In the immediate aftermath of class, Violet rushes to Halden’s side after Xaden’s shadows slammed him into a wall. Halden’s guards react, but Halden waves them off as he catches his breath. Xaden arrives unapologetic, claiming he prevented a potentially lethal blow to a first-year and pointedly informs Halden that Violet has not thought about him since meeting Xaden.

Later in Violet’s room, Violet and Rhiannon work to unlock Asher Sorrengail’s rune-locked book using the clue “First love is irreplaceable.” Violet rejects “Lilith” and chooses “Aimsir,” her mother’s first gryphon, reasoning Asher designed the lock for Violet. She triggers the mechanism safely, preserving six vials of ink and revealing Asher’s draft, A History of the Second Krovlan Uprising, with a personal letter to Violet.

Violet reads Asher’s letter, which connects the uprising to the pursuit of feathertails and instructs her that, if time is short and she seeks the weapon to defeat foes known only through lore, she must travel to Cordyn, then to Deverelli, and find merchant Narelle Anselm, bringing her the rarest item Violet owns. Asher warns that Deverelli is beyond the reach of magic, counsels caution with its king, and tells Violet to trust only Mira. Violet shares the name with Tairn and Andarna, and they discuss that there is no magic beyond the Continent. Tairn and Andarna agree they should head for Deverelli as part of the broader search for Andarna’s kind in the isles.

Xaden arrives at Violet’s door, demanding to know if Violet loved Halden. Violet pulls him inside, and they argue through Xaden’s jealousy and Halden’s past relationship with Violet. Violet admits she loved Halden at eighteen but emphasizes that it was nothing like her love for Xaden. Xaden confesses he never loved Cat and struggles with the idea that Halden can touch Violet when he cannot.

The tension crests in an intense but restrained make-out on Violet’s bed, with Xaden briefly binding Violet’s wrists with shadows before abruptly stopping. Seeking a distraction, Violet reveals Asher’s letter and its directive to go to Deverelli. Xaden immediately agrees to go, despite the complications and his jealousy, stating they can accomplish both goals: searching the isles for irids and following Asher’s lead.

They conclude that to search the isles they need an audience with Deverelli’s king, which requires securing the Amelian Citrine—an artifact located in occupied territory—and likely assistance from Halden. Acknowledging the risks and the need to test their newly formed squad’s effectiveness, Violet and Xaden decide to depart as soon as possible.