Back at the beach camp after the irids’ rejection of Andarna, Violet urges Ridoc to delay confronting the others about Xaden and prioritize reporting the irids’ stance. After the team reunites, Violet and Ridoc slip into the jungle under a sound-shield to talk in private. Violet fully admits to Ridoc that Xaden has channeled three times and is becoming a dark wielder, explaining her secrecy was to keep Xaden safe. Ridoc challenges her, pointing out the danger to the province and kingdom, and demands that Violet define a clear boundary at which she would stop defending Xaden.

Emotions escalate: Violet insists Xaden is not evil and vows to find a cure despite the irids’ claim that none exists. When Ridoc presses her on the inevitability of progression and whether she would channel to save Xaden, Violet’s powers surge, and she accidentally strikes a tree with lightning, which Ridoc extinguishes with ice. Shaken, Violet concedes a conditional line: if Xaden kills a rider without cause, harms civilians, her friends, her dragons, or her personally, then he is no longer himself, and she would let him go. Ridoc agrees to keep the secret on the condition that more allies are informed.

Xaden confronts them in the woods, revealing he overheard. Ridoc demands that Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Jesinia be told to better protect Violet and aid research; both Xaden and Violet agree, explicitly excluding Dain Aetos. Xaden affirms he would choose Violet’s life over his own and is preparing her to be capable of killing him if necessary. After Ridoc leaves, Xaden withdraws emotionally, blaming himself for the mission’s failure and believing his presence cost Andarna acceptance and the irids’ help. Violet reaffirms her love and decides they will return home.

The company begins the long flight back, routing through the isles and over Poromiel to minimize venin encounters. The journey is bleak: Xaden keeps his distance, Andarna is despondent, and Cat is silent. They camp within the wards before entering Basgiath nearly three and a half weeks after departing, without incident but under deepened anxiety.

On the flight field, Rhiannon and Sawyer meet them, and Ridoc exuberantly summarizes the Hedotis success and the loss of Trager. Violet admits the team failed with the irids. General Aetos arrives, promising later punishment for disobedience and pointedly addressing Cat’s succession prospects. He hands Violet an opened missive that proves Theophanie tracked their route over Pavis and threatens a future rendezvous, demonstrating her ability to reach Violet even within Basgiath.

General Aetos then delivers devastating news: while the riders were away, Suniva fell to dark wielders and Queen Maraya was killed. The chapter closes with this geopolitical shock and an archival draft noting that provincial forces should revert to provincial control absent a new commitment, underscoring Tyrrendor’s military leverage under Duke Xaden.