Xaden arrives early to Violet’s room, exhausted from travel, and they flirt before his attention lands on the ward-history texts scattered around her. Realizing Violet has been secretly researching the First Six, he infers Brennan told her about Aretia’s wardstone and grows angry at both the secrecy and the risk.

Violet argues she’s researching to help defend refugees and Tyrrendor. Xaden warns the Archives are dangerous and insists on accompanying her to return borrowed books. In the corridor, they run into a gaunt, overworked Nolon, who heads into the infirmary with Caroline Ashton, heightening Violet’s concern that he’s being overused.

In the Archives, Violet’s scribe friend Jesinia discreetly provides two older texts and pointedly notes that The Fables of the Barren is conspicuously absent from official holdings. Afterward, Xaden presses Violet to reveal what else is in her bag; she admits she lent Jesinia The Fables. He is alarmed she risked exposure and argues that trust must include him as well.

The disagreement escalates over mutual secrecy—Violet demands reciprocity, while Xaden says he can’t handle her risking herself for him. He chooses to take space rather than say something he’ll regret and leaves to find Bodhi. By morning, his side of the bed is untouched, and he is gone.