Chapter Twenty-Seven

Violet has a harrowing nightmare about a venin pursuing her, and wakes in terror. Later that Saturday, Xaden takes her to see Basgiath's forge but they're intercepted by Major Varrish and Professor Grady, who are conducting interrogation training and take Violet and her squadmates into custody, forcing Xaden to stand down.

The chapter opens with Violet's nightmare in which a venin with a staff—revealed to be the teacher of the dark wielder she killed—corners her on a field while Tairn and Andarna are present. The venin offers her a choice to join him or face death, which she refuses. She wakes in fear, gripping her dagger. On Saturday, Xaden leads Violet down to the tunnels toward Basgiath's forge, intending to show her where weapons are stolen. During their walk, Violet shares research: the First Six not only established the wards but personally carved the first wardstone, and if they carved one in Basgiath, they likely carved one in Aretia. She needs to find a firsthand account from one of the Six. They are stopped abruptly in the stairwell by Major Varrish and Professor Grady, who emerges with Ridoc and two other riders escorting Rhiannon and Sawyer with bound hands. Varrish announces that Violet is scheduled for interrogation training despite being on leave. Xaden raises a wall of shadows to protect her, but Varrish threatens to cancel Xaden's leave with Sgaeyl and repeat Violet's disciplinary session if Xaden resists. Violet reaches out to Sgaeyl through their mental connection to convince Xaden not to escalate. Xaden reluctantly drops the barrier. Grady binds Violet's hands, and before she's led away, Xaden tells her to return a book to the Archives and mentions page three hundred and four contains a text he wants her to read. Violet repeats her mantra that she is unbreakable as she's taken away.