Chapter 44

Violet discovers that Xaden and his entire squad are rebels working with gryphon riders from Poromiel, and that venin—dark magic wielders from folklore—are real and attacking beyond Navarre's borders. She learns her dragons kept this secret from her, and that Dain violated her mind by reading her memories without consent, likely revealing their location to his father, Colonel Aetos, who has sent them to Athebyne on a suicide mission.

Gryphon fliers warn Xaden of a venin horde attacking a village near Draithus, revealing his ongoing collaboration with their kingdom. Violet realizes everyone in Xaden's squad bears rebellion relics and has been deceiving her. When she confronts him, Xaden explains that venin—soulless beings who draw magic directly from the source—are real and devastating Poromiel while Navarre's wards keep them powerless within its borders. He gives her a dagger forged from the material powering those wards and claims the kingdom knowingly ignores the slaughter beyond its borders. Violet's father left her a forbidden book hinting at this cover-up spanning four hundred years of erased history. Though she believes Xaden about the venin threat, she cannot forgive his months of deception. They fly to Athebyne outpost, which they find completely abandoned. Xaden realizes Dain—Violet's supposed friend—read her memories without permission and reported their location to his father, Colonel Aetos. The letter reveals their assignment is simply to survive. Liam spots movement beyond the trading post, and Xaden concludes they have been sent to die.