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Onyx Storm: Chapter 43
Violet explains everything to Ridoc off page, because why would any interesting conversation actually be shown to us. Then she asks him to cover for her so she can tell everyone about the irids first. He agrees.
The gang plans to fly back to Navarre, since their mission is now a failure. Ridoc now confronts Violet about Xaden and his new venin swag.
Ridoc points out the obvious: that Xaden is extremely dangerous.
Shoutout to Ridoc for being the only character in this book with any common sense. He is a real one. He tells Violet that either she gives him a line after which point he can turn Xaden in, or he'll just do it, because she can't be trusted. He frames it as keeping Violet safe, because of course he does, Violet is the center of this book's universe--but for once it actually feels like the right thing to say. Violet is clearly not thinking logically, so he has to argue that he's protecting her because that's a justification she will accept.
Violet agrees that if Xaden hurts someone else without cause, then Ridoc can turn him in.
Xaden is, of course, eavesdropping on this conversation, and he of course postures during it, acting threatening towards Ridoc like a fucking idiot. Ridoc decides that he has to be able to tell the rest of the squad and Jesinia about Xaden, so they can protect Violet. Again, even though protecting Violet shouldn't be the primary reason to turn Xaden in, it is the only argument Xaden would accept, so Ridoc is smart for making it.
After this, Xaden tells Violet he needs space, since it's his fault the mission failed. And he's not wrong. Violet is in love with Xaden and willing to trust him no matter what, but there's no reason for anyone else to give him the benefit of the doubt here.
Their flight back to Navarre lasts less than a page. Everyone is depressed and down due to their failure, Violet included, and she's annoyed that everyone is worried about her. Violet, please, develop some gratitude.
Violet's squad is there to greet her, but so is fucking Aetos. Aetos is there to deliver a note from Theophanie to Violet, letting her know that she's watching and arranging their next meeting as they speak. And Aetos lets them know that the venin have killed the queen of Poromiel.
So Aetos is totally a secret venin, right? After all the hints in pre-chapter quotes and from other venin that there are secret venin in authority at Basgiath?
And with that, chapter end.
Mmm. Curious to see what the story will do from here--I was sure there'd be one more twist before they returned to Navarre. There's still like 20 chapters left, so there's theoretically still time for more to happen, though I'm sure Yarros will leave some threads undone for book four.
I still predict Xaden will leave at some point.
The gang plans to fly back to Navarre, since their mission is now a failure. Ridoc now confronts Violet about Xaden and his new venin swag.
“They always channel!” Ice forms at his fingertips. “Just because I like to crack jokes doesn’t mean I’m not serious about reading the same shit you do. There are no accounts of initiates just walking away from the power.”
“That’s why I have to find a cure.” My voice breaks.
“They just told us there isn’t one.” His arm swings toward the beach.
Ridoc points out the obvious: that Xaden is extremely dangerous.
“Really?” He lifts his brows. “What if he hurts someone you love? Will that change your mind?”
“He wouldn’t.” I shake my head. “He hasn’t in all these months. He won’t.”
He clasps my shoulders. “Not good enough. Give me a real, logical line he has to cross for you to walk away, and I’ll keep the secret. I’ll help you scour every fucking book you can find. I’m here for the I’m-going-to-save-my-man-at-all-costs mantra and will be on your side in this horrifically dangerous situation if you can just acknowledge there’s a breaking point. You can put all your faith in him as long as you leave a little logic for yourself.”
Shoutout to Ridoc for being the only character in this book with any common sense. He is a real one. He tells Violet that either she gives him a line after which point he can turn Xaden in, or he'll just do it, because she can't be trusted. He frames it as keeping Violet safe, because of course he does, Violet is the center of this book's universe--but for once it actually feels like the right thing to say. Violet is clearly not thinking logically, so he has to argue that he's protecting her because that's a justification she will accept.
Violet agrees that if Xaden hurts someone else without cause, then Ridoc can turn him in.
Xaden is, of course, eavesdropping on this conversation, and he of course postures during it, acting threatening towards Ridoc like a fucking idiot. Ridoc decides that he has to be able to tell the rest of the