CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Summary

• Chapter Twenty-Seven begins with Ridoc and Mira discussing battle plans in the briefing room.
• The chapter introduces characters such as Rhiannon, Sawyer, Cianna, Nadine, and Heaton who are out on patrol, and a character named Devera who instructs them in battle tactics.
• Ridoc, Dain, Liam, Emery, Quinn, and the narrator have been flying around the surrounding area.
• Xaden, who joined the group last night, is revealed as a distracting presence, with both Dain and Mira being particularly watchful of him.
• Mira constructs a theoretical battle exercise based on a hypothetical enemy outpost appearing near their border.
• Emery is an air wielder who can manipulate dragon flames, making him a potential asset in battle scenarios.
• Dain's secretive signet power that allows him to read memories is uncovered, much to everyone's surprise.
• Mira rebukes Dain for neglecting Xaden's powerful shadow magic (which allows him to shroud areas in darkness) as a valuable resource.
• Mira and the other characters explore how their respective powers could turn the hypothetical battle to their advantage.
• A tense interaction is revealed between Xaden and Dain over the narrator, whose dragon is mated with Xaden's dragon.
• Mira warns the narrator about the potential risks of being romantically involved with Xaden.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the characters receive an alarm about a horde of gryphons approaching while their fortress's protective wards are down, forcing Mira to send the narrator and Xaden away for safety.

• Xaden tells the protagonist (who seems to be named Violet) to pack their belongings.
• Violet argues with Xaden about wanting to stay and help, but is ultimately forced by him and Dain to leave for the sake of her safety and that of the other trainees.
• The characters appear to be in a dangerous situation, possibly in a battle or under attack. They are in a fortress and need to escape on dragons.
• Violet becomes increasingly desperate to stay and help, especially for someone named Rhiannon, and requests Xaden to let her stay as a favor. Dain, who appears to be a friend of hers, supports her but eventually concedes and leaves on his dragon.
• Xaden kisses Violet passionately, which she reciprocates, and convinces her to leave by saying “Leave for me.”
• Xaden's dragon, Tairn, arrives and Violet is lifted onto his back by Xaden. Despite her protests, Tairn starts to fly away from the fortress.
• From above, Violet sees Xaden approaching on his own dragon, Sgaeyl, and many gryphons attacking the fortress below.