Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of graphic violence and illness/death. 

Xaden expresses how frustrated he was when he realized Violet went beyond the wards. He tells her that he would have done anything to get to her, even if it meant draining the earth to keep her alive. Violet asks Xaden to confirm that Garrick is a distance wielder. She also points out that Xaden has a second signet, and Liam did as well—she once saw him wield ice. This suggests that many marked cadets might possess a second signet. Xaden asks if she left anything out of the report she gave upon returning, and Violet tells him everything, including her belief that venin also have signets.

A week passes, and Xaden is away fighting at the warfront. Violet receives a letter from him: He nearly burned out in battle and must recover. Violet suspects he carefully worded the letter to hide the fact that he channeled and is hiding away because he has to wait for his red-rimmed eyes to return to normal.

Violet and Imogen visit the interrogation cells to question Jack Barlowe. Through her questions, Violet learns that venin can sense each other, and newly turned venin cannot hide their presence, but Sages and Mavens can conceal themselves.