Chapter Twenty-Nine

Violet escapes from the dark wielder Theophanie with Tairn's help, but learns that Andarna is an irid—a rare dragon breed not seen in centuries—and that Garrick possesses a hidden second signet of distance magic. After a grueling twenty-hour flight, Violet returns to Basgiath injured, where Xaden and her squad defend her decisions while General Aetos attempts to reassert control and separate her from Xaden by posting him to the Eastern Wing.

During the encounter with Theophanie, Violet discovers that her dragon Andarna is an irid scorpiontail, a legendary breed, and that the dark wielder intends to capture her. Andarna escapes to safety while Violet stalls Theophanie, who retreats when a wyvern arrives to collect her. Garrick reveals he possesses a second signet—the ability to walk distance—though he deflects direct confirmation. After Tairn carries Violet back to Basgiath in twenty hours, landing directly in the quadrant courtyard, her squad gathers to support her. Brennan uses arinmint to heal her injured knee while Xaden watches with barely contained anger at her disobedience. When General Aetos arrives to punish the squad for their unauthorized rescue mission, Rhiannon and Ridoc defend their actions as squad-wide decisions. Xaden counters Aetos's threat to deport the two young Tyrish boys by declaring them Tyrrish citizens, infuriating the general. Aetos then orders both Xaden and Garrick to depart for the Eastern Wing by tomorrow afternoon and forbids Xaden from the quadrant, effectively separating them. As the others file out of the meeting room, Xaden closes the door and kisses Violet with intense passion, making clear his feelings despite the imposed separation.