Empyrean series #1

*This book contains scenes of explicit sexual acts, murder, and war.

Visit Rebecca Yarros’ website HERE.

Disclaimer: I have read this book of my own volition.  Any and all opinions and interpretations contained herein are my own.

The Spoiler Report is a recounting of the major events of the novel mixed with my own interpretation of the meaning and symbolism of events, emotions, and actions. Reading this report is NOT a substitute for reading the actual novel and should not be taken as such. Not every single detail, feeling, and event is divulged within. It is essentially a lengthy outline of the story. Many details and all dialogue have not been included. This report is for those who appreciate knowing what happens or feels they may miss things when reading, or just want to have a detailed overview of a book before, or during, reading.

****THIS REPORT CONTAINS SPOILERS****  

This is not a book review. For the full review of Fourth Wing please visit HERE.

One last warning – SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Violet stands outside the door to the general’s office when she hears her sister shouting inside. Mira is trying to convince the commanding general, their mother, that Violet is not ready to be a part of the Riders Quadrant.

 Truthfully, she’s not. Not that Violet will admit that out loud. But she has trained her whole life, save for the last six months, to be a scribe, like her father was. Since his death, her mother insists that the all her children become riders.    

After being dismissed from her mother’s office, Violet is taken to her room by Mira. Her sister helps her truly prepare in the little time they have left before Violet has to report to the Riders Quadrant for Conscription Day.

Just as her late brother, Brennan did for Mira before she began war college at twenty.

Climbing the 250 stairs in order to cross the narrow Parapet, a thin stone bridge, and possibly dying, Violet meets Rhiannon and Dylan. Both are over enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming a dragon rider.

Right before entering the Parapet, Violet lays eyes on the most beautiful man she has ever seen. He’s also the only one Mira demanded she steer clear of. The one man who will kill her no matter what rules or oaths bind him. All because of who her mother is and what she has done.

Confronting each other, their standoff is interrupted by a sudden down pouring of rain followed by Dylan screaming. The wind and the rain force him off the slim stone bridge and he falls to his death.

Xaden Riorson won’t bother to kill Violet today, convinced she won’t make it across the Parapet anyway.

To help calm herself, Violet recites the history of the Continent as she learned them training to be scribe. Her strategy only works so much as she is actively being pursued by Jack Barlowe with the promise of her death when he catches her.

Reaching the end of the Parapet, Violet shows that she may be small and somewhat frail, but she should not be underestimated. It saves her from Jack’s wrath for the moment.

Dain Aestos, a second-year dragon rider, Violet’s best friend and fantasy-inducing first love interest from her childhood finds her in the crowd of successful cadets. And he clearly doesn’t approve of her presence.

Taking Violet to his room to patch an injury in private, it is evident that there are still unspoken feelings between the two. Violet’s flirtatious teasing does not go unnoticed by Dain. Patched up, Dain lays out his plan to get her into the Scribe Quadrant. He is worried her inherently brittle body translates into a guaranteed death sentence.

Violet is getting pretty tired of everyone pointing out her physical shortcomings. Demanding she will continue on as a rider cadet, Dain reluctantly concedes. Returning to the courtyard, Violet finds Rhiannon and meets Tara. After being sorted into their wing squads for the year, Xaden makes a few indistinguishable comments to another leader. Next thing Violet

knows, her whole squadron is moved to the fourth wing — the wing under Xaden’s wickedly watchful eye.

On the first official day as cadets, Violet is about to head to her first class when Dain sends her a signal that he wants to meet in private. Trusting Rhiannon to cover for her, Violet goes to him.

Dain worries that their squad has been moved to one where Xaden is the wingleader so he can have direct access to Violet. Making killing her in revenge for what her mother did to his and many other parents who were separatists exceedingly simple.

As they part, Xaden stands witness, calling out his presumptions about the two of them secretly meetings. At Dain’s urging, Violet runs.

During Battle Brief, a class to discuss current and past battles and strategies and to go over current affairs, the cadets learn wards have faltered and allowed and attack from Poromiel, their enemy outside the wards. Violet stands apart as she uses her scribe training to engage in the lesson and impress her professor.

The class in interrupted by Xaden. Instead of actively threatening, he showcases why he has made it to be wingleader.

