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Summary: Chapters 18–22
Chapter 18
Xaden lies, claiming he was trying to save a first-year from a death blow and that Halden was hit in the crossfire. Violet uses their bond to chastise Xaden for losing his temper, and Xaden implies that he lost control of his powers unintentionally. He then arrogantly tells Halden that Violet would never choose Halden over him, much to Violet’s chagrin.
Violet opens her father’s book (the password is “Aimsir”—the name of Violet’s mother’s dragon) and discovers a draft titled A History of the Second Krovlan Uprising. He also wrote Violet a letter in which he instructs her to fly to Deverelli, where she should seek a merchant named Narelle Anselm. He also tells her to beware the King of Navarre. Violet believes her father is sending her on this mission because it will give her crucial information about irids and how to defeat venin.
Xaden bursts into Violet’s room and asks if she loved Halden. Violet admits to Xaden that she once loved him when she was eighteen, and he is jealous. Violet tells him her prior relationship with Halden is no different from Xaden’s prior relationship with Cat. Xaden, however, insists it’s different—he never loved Cat. He’s worried that Halden will worm his way back into Violet’s affections, especially because Halden could potentially be intimate with Violet right now and Xaden cannot be. Violet assures him that he is the love of her life, and they kiss passionately but stop before they go too far. To distract them both, Violet tells Xaden about her father’s letter, and they plan to get the gem from Anca so that they can head south.
Chapter 19
Grady’s group now officially includes Mira, and they cross the border at Samara after leaving Andarna there for her safety. The group arrives and discovers that Anca has been fully drained by venin. They enter the Home of Amelia, First of the Drifts (the location of the gem), and split up to look for it. Grady startles Aura who sets him on fire with her signet, thinking that he is venin. He succumbs to the flames, and the entire house is engulfed. A wyvern notices the fire and attacks, killing Aura. Sgaeyl kills the wyvern and Violet wields lightning against the other. The surviving members of the mission regroup upon returning, and Mira reveals that she has the stone, along with a letter for Violet from Theophanie. The letter reminds Violet that while Theophanie would prefer Violet to join her willingly, she can be taken against her will. Violet realizes that Theophanie might know that Violet is looking for Andarna’s kind and a cure for venin. At the very least, she knew exactly where Violet was going to be.
Chapter 20
Violet researches Deverelli. She speaks with Jack again, who tells her about asim progression and assures her that channeling is incredibly easy beyond the wards. Later, Ridoc says that he wants to join what he has dubbed the “quest squad” because he wants their group to stick together as much as possible. Rhiannon cannot leave Basgiath because she is a squad leader and Sawyer is still healing, but Ridoc is free to stick with Violet. He also shows her that he has been honing his ice-wielding powers and has learned to freeze the water in an orange, and believes he could do the same to a person. Violet agrees with all this and brings Ridoc with her to the next meeting. In the wake of Grady’s death, command has been transferred to Captain Henson, and Lieutenant Pugh has become the executive officer. Violet also learns that Colonel Markham and General Melgren want to search Aretia, but Violet refuses. She is angry and negotiates the formation of a squad of her choosing: Xaden, Mira, Ridoc, Cat, Captain Drake Cordella (Cat’s cousin and a flier), and Dain. She also unhappily includes Halden and his guard, Anna Winshire, because she knows that many territories will demand a representative of the Navarre nobility.
Chapter 21
The quest squad arrives at Tecarus’s estate to rest before heading to Deverelli. They have been flying for two days straight, taking a physical toll on Violet who suffers from chronic pain. She almost passes out while standing in Tecarus’s home, and Xaden subtly uses his shadows to help prop her up. When Xaden picks a fight with Halden, he tricks him into saying that Xaden is not a professor on this trip, thereby allowing he and Violet to room together. The two embrace, and Xaden accidentally reads her thoughts, making her wonder if Xaden’s second signet is growing stronger; normally he can only read people’s intentions. Tecarus arrives at their door and tells them to be on their guard in Deverelli, and warns them not to make any deals they can’t keep. The group leaves for Deverelli, and Violet feels her magic leave her as she crosses the border into the non-magic lands. She can still communicate with Tairn and Andarna, but she is cut off from Sgaeyl and Xaden.
Chapter 22
Quest squad lands in Deverelli, and the group is disoriented by their lack of magic. Violet is shocked to discover that nobody else is able to communicate with their dragons or gryphons. Halden goes to meet with the king, and everyone else heads off to rest before they can begin to track down the merchant Violet’s father instructed her to find. However, Xaden wants to stay on the beach for a while and enjoy the lack of magic. He explains that he feels at peace for the first time in weeks because he does not have to resist the urge to channel.
