CHAPTER THIRTY

Summary

• The chapter centers on an intense sexual encounter between Xaden Riorson and Violet.
• Xaden attempts to resist being intimate with Violet, but she is determined to seduce him.
• After sharing a passionate kiss, they admit their mutual attraction to each other.
• Violet successfully seduces Xaden, and they explore their intense chemistry. She finds the sensation of him inside her and the intimacy of the act incredibly satisfying.
• Throughout the encounter, they both struggle to regain control of their emotions, craving each other but also fearing the repercussions of their intimacy.
• As they climax, their powers flare up and cause physical damage to Violet's room, including setting curtains on fire and smashing a wooden target.
• Afterwards, Violet comforts Xaden about the scars on his back, which were inflicted as a punishment when he made a deal to save 107 children of rebellion leaders by pledging their loyalty to the kingdom. According to the deal, the kids would be allowed to fight for their lives in the Riders Quadrant instead of being put to death.
• Xaden spends the night with Violet and leaves her flowers in the morning.
• Professor Carr instructs Violet that she is off Archives duty until she learns to control her powers. He gives her a satchel and takes her to a flight field where an interaction with her dragon, Tairn, reveals that it can saddle itself.

• Carr and the protagonist, Cadet Sorrengail, ride their dragons to a mountain for a training session.
• They discuss the balance of power, with Carr observing that Sorrengail's physical limitations are her system of checks on her power.
• Carr notices that Sorrengail and her dragon, Tairn, do not trust him, a fact she confirms because of an act of violence she witnessed him commit.
• Carr and Sorrengail discuss Inntinnsics, people with the power of mind-reading. They are considered security risks, but Sorrengail notes an exception in Dain, whose power is limited.
• Carr insists he has no intention of harming Sorrengail, considering her an asset for her and Tairn's unique power in the war effort.
• Carr advises Sorrengail to keep her loyalties clear to avoid being seen as a threat by powerful command authorities.
• The training session involves Sorrengail attempting to wield lightning, which earlier seems to have been activated by her emotional reactions.
• With assistance from Xaden through some sort of telepathic connection, Sorrengail manages to unleash her power, though she struggles to direct it at a specific target.