Violet finds herself in Xaden's recurring nightmare, initially experiencing it from his perspective as he watches battle erupt at Draithus. She recognizes she is wielding shadows—Xaden's power, not hers—and the realization snaps her into awareness that she is in Xaden's dream rather than her own. She separates from his perspective and becomes herself within the dreamscape, calling out to Xaden, who is startled to see her there and warns her she isn't safe.

The Sage appears behind Xaden, addressing Violet as "dream-walker" and demonstrating his hold over Xaden by lifting him into the air and choking him. The Sage declares he is done waiting and playing games, warning that the wards Xaden raised won't save them. He demands that Violet come to him or "she dies," issuing a direct threat. Violet realizes the dream follows rules she can manipulate: she wills a dagger into existence and stabs herself to force herself awake through pain.

Violet jolts awake at dawn to find Xaden still trapped in the nightmare, his body arched in agony. She physically and mentally shoves him awake. They discuss what happened—Xaden confirms he saw Violet pull the dagger and knew she was truly present, which has never happened before. Violet is puzzled how she could dream-walk without Andarna's power, and Xaden suggests the ability may persist even without the power source. Tairn offers no helpful insight.

Their conversation is interrupted by urgent pounding at the door. Garrick arrives bloodied and battered, explaining that while on patrol, the venin's lightning wielder Theophanie attacked and ripped him and his companion from the sky. Garrick was spared to deliver a message: the venin have reached the walls of Draithus, and Violet and Bodhi must be delivered within five hours or "she" dies. Garrick carries what appears to be a massive shield but is actually a green dragon scale matching Violet's armor—a scale from Teine, Mira's dragon. Violet and Xaden realize with horror that Theophanie has captured Mira.