Fretting during sparring, Violet sparks a deal with Rhiannon and Sawyer. They help her not get killed in hand-to-hand and she helps them pass history. Which is more beneficial to Violet because her first sparring match she got beat by someone who has the same chip on their shoulder as Xaden. Ironically breaking Violet’s shoulder.

Dain makes his personal interest in Violet public reacting to her injury and rushing her off to the healers. He and the healer plot together to get Violet out of the Riders Quadrant and into the Scribe Quadrant. Dain pleads with Violet. But she knows that ultimately her mother will never stand for it. She would drag Violet back to the Riders Quadrant as soon as she discovered she left.

Back at her bunk, Violet comes across a book under her pillow. A book written by her brother, Brennan, that Mira had snuck in. It’s a manual of sorts that he wrote to help Mira survive her first year.

While sneaking out at night to gather some poisonous berries, Violet spies Xaden and Imogen, the girl that broke her shoulder. More riders join them in the dark. By gathering in a group larger than three, they are effectively committing a capital offense. All who have rebellion relics may not gather in groups of three or more. All those gathered sport the rebellion tattoos of the separatists. Their conversation is mainly benign until Violet is mentioned. They all want her dead. But Xaden calls dibs.

Once Violet believes it’s safe, she turns to leave but is caught by Xaden who was waiting for her in the shadows. Learning his signet is commanding shadows. He surprises her. Yes, he is lethal and powerful, but that’s not all. It seems Violet is also able to surprise him as well before he walks away from her. There are definitely under lying emotions bubbling in both of them during this close encounter. In the morning, Dain escorts Violet to breakfast duty before anyone else is awake. Except Rhiannon and Tara who did not sleep in their respective beds. That’s not where Violet’s head is at though. Well, not

completely. Today starts the challenges in the sparring ring. Violet has been training with Rhiannon and reassures Dain she’ll be fine.

By using advice from her brother’s journal, Violet is able to find out who she is matched with. Someone who could potentially knock her out with one punch. One benefit of waking up so early for breakfast duty — being able to sprinkle poison on your opponent’s food.

This time Battle Brief is a detailed lesson covering the different species of dragons and their differing temperaments. Highlighting the rarest and most dangerous black dragon. One black dragon rider had tried to revive Brennan on the battlefield but burned himself out by using too much power and died.

The professor reassures that while dragons do choose their riders based on strength, not all strength is measured in physical feats.

Dain still hovers around, hyper worried about how Violet will fare during her sparring match. Taking advice from Xaden that he gave her the night he caught her spying, instead of what Dain has been repeatedly telling her, Violet launches two daggers at Jack. Effectively showing she is not to be underestimated.

Time for her match with an opponent who looks a little green. The poison is doing its job. Violet wins the match and the sick man’s dagger.

After nearly two months winning matches due to her knowledge of poisonous plants, Violet finally has a misstep. She slipped her opponent the poison too early and she’s already at the healers. Xaden is all too happy to step in as a replacement. Even though he would not be breaking any rules if her were to kill her during the match, he uses it as an opportunity to teach her. By using some close personal lessons, Xaden shows her how to use her skills and physical stature as an advantage. Violet is uncomfortable by her body’s reaction to the beautiful man. It doesn’t help as Xaden even chastises Dain for protecting her rather than teaching her.

Not heading Xaden’s advice, Dain reveals he talked to one of the scribes. They will still take Violet into their quadrant. The best Violet can muster is to agree to think about the offer.

The next challenge is the obstacle course built into the side of a cliff —the Gauntlet. The cliff guards the Vale, the sacred breeding grounds of the dragons.  Similar to when she crossed the Parapet, Violet recites facts to try and keep herself calm. This time it’s dragon facts.

While climbing, a dragon flies overhead, startling one cadet enough that she falls from the cliff and dies. She is the first one to die from their squad.

Returning from burning the fallen cadet’s belongings, Violet finds herself in an optimal position to spy on Xaden again. Him and two others. This time, Xaden knows she is there. Dismissing his comrades, Xaden calls over to Violet when they are alone. For some unknown reason Violet refuses to reconcile, she spills her doubts and worries to Xaden.

With his shadows as an extension of himself, they begin to mirror Violet’s ever-present feelings when they are around each other.

Just like during their time in the sparring ring, Xaden takes the opportunity to impart some of his wisdom.

