Chapter 119

After three days of grief-stricken isolation following Andarna's departure, Violet is forced out of bed by Mira. During a tense confrontation with her siblings about missing journal entries and family secrets, major revelations emerge: Violet's parents attempted to dedicate her to the temple of Dunne in Unnbriel as an infant, and Xaden confesses to being a dark wielder—a venin—causing Mira to threaten violence before departing in shock and anger.

Violet spends three days in bed after Andarna leaves, emotionally numb and barely functional despite constant companionship from Brennan, her squadmates, and Xaden. On the fourth morning, Mira arrives unexpectedly and insists Violet get up and bathe. After bathing with Xaden's care, Violet emerges to find her siblings arguing about missing months in their mother's journal from a summer when they were left with their grandmother Niara. The argument escalates when Mira reveals that their parents attempted to dedicate Violet to Dunne's temple in Poromiel when she was an infant, and later in Unnbriel. Mira explains that a priestess refused the dedication because Violet's future was uncertain, but warned of a heart that would reach for unspeakable power and turn dark. Violet realizes this dedication attempt explains the priestess's cryptic words to her and her father's cryptic history lesson to Brennan. When Mira suggests Violet herself is at risk of turning venin, Xaden intervenes and confesses that he is the dark wielder the prophecy warned about—that his heart beats for Violet, he reached for unspeakable power, and he has turned. Mira's shock turns to fury; she unsheathes her dagger, but Violet reveals she knew and trusts Xaden completely. Mira discovers that both Brennan and Violet kept this secret from her. She warns that venin kill, leaves despite Xaden's assurance of his stability, and departs with a bitter comment about keeping Violet alive.