Inside the Deverelli bookshop, Narelle Anselm halts further confrontation, chastises her grandchildren Urson and his sister for attacking the riders, and seats Violet and her team. Narelle identifies the isles’ secular stance, calling gods “science” and fate “coincidence,” and remarks on Violet and Xaden’s bond as an “alchemy” of two becoming something new. She reveals that Asher Sorrengail spoke of Dain Aetos, mistakenly predicting Violet’s future with him, prompting awkward humor and tension among Violet, Xaden, Dain, and Mira.

Narelle confirms Asher entrusted her with his final work for Violet alone, contingent on Violet’s readiness, and asks when Asher died. She explains that nearly four years earlier Asher left books with instructions that only Violet could claim them if she met specific criteria. Violet realizes Asher’s instruction to bring her “rarest item” referred to her mind, not a trade good.

Narelle administers three questions. First, Violet correctly names Asher’s manuscript, Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People. Second, Narelle presses for Violet’s hypothesis on Asher’s allusion to Deverelli’s role in the uprising’s collapse. After hesitation, Violet argues Deverelli brokered a deal where an unnamed isle would provide an army and Krovla would provide dragons; Violet cites Public Notice 433.323 and Colonel Hashbeigh’s journal indicating raiders sought “feathertails,” which, through linguistic analysis, she and Dain conclude meant dragons. Dain accepts the logic and grapples with the implication that people attempted to trade in dragons, risking Empyrean wrath.

For the third question, Narelle abruptly asks why Violet left “the prince.” Under pressure, Violet discloses she found Prince Halden in a sexual situation with a professor and broke things off, stating she never sought a crown and would not stay without true love. Narelle approves Violet’s self-worth and orders Leona to retrieve the books.

Mira offers to carry the volumes, but Narelle insists Asher designated them for Violet alone, noting each sister has a separate legacy and role. The group departs with six tomes authored by Asher, all secured with passcodes that only Violet is meant to unlock.

Later, at Tecarus’s estate, Violet bathes and reflects on the day and their isolation from magic bonds across the sea. Xaden returns; after confirming Violet is recovered from travel, he abandons restraint and kisses her, the moment signaling renewed intimacy and relief after the tense encounter.