Violet relies on the combat training she received from Rhiannon while Cat attempts to distract Violet with feelings of jealousy and insecurity through comments about Xaden. She reveals intimate details about their former sex life, claims Xaden will never love Violet, and admits they had been previously engaged. Cat breaks the rules by using her ability to heighten Violet’s emotions, resulting in Violet almost killing her out of rage. Violet must be pried away from Cat’s influence by Xaden, who has overheard everything.

Xaden and Violet discuss her insecurities—primarily her feelings of inferiority—and he assures her. Their discussion prompts Violet to pinpoint and confront the emotions that are causing her to lose control.

Each squad of riders combines with a drift of fliers; Cat’s drift joins Violet’s. Violet and her friends go to the library, where she plans to dig through the books Tecarus loaned her in Cordyn. They are written in Krovlish, so Violet invites Dain to help translate. Dain apologizes sincerely for his actions over the last year, taking full responsibility for his mistakes. The next day, Dain pinpoints an error in Violet’s translation of the warding ritual from Warrick’s journal. Violet enlists his help with the journal and with imbuing the dormant wardstone with power.