Chapter 141

Xaden is summoned to a hidden canyon where Sgaeyl has been captured and wounded by venin forces. He discovers that Berwyn—his supposedly dead Sage—is alive and working against him, and that another of his siblings has also turned to the enemy. Forced to choose between saving Sgaeyl and restraining himself from harming his own blood, Xaden surrenders to his dark power, unleashing shadow magic across the battlefield that decimates all wyvern and venin forces.

Xaden is drawn away from Draithus's defenses to a sun-soaked canyon where venin have ensnared Sgaeyl, draining her power while she was weakened from defending the city. Two venin guard the canyon's mouth, but Xaden's true obstacle emerges when Berwyn—the Sage he believed dead—walks toward him, scar-faced and alive, accompanied by another of Xaden's siblings who has defected to the enemy. Berwyn demonstrates terrifying power by killing a dragon with a single dagger strike, then moves to execute Sgaeyl. Facing the impossible choice between losing his dragon and harming his own blood (whom magical bonds prevent him from killing), Xaden surrenders to darkness itself. He channels deep magic and becomes shadow, which spreads through the canyon and across Draithus's skies, systematically destroying every wyvern and eliminating the venin threat. The shadows reach Violet as she defends Tairn, and Xaden restrains his power just enough to spare her, clinging to his love for her as the last piece of his humanity. After the destruction subsides, Xaden stands transformed—his eyes now streaked with red lightning-like veins—no longer fully himself. Sgaeyl expresses silent judgment at his fall but agrees to help persuade Tairn. Xaden mentions someone owing him a favor and hints at needing Violet's help for something dangerous ahead, though she currently lies unconscious.