Aribon orchestrated Wesley's death, leaving his body displayed on Farron's gates. This revelation prompts Selena to finally recognize Aribon's betrayal over a year ago. In the dead of night, as Selena roams the castle casually, only to be greeted unexpectedly by a talkative doorker named Mort, a phenomenon unheard of since the disappearance of magic. Mort insists that Selena now holds a pivotal role in the world's destiny, adding an unforeseen weight to her shoulders. During a visit to the imprisoned lady, Caltaine, who once poisoned her, Selena learns of Caltaine's ominous dreams of winged sounds and questions the true motives behind her presence in Rifthold. Caltaine speculates on the possibility that her family's lost magical heritage might be the reason for her relocation to the castle, beyond her intended marriage to Parrington. Selena dines with Archer, but the mood turns serious when she reveals her orders to eliminate him. Begging for his life, Archer offers information about a rebel group, aiming to restore Aylon Galathinius, supposedly deceased, to the throne of Terrison. Despite Aylon's presumed demise a decade prior, Selena grants Archer time to stage his demise and escape, extracting valuable details in return. Later, at a ball hosted by one of Archer's associates, Selena infiltrates the host's office, only to be attacked by Davis, wielding a poisoned blade. Not before finding a riddle in one of his books, stating, it is only with the eye that one can see rightly. She retaliates, incapacitates Davis, and retreats to the safety of Kale's quarters, where he arranges for her healing. Nihemiya confront Selena, accusing her of being the King's pawn. In response, Selena confides her true actions, and shares Davis's cryptic riddle, leading them to discover a hidden wordmark in Elena's chamber. Despite their efforts, the riddle from David's book remains unsolved. Dorian's growing political involvement, driven by his desire for change and the discovery of his latent magical abilities, leads him to blow up a wall, unveiling his newfound power. A carnival arrives at the castle grounds for Dorian's brother, Holland, but it harbors an unexpected guest, Boba Yellowlegs, an Iron Teeth Witch. These witches originate from the Witch Kingdom, formerly governed by Croshawn Witches, until the Iron Teeth Witches usurped control, leading to a cursed wasteland. Selena speculates that the riddle may involve the Eye of Elena, her pendant, but her attempts prove futile. The tomb of Queen Elena bears the cryptic inscription, A, Times Rift, raising further questions. Despite her efforts to utilize the Eye of Elena to decipher the mystery, she encounters ridicule from mort as her endeavors fail. Dorian seeks out the witch and asks about magic. Yellowlegs suggest that while certain forms of magic have vanished, others endure. Cale's abduction by Archer's rebel faction prompts Selena to mount a rescue operation, successfully infiltrating the warehouse where Cale is held captive. However, Archer reveals his collaboration with Nehemia in advancing their cause and warns of impending danger targeting Nehemia. After returning to the castle, Selena discovers that Nehemia has been killed. Blaming kale for failing to protect Nehemia, Selena attempts to kill him herself, but Dorian intervenes using magic. In the aftermath, Selena sifts through Nehemia's belongings and uncovers clues related to a riddle. Realizing that the riddle pertains to Damaris, the sword of Gavin, the first king of Adderlin and Elena s husband, Selena seeks out Baba Yellowlegs to unravel the mysteries of the second riddle. When Yellowlegs threatens to reveal Dorian s inquiry, Selena realizes she must eliminate the witch. However, before taking action, she demands answers. Yellowlegs discloses that the riddle pertains to three word keys, essential for accessing the word gate, which connects to other realms. Long ago, three demons known as the Valk breach the gate, prompting the Faye to conceal the keys to prevent their control over evil. According to Yellowlegs, the king of Adderlin possesses at least one key, potentially explaining his eradication of magic. In a lethal confrontation, Selena beheds the witch. Venturing into the library s ominous depths, Selena employs Nehemia s teachings to unlock hidden passages marked by word marks. Despite the barriers of iron, they reveal catacombs leading to the obsidian-built clock tower. As she decipheres the second riddle s clues, she discerns the significance of obsidian, linking it to the king s enigmatic associates. Realizing the peril she faces, Selena attempts to flee, but encounters unexpected company. Dorian appears, and together, they confront a grotesque entity lurking within the shadows. Amidst the chaos, Dorian harnesses his magic to subdue the creature, allowing Selena to sever its head. Selena realizes Lady Caltaine and Roland have both been having terrible headaches, which probably has something to do with the evil magic. From a book, she learns that Caltaine s bloodline had magic, just like Keynes used to have. She thinks that the king is using them as pawns in his game. Decifering the riddle, ah, times rift, reveals the existence of the first weird key hidden within Eleanor's crown. However, mort devulges that the key is no longer there, having long been in the King s possession since his youth. Overwhelmed by the implications, Selena seeks to talk to Nihemiah and then decides to open a port to another world. Meanwhile, Dorian experiences prophetic dreams of Gavin, for warning him of Selena s perilous intentions, prompting him to intervene. Selena ventures into the portal, and Nihemiah materializes, cautioning her about the perils of opening portals. However, the reunion takes a dark turn as Archer Finn emerges, triggering memories of Nihemiah s warning against him. Archer reveals startling truths. Nihemiah had severed ties with the rebel movement before her demise, and he, not Minister Mullison, orchestrated her death at Graves' hands. In the ensuing chaos, Kyle and Dorian rush to Selena s aid as a monstrous entity emerges from the portal, wreaking havoc. Selena sustains injuries as Kyle and Dorian engage the creature in a desperate struggle. Amidst the chaos, the monster seizes Fleetfoot and retreats through the portal, prompting Kayal to pursue them. Determined to reclaim her companion, joins the pursuit. In the alternate realm, Selena discovers her latent fey heritage, capable of assuming her true form amidst the chaos. Battling against the odds, she rescues Fleetfoot and attacks Archer, exacting revenge for Nihemiah s betrayal. Following the events, Selena shares her fey heritage with Kayal, leading to a tactical resolution aimed at protecting her. Acknowledging the peril posed by the glass castle to Selena when she assumes her fey identity, Kayal collaborates with his father on a plan. They suggest dispatching her to Wendlin, purportedly on a mission to eliminate the royal family. However, the true intent of the plan is to provide her sanctuary within the fey community of Wendlin. Selena makes a solemn vow to Nihemiah, pledging to liberate Elwe from the King's tyranny. Following heartfelt farewells with Dorian, she confides in Kayal about the word keys and the King's ominous agenda, suspecting potential involvement from figures like Caltaine and Roland. Determined not to bear the burden alone, she entrusts Kayal with the eye of Elina for his protection. In a poignant revelation, she discloses the anniversary of her parents' tragic demise, providing Kayal with crucial insight into her identity. As Selena departs, Kayal unearths a startling truth. She is the great granddaughter of Mab, one of the revered face-ister queens. Thus unfolds the revelation that Selena is none other than Alain Ashrever-Galathinius, the long-lost queen of Tarasin.