Presentation Day. The cadets need to make it to the end of the Gauntlet, something Violet has yet to achieve, in order to present themselves to the dragons. As her squad marches toward the cliff, Dain tries one last time to convince her to run away. Violet realizes that she is choosing to stay by her own conviction and not because of fear of her mother. She is staying for herself.

Again, taken Xaden’s advice, Violet is able to make it to the top of the Gauntlet. As does the rest of her squadmates. 

Now that they have all reached the training grounds, it’s time to stroll amongst the dragons so they can get a feel for who they want to bond with.

Two cadets are incinerated by the dragons. Violet has a rather sweet and heart-attack-inducing encounter with two dragons.

Threshing Day – the day dragons choose their riders. After an hour of having no luck, Violet overhears Jack telling his friends they have to hunt down and kill a particularly small golden dragon because she is a liability.

Without thinking about it, Violet knows she must stop them and protect the dragon.

Finding the dragon only moments before Jack and his thugs, Violet tries to get the golden dragon to flee by shooing it like a puppy. When that doesn’t work and Jack’s gang arrives, he appreciates the new situation. Thinking he can now kill the dragon and Violet in one go. Despite the threats, Violet stands her ground protecting the golden dragon.

Xaden and his dragon, Sgaeyl, interrupt. But according to the rules, the wingleader cannot intervene if Jack or anyone else decides to attack Violet.

Jack and his two friends attack as Xaden and his dragon watch. Mostly not intervening. Confusing Violet as he stays mostly within the rules. Preparing to receive a killing blow, watching as Xaden is on the verge of disregarding the rules to save her life, everything stops. Literally. Time stops briefly.

Then the biggest black dragon she has ever seen lands, killing the only one of her attackers still standing and present.

Xaden and his dragon take off.

The black dragon, Tairn, chooses Violet to be his rider. Tairn  chooses her because she stood up for the golden dragon, amongst other reasons.

Per tradition, each rider must announce their dragon’s name to the roll keeper. On such a big occasion, of course Violet’s mother is there. She is doubtful her daughter is Tairn’s rider until Violet gives the dragon’s name. Dragons only give their name to their bonded riders.

Violet also gives the name of the small golden dragon, Andarna, who has tagged along and bonded Violet.

Two dragons.

Chaos erupts.

Bonding two dragons is unheard of. But it is not up to the humans to control the bond between dragons and humans. It’s up to the dragons.

While all the dragons fly away to discuss things, Violet and her friends catch up on the day’s events. Dain approaches, dampening the mood. Stealing Violet away, Dain tries to persuade her to choose Andarna over Tairn, convinced that she is going to be forced to choose. Clearly the small yellow dragon is the safer option for Violet, according to Dain. Besides, Sgaeyl and Tairn are a mated pair. They can’t be separated. That means wherever Xaden is stationed Violet will surely have to follow.

Dain thinks Xaden is responsible for Tairn choosing Violet by manpulating Threshing. Xaden emerges from the shadows to set the record straight. Also showing what he values her ability and Dain never truly has. A deliberate and strategic move by Xaden.

But because their dragons are mates, Xaden and Violet’s lives will become interdependent.

Learning that she gets to keep both dragons, all celebrate Threshing. When Dain kisses Violet for the first time in their lives, Violet realizes that he is not what she wants anymore.

The next morning there is a startling shift. Violet is no longer the weakest link because of her bond with Tairn. Since she is still actually weak herself, physically, compared to everyone else, the rest of her squad want to help. Even those who have been gunning for her life previously.

Xaden is behind some of their newfound devotion since their lives are tied together now. Before any of her extra training can begin, it is time for their first flying lesson. Violet only survives by a thin line of stubbornness.

Dain catches up with her later that evening. Unlike every other time he has come to her, the excitement and anticipation she once felt is gone for Violet. Dain brings up the kiss. Both agree that it never should have happened but for very different reasons.

No matter what she felt for him before, to Violet, they will only ever be friends and nothing more. Friends that should never cross that line again. Dain simply refers to the rule that says a first-year rider shouldn’t fraternize with any of the higher years. Politics are more important to him than his feelings for Violet.  Fortunately, Imogen comes to whisk Violet away to begin their training together.

Jealousy sparks as Violet suspects Imogen and Xaden are lovers by the way she comes to his defense.

Now on library duty since breakfast duty is beneath riders, Violet is hit with a bit of homesickness for the first time since she entered the college. Visiting the Archives where she thought she would end up is bittersweet. She really is happy in her second home as a rider.

