In darkness below the Archives, Xaden neutralizes two guards while guiding Violet, Aaric, and Imogen to a warded archway leading to a small circular library. When time is critical, Aaric yanks Violet through the wards; the magic lets her pass but leaves her nauseated, while Xaden remains barred outside. Imogen tracks their dwindling minutes.

Inside, Violet and Aaric race shelves of journals and histories. Tension flares as Aaric pointedly resents Xaden for killing his brother, but they keep searching. With the deadline looming, Violet recalls scribe training about protecting documents from light and looks beyond the obvious shelves.

She strips a velvet cloth from the central pedestal, revealing two small leather journals beneath a warded glass circle. Aaric reaches through, triggering the wards; his hands blister badly, but he pulls the books free. Violet stows each journal in a satchel, and Aaric drags her back through the arch despite the pain.

The group sprints up the stairwell and through the library as bells mark the passing hour and the main door begins to seal. At the threshold, Sawyer shouts for them to run. Xaden uses shadows to hold the closing door and shoves Violet through, Imogen follows, and as the seventh bell peals, Xaden reaches in with the door nearly shut, leaving Aaric and Xaden’s escape in peril.