Xaden and Garrick reach Violet’s cell, finding Dain there and Varrish wounded. Violet stops Xaden from killing Dain, then chooses Varrish’s fate. Xaden binds Varrish with shadows, steadies Violet’s hand, and together they drive her dagger into his heart. Xaden insists on immediate escape and confesses his love, vowing to get Violet out regardless of the cost.

On the stairs, General Sorrengail confronts them, hands Violet an antidote to the serum, and demands a brief private talk. She admits forcing Violet into the Riders Quadrant and striking a deal that bound Riorson to keep Violet alive if she survived Parapet. She permits their escape and leaves, while Dain decides to follow.

Violet insists they give everyone a choice. In the courtyard, Dain addresses formation; Tairn shares the Resson memory to standardize the truth. Chaos erupts until Xaden quells the crowd with shadows and frames the decision: defend Navarre’s lies or fight for the Continent. Jesinia and two scribes arrive to flee with them.

Professors rush in; Carr attacks with fire, which Bodhi nullifies. Devera declares for them and admits to seeding Battle Brief with news about Zolya. With dragons crowding the skyline and the Empyrean allowing individual choice, riders and dragons commit. Xaden sets departure within an hour.

The riot—about two hundred dragons and 101 riders—launches south. Tairn tows the still-sleeping Andarna as marked ones screen the formation. They avoid patrols, cross into Tyrrendor, and split toward Aretia. At Riorson House, Brennan confronts Xaden but learns he saved Violet; above them, the arriving riot proves Violet has brought him the riders he needs.