After another flight lesson, Dain approaches Violet. He is angry she didn’t tell him she was having difficulty staying on her dragon in the air. It’s the last straw for Violet. He is so worried about what she can’t do yet, he continually fails to see how much she has already accomplished and what she will be capable of in the future.

Violet is woken up by Tairn’s voice in her head. Seven un-bonded first-years and one rider are in her bedroom making an attempt to on her life so they can have a chance at bonding Tairn.

Andarna barges in and freezes time, same as she did when Violet was being attacked during Threshing. Maneuvering around her statuesque intruders, Violet makes it to the door just as Xaden arrives. Andarna releases her hold.

Xaden uses his shadows to kill all in the room, having no idea a rider was there as she fled early on. In his own harsh way, Xaden takes care of Violet in such an intimate manner. She constantly questions herself and the emotions regarding her thoughts Xaden evokes.

Xaden takes her to a secret tunnel that leads them to the gate so they can get to Tairn without being seen.  Continuing their twisted flirting along the way.

Reaching Tairn, Andarna, and Sgaeyl, Violet discovers that they are all mentally linked.

Andarna revels that she is only two years old, a hatchling. Dragons don’t usually allow ones so young out of the Vale let alone bond. But her parents died before she hatched and Tairn and Sgaeyl took a liking to her.

Because she is so young, she accidentally gave Violet her power directly without the need to channel as is usually required by full grown dragons. Andarna, and now Violet, can briefly pause time. This ability and who it came from must be kept a secret. Violet promises not to reveal anything.

The next morning, the only reason anybody knows what happened to Violet last night is because she told them. Xaden has kept it quiet. As the man himself enters, Violet finally concedes to her feelings. The reason she hasn’t been with anyone since arriving at the Riders Quadrant is because no one else is Xaden. She only wants him. This acceptance does not go well with her internal self.

Xaden switches a cadet in their squad. Liam, the hotshot jock that aces every challenge is placed in Violet’s squad basically as her babysitter. Liam also sports the same rebellion relics as Xaden.

While Violet is annoyed, Xaden is adamant that Liam stick with her at all times since he can’t. Dain blames it on their mated dragons.

Commandant Panchek takes over morning announcements, ready to openly deal with the one rider that was in Violet’s room — Amber Mavis.

Immediately Dain believes it’s a lie. That a wingleader such as Amber would never commit such an atrocity. Just how Violet knew he would react. Causing more pain than she anticipated. With the rest of her squad easily supporting Violet, Dain continues to plead with her to correct this blatant lie.

But Xaden is ready to execute a wingleader just on her word alone.

Violet asks Tairn to share her memory to help Xaden’s conviction. After her does, her dragon incinerates Amber.

Violet continues her library duties with Liam in tow. One week with the guy shadowing her and she truly wants to hate him. But he’s too nice and genuine.

While waiting in the Archives, Liam sheds some light on a few misgivings Violet has about those with rebellion relics on their skin — the offspring of separatist, traitors.

Liam and Xaden were raised together after their parents were executed. Leaving the Archives, a roll of parchment rolls from their loaded cart. Violet reads a small, exposed portion of the scroll. There has been another attack at the border where the wards have faltered.

They figure they will hear the details in Battle Brief. But there is no mention of it in class. Liam and Violet assume the scroll must have been marked classified — they just missed that detail.

After a few months of not hearing about the attack, Violet begins to wonder what other information doesn’t make it to Battle Brief.

Alone in her room, power slams into Violet. Tairn finally begins to channel his power through her. Not only can she feel his power, but it full opens their bond. She can feel his emotions. And right now it screams lust.

Rushing from her room, needing some air, Violet runs into Xaden. He’s smoking what seems to be the equivalent of the devil’s lettuce.

The lust pouring out of Tairn is clearly being mirrored by Sgaeyl, Xaden’s dragon.

Violet refuses his offer to share the churam. No one has taught her to shield the bond yet, Xaden takes the time to thoroughly do so. Both teetering on the edge of losing control under the influence of their dragons’ lust.

Violet is able to tamp down the bond quickly, impressing Xaden. But having physical contact with the beautiful wingleader negates any progress she gained.

They simultaneously give into their need. Letting the snow fall around them as they devour each other. A loud crack of thunder breaks Xaden out of his frenzied trance, stopping them.

