Chapter Fifteen

Violet and Xaden wake together after an intimate moment in which Xaden nearly loses control of his venin powers; they discuss his responsibility and the dangers of physical contact. Later, Mira returns with news and brings a runed practice disk created by Trissa and Kylynn that demonstrates how to nullify runes without destroying others—a breakthrough that could change negotiations with Poromiel. Brennan reveals that Violet will be sent on a mission to find Andarna's kind, and tensions explode when Mira learns the wards are failing in six months, making the search potentially futile and dangerous.

Violet wakes to find small marks on her headboard from Xaden channeling her power during their intimate moment. Xaden expresses his fear of losing control around her, and they agree to avoid activities where he cannot be trusted. They discuss the upcoming negotiations involving the three Houses of Tyrrendor and flier safety at Basgiath. Brennan and several others arrive seeking Xaden for an important meeting about the negotiations. Mira arrives with news and, away from the group, gives Violet a runed practice disk that Trissa and Kylynn have created—it contains three runes (levitation, sound-shielding, warmth) and demonstrates that runes can be nullified without affecting others, potentially offering a solution to keep the fliers at Basgiath. However, Bodhi, Garrick, and Imogen had been checking on Violet, implying concern that Xaden might have harmed her. Brennan returns and reveals that Violet will be sent to find more of Andarna's kind, as Queen Maraya hopes they possess knowledge to defeat venin. When Mira learns this, she becomes furious, revealing through her research that Aretia's wards are failing and will collapse in approximately six months. She argues that Violet's dangerous mission could take decades and will be futile, and accuses Brennan of using their sister as a "gaming chip" much like their mother would have done. Brennan counters that hundreds of thousands of Poromelian civilians are under attack and the stakes are larger than one person. In response, Mira demonstrates the runed disk to Brennan as proof that there is another way to save the fliers and forge the alliance—a solution that does not require sacrificing Violet.