In the days after Andarna left with Leothan, Violet withdraws to bed, numbed by loss. Brennan reads beside her in the mornings, squadmates sit with her in the afternoons, and Xaden holds her at night. Through an unusually open bond, Tairn lets Violet hear his communications with dragon elders and his arguments with Sgaeyl, keeping her anchored. Outside their door, Aretia quietly celebrates the wards’ return, while Violet remains unable to participate.

On the fourth morning, Mira arrives, exhausted but determined, and insists Violet get up, bathe, and rejoin life. Brennan and Mira immediately bicker about how to help Violet and about the worsening front after the wards rose. Violet learns Xaden opened the border, aligning with his father’s beliefs, and feels guilty for being absent while he took that risk. In the bath, Xaden gently helps Violet wash and offers either care or tough love; Violet asks for help with rune studies and begins to push herself to function.

As Violet dresses, Mira and Brennan’s argument escalates over family history. Mira reveals months are missing in their mother’s journals from the summer their parents left the children with their grandmother, Niara, and claims their parents tried to have Violet dedicated at a temple. Brennan insists such dedications have been illegal, but Mira contends the attempt occurred in Poromiel. The discussion triggers Violet’s memories of a silver-haired Unnbrish priestess and a cut on her arm, confirming to Violet that her father took her to Unnbriel for dedication.

Violet reconstructs the betrayal: her father wanted to “fix” her by dedicating her to Dunne. Mira quotes the priestess’s prophecy that “the heart that beat for you—or within you—would do the wrong thing for the right reason, reach for unspeakable power, and turn dark.” Brennan questions the phrasing, while Mira fears Violet could turn venin. Violet states their own temples would have no record, and accepts that her father orchestrated the attempt, explaining his earlier comments and the books he sent her.

Tension peaks when Mira, believing Violet is at risk of turning, draws her dagger. Xaden steps in, declares the prophecy refers to him, not Violet: his heart beats for Violet, he reached for power, and he already turned venin. Violet confirms his stability and stands between them. Brennan quietly stops Mira from escalating, revealing he knew about Xaden. Mira feels betrayed, accuses Violet of keeping deadly secrets, and storms out after Xaden assures her they can only slow his progression.

The chapter ends with Mira’s exit and a brief historical note underscoring Tyrrendor’s strategic importance and its talladium resource, emphasizing the stakes of the broader war and Xaden’s decision to open the border.