Violet is hurt by his blatant rejection but ultimately sees his logic.

Right before stepping into class the next morning, Dain pleads to have a moment with Violet. After ignoring her for a week, Violet is over it, but agrees. Dain tries to apologize for his reaction to her being attacked in her room. Even now he is beginning to notice how his treatment of her differs from Xaden’s. Both speak volumes.

As sparring challenges resume, Violet remains undefeated. This time without the use of poisons. Now she is slated to face Jack on the mat. Her strategy is simple, get Jack so enraged he makes a mistake. Oh, and don’t die.

But she is going to die. Jack, cheating again, is using his power on her. With whatever energy she posses Violet smashes a vile into his mouth. Jack’s anaphylaxis reaction saves her.

When she wakes, it’s Xaden at her bedside. Furious and somewhat impressed she used oranges as a weapon against Jack without a thought. Violet mentions their kiss. In few words, Xaden crushes her entire being. Not only was the kiss a mistake, but a physical relationship between them is also a solid boundary for him.

But because of the match between her and Jack, Xaden believes he can’t trust anybody with her training as much as he trusts himself.

The first order is to train Violet in hand-to-hand.

He nonchalantly hands her a stunning dagger he had made especially for her. According to the rules, cadets are only allowed weapons that they either crossed the Parapet with on their body or have earned. Xaden has a dozen of those custom-made daggers strapped to his body. He challengers her to disarm him. Which he turns into his own unique, flirtatious dance.

And that sums up the next few months. Violet is improving her physical abilities and remains nothing but a pet project to Xaden. One she doesn’t altogether mind.

On their way to the flight field Violet and Xaden run into Violet’s mother. Xaden, who assumed they were as close as mother and daughter tend to be, witnesses their strained, cold relationship.

The riders are down to one last task of the big Squad Battle. The task is to be accomplished without their squad or wingleaders. They need to steal something that they believe would be the most useful to their enemy.

It’s risky, but Violet knows exactly where they need to go — her mother’s office.

Working together as team, using everyone’s individual talents, skill, and magical abilities, Violet’s squad steals the large map from her mother’s office. The map depicts everything that is currently happening on the Continent. Including the raid that happened last night. One of many that were never revealed during Battle Brief.

Their squad wins.

The prize is a week-long tour of Montserrat. One of the forward outposts. Which just happens to be within walking distance of Rhiannon’s home village.

Being shown around, the patrol returns to the outpost. Mira, Violet’s sister is among them.

Catching up with Mira, the topic inevitably turns to Xaden. Mira is still adamant of her biased against him. Speaking of the Xaden, he steps out of the shadows. Their dragons have reached the limit of separation — three days.

Mira isn’t just prejudice against Xaden. She is skeptical of anyone with rebellion relics. During a training exercise, Xaden reveals he can telepathically communicate with Violet in the same manner her two dragons can. Since Tairn and Sgaeyl are mated, they are all equally connected.

Mira lays into Dain, Violet, and Xaden after a meeting. Accusing Xaden of trying to turn Violet into a shadow lost behind his importance that is his life. Xaden is quick to point out he is not the one calling the shots between the two of them. But they are interrupted by a drift of gryphons approaching. The wards are down.

Mira begs Violet to leave and depends on Xaden to make it happen. Dain and Xaden work together to get their entire squad out of there before the enemy arrives. Violet pleads with Xaden to let her stay and help. Xaden kisses her. Not because he is giving into her demands. He is buying time, distracting her until Tairn is able to get there and pick her up.

Two days later, Xaden finds Violet waiting outside a professor’s office and brings her coffee. Joining her on the floor to wait. Quickly the conversation turns into a series of confessions from Xaden. That he is just as confused over his feelings for Violet as she is.

Before they can go too in-depth, Dain joins them just before the professor shows. Violet learns to communicate with Xaden through the bond a moment before she hears from the professor that her sister survived the gryphon attack and is doing well.

Over the next several days, Violet uses her new found telepathic skill to ask Xaden a series of mundane questions to get to know him. One question each day.

The atmosphere shifts and even the air seems to intensify around the school. Violet and her squad can’t seem to figure it out.

Fourth and First Wing engage in a modified version of Capture the Flag. Tairn shows up for the game equipped with a custom-built saddle. One both Xaden and Tairn designed. The act spurring Violet and Xaden’s flirtation to full on teasing.

