The “ice” in Xaden’s behavior symbolizes the growing threat of his venin corruption and the increasing loss of connection with his emotions. While Violet has “seen him in battle before, seen the icy rage that comes over him even the killing calm,” she describes his new icy demeanor in times of battle or crisis as unsettling (338). It is in these moments that Violet sees glimpses of the venin lurking beneath the surface—“whatever’s swirling in those onyx eyes is a tempest [she’s] never beheld. It’s one step past fury, as though Dunne herself has stepped into his eyes and now peers back at [her]. He’s Xaden, but he’s… not” (338). These moments where Xaden’s gaze turns icy and his emotions recede are highlighted by the presence of their friends, whom Xaden seems not to recognize while in this temporary state.

Xaden describes the feeling as: “like sliding over a frozen lake while a shrinking part of me screams that I’m supposed to be swimming in those pieces I’ve bartered away, and those feelings are right beneath the surface, but fuck is skating faster and a hell of a lot less messy. This shit? […] It’s messy and painful and infuriating, and if I could choose to give this portion of myself away, so help me, Malek, I would.