After a grueling twenty-four-hour flight with only short pauses, Violet’s group arrives at Tecarus’s palace in the south. The push is partly to test gryphon endurance for the sea crossing and partly because Violet fears letting Xaden touch unwarded ground, given the risk his power poses to him. The team lands in Tecarus’s fighting pit with five dragons and two gryphons, while Halden and his guard arrive unceremoniously in claw-slung baskets, drawing quiet disdain.

Inside, the heat and Violet’s exhaustion worsen. Tecarus greets them, recognizes Halden, and immediately infers they possess the artifact needed for Deverelli. Halden presumptuously confirms, speaking over Violet, which grates on her and others. Tension escalates in the hallway when Tecarus needles Xaden about which authority he carries—lieutenant, professor, duke, or as Violet’s beloved—while Halden asserts himself as ranking officer. Xaden maneuvers the argument to clarify he is not acting as a professor, then pointedly ends the standoff by lifting the near-fainting Violet and carrying her to his room.

In private, Xaden admits he wanted Violet off her feet and reveals he is done sleeping apart; Violet is relieved and hopeful. A moment suggests their bond may be strengthening when Xaden seems to hear her thoughts without pushing through intentions. Tecarus interrupts to advise that a prince cannot arrive in a basket if they hope to secure an audience in Deverelli’s court. He proposes to sail within an hour with Halden to his northern-coast estate and prepare the king for the dragons’ arrival; Xaden and Violet should land there roughly twelve hours after the ship, avoiding heavily defended shorelines.

Violet agrees Halden will take the audience with the artifact, freeing the rest to pursue their objectives. Tecarus warns that while he collects rarities, King Courtlyn seizes them, and urges them not to advertise their value or make untenable deals. He also cautions that their abilities will vanish over the ocean and is curious whether powers will return upon landfall.

Nearly a day later, as the flight crosses the coast at dawn toward the isles, Violet’s access to magic collapses to a trickle. The sudden loss of power leaves her feeling small and exposed. Andarna shrieks as her own strength falters, and even Tairn’s wingbeats stutter, revealing how much dragons draw on magic for strength. Tairn dives and locks Andarna into his harness to keep her from falling into the sea, grumbling but determined to keep her airborne.

As they regain a steadier course, Andarna falls silent and Tairn realizes he can no longer speak with Sgaeyl or the others; dragon-to-dragon communication is cut. Violet reaches for the onyx bond but cannot sense Xaden through it despite still feeling Tairn, confirming their magical communications have been severed over the ocean.