During the battle game, Violet sees Jack and his dragon fighting Liam and his. Jack stabs Liam and knocks him off his dragon. Tairn and Violet won’t make it in time to save Liam. With Andarna’s permission, Violet channels her power to pause time. Ensuring that they can reach Liam in the air.

Pursuing Jack, Violet realizes her signet power —lightning wielder.

Jack is dead. Something Violet is having a hard time reconciling. She killed someone.

Dain offers comfort and consoles her. Xaden gives her the truth while once again taking true care of her.

Xaden comes to check on Violet in her room. She has completely run out of f*cks to give. And Xaden seems to have lost the will to control himself around her and finally allows himself to let go. Releasing everything he has been feeling toward her.

Both so enraptured with each other they lose control of their powers during the heat of passion. Violet more to than Xaden. But her room is wrecked by all the sex. Well, except for the bed. That survived intact.

In the aftermath, Violet learns what the scars on his back signify. To her surprise, Xaden agrees to stay the night. As she suspected, she wakes alone in the morning. But her heart is filled when she finds that Xaden gathered all the debris they created last night into one neat pile and left a jar of violets on her nightstand.

Professor Carr takes Violet to a place where she can learn to wield her lightning. One where she can’t start a forest fire or cause mass devastation.

With the mental connection to Xaden and his memories from last night, Violet easily makes the connection to her signet power.

After training, Xaden shows up in her room to help clean up the damage they caused. While picking up books, Violet finds a cryptic letter from her father.

Their conversation quickly turns to last night. Violet remembering how Xaden warned her away from falling for him. But she can recognize she already is and isn’t about to concede to his stubbornness. Especially when it is so obvious he cares about her to some degree.

Trying a new tactic, she turns the tables on Xaden. Instead of hiding what her heart feels, she openly admits what could happen between them. Challenging Xaden to prove her wrong.

At breakfast, Violet’s friends discuss King Tauri coming to celebrate Reunification Day at the school.

Violet can’t stop thinking about sparring with Xaden the night before, how it turned somewhat intimate. Having a mental conversation with the yummy man himself, pushing him to realize what’s there between them. Xaden goes along with the mental sparring, allowing her to push him.

Dressed in their dress uniforms, everyone gathers at night to celebrate Reunification Day. The celebration to mark the day the traitors were defeated and executed. Traitors like Xaden’s father or the parents of any riders that sport rebellion relics.

With Liam at her side, Violet urges him to leave. Especially when she realizes there is no one else who has rebellion relics is in attendance. But Liam stands his ground, he’s staying.

After a very pompous encounter with the king and Violet’s mother, Violet is seething. Inspiring Liam to admit that Xaden never asked him to accompany Violet to the celebration. He decided to do it because Violet is his friend.

Dain covers for them so the two can escape the tense, awkward celebration.

Going against the warnings of his friends, Violet walks out onto the Parapet, for only the second time, to reach Xaden. Who sits on the thin stone bridge, mourning the death of his father. Concentrating as she walks out to him, Violet realizes that she is not falling for Xaden, she already has.

Everything that causes Xaden concern about Violet walking out onto the Parapet, Violet turns around on him. Putting her heart out there while trying to expose his. It’s worth the risk. Xaden allows his heart to fall along with Violet’s.

Back in the privacy of his room, they both completely dive into the relationship wholeheartedly. Wrecking portions of Xaden’s room the same as they did hers.

They are interrupted as Garrick comes to get them. They are under attack.

Quickly dressing and arming themselves, the attack is only the last event of the year’s War Games.

The Fourth Wing is being sent to Athebyne, which is beyond the protective wards. But not the whole squad. Xaden is only taking Violet, Liam, and Imogen from the squad. Dain is not happy about the arrangement and fights back.

As Violet tries to placate the situation, Dain realizes that there is something going on between her and Xaden. Uncharacteristically, Dain seems to quickly accept the situation, bids Violet a final goodbye, and leaves.

Being on the other side of the wards feels different for Violet, almost uncomfortable. Xaden and Violet share an intimate moment as the squad rests during their long flight to the outpost. They are interrupted by a pair of gryphons and their riders. Riders who are familiar with Xaden.

Quickly becoming clear that everyone knows the riders except Violet. Worse, Xaden has been expecting them. But they arrived one day early. Not to accept some shipment Xaden promised them. They are there to warn them.

