Chapter Forty-Five

A small team of riders infiltrates the drained village of Anca to retrieve a citrine artifact, but Aura's panicked wielding ignites a catastrophic fire. During the chaotic escape, Captain Grady is killed, Aura is slain by a wyvern, and Violet must wield lightning mid-flight while bound to Xaden to survive enemy pursuit. They retrieve the artifact but discover a threatening message from Theophanie, suggesting she knew about their mission.

Four nights after boarding Mira at Samara through Halden's intervention, a group of eight riders crosses the border into magic-rich territory. Violet feels her growing power as they fly toward Anca, a desiccated village drained by venin. The team lands and searches the five-story home of Amelia, First of the Drifts, where a citrine artifact is displayed. While Violet and Aura stand watch in the narrow streets, a figure emerges from a nearby doorway, triggering Aura's panic-driven fire wielding. The flames ignite Captain Grady, whom Aura has burned alive. Despite Xaden and Mira's efforts to contain the fire with shadow and kinetic manipulation, the entire village becomes a tinderbox. During the chaotic evacuation to the town square, a wyvern kills Aura as she attempts to mount her dragon, Dagolh. Violet and Xaden escape by having Tairn carry them both while Violet wields lightning to destroy the wyvern's partner. They return safely to Samara within the twelve-hour limit imposed by dragon-rider separation. Mira retrieved the cracked, hazy citrine, but discovers a handwritten note from Theophanie addressed to the Lightning Wielder, taunting Violet that she could be taken at any time and offering to answer Violet's questions. This revelation suggests Theophanie knew about the mission, alarming both Violet and Xaden.