Venin took out another village and are moving farther north.

Venin are supposed to be nothing but fairy tales. Mythical creatures to scare children into behaving.

After the gryphon riders leave, Violet realizes everyone in Xaden’s chosen squad has rebellion relics. She is the outsider.

Tairn knew what was going on since Xaden’s dragon is his mate. But the bond between him and Sgaeyl is stronger than that with his rider. Tairn couldn’t tell Violet things even though he wanted to.

Amongst the soul-crushing pain of discovering so many truths, Violet feels betrayed by everyone around her. Xaden begins to explain the venin are real. He has been supplying those outside the wards with specialized weapons, similar to the ones he made her, to help fend against them since nothing else will kill them. Losing the battle to deem Xaden a crazy liar, Violet connects the dots of what really has been happening around the Continent. The only reason he didn’t tell Violet all this sooner was because of Dain and his

ability to steal someone’s memories through touch. If he found out about any of this, Dain, the stickler of all things rules and regulations, he would undoubtedly never be able to keep this information to himself. No matter who it hurt.

With the rest of the flight ahead of them, Violet has some time to really think and work through things in her head. Realizing that the history she had been taught had been rewritten is a lie. A lie that had been presented as fact for quite some time.

Arriving in Athebyne, they find the outpost completely empty of the at least 200 people that are normally housed there. It is an outpost that would never be emptied just for some school’s war game.

Xaden questions Violet about Dain and his behavior toward her. He believes Dain has been reading Violet’s memories without her knowledge or permission. Taking the ones where she just left Xaden’s company and using the information against the wingleader.

Xaden and his squad have been sent to the outpost to be eliminated.

The off feeling Violet associates with being outside the wards intensifies.

As wingleader, Xaden must make a choice ultimately proving where his loyalties lie. If the squad leaves now, they’ll make it to the new headquarter location in time to continue with the War Games. If they do that, the village in the valley below the empty outpost will be destroyed by the approaching venin.

The gryphon fliers from earlier, plus a few others, arrive and tell Xaden and his squad to leave. The inexperienced dragon riders are no match for the venin.

Xaden declares that he will not run. He will not allow innocent lives to be taken. But he will not force anyone else to make that decision. Every single one of them, including Violet, agree to stay and fight.

The main objective is to get as many villagers to safety as possible.  Wyvern, abominations venin create, join the fray. Liam’s dragon is killed battling one of the wyvern. Liam dies shortly after, unable to survive once the bond has been severed.

Xaden and Violet quickly form a plan that will most likely kill Violet. If she dies, Xaden follows because of their bond.

A venin lands on Tairn’s back as he and Violet fly into action. Releasing herself from the saddle, Violet fights the venin in the air.

As Violet kills the venin, wyvern begin to fall from the sky. When a venin dies, all the wyvern they created are instantly killed. Using every ounce of power she can wield and more, Violet gathers her colossal lightening. Attacking, possibly paying with her life from burnout. She falls from Tairn’s back.

A drained Andarna saves Violet before she hits the ground.

Xaden reaches her. She has been poisoned by the tip of the venin’s dagger. The poison completely paralyzes her body.

Xaden and all who remain take her somewhere nearby to get Violet the help she needs. She may not be able to move her body, but she can hear everything until she is rendered completely unconscious.

The whole story up until this point has been from Violet’s POV. This last chapter is from Xaden’s.

Sitting by her bedside, waiting for her to wake up, he reflects on the battle and the last year of school. All the pain and all the ‘should haves’ play in his head.

Violet wakes. At first, she doesn’t seem to remember what happened since they left the college as she is happy and relieved to see Xaden.

As Xaden mentions things, everything begins to come back to her. Violet panics. Even more so when she looks out the window and realizes where she is. Aretia, a place that supposedly burned down to ashes. At least according to the history books. Violet has even seen the pictures.

Xaden tries to explain. But it is clear that Violet hasn’t overcome all the betrayal just yet.  But she is willing to listen.

During the explanation, there is an insistent knock on the door. Xaden ignores it. Opting to continue telling Violet how much she means to him. How hard he is going to work to regain her trust.

When the door goes unanswered, he enters the room anyway. It’s the man that mended Violet. Her brother Brennan. He is welcoming his little sister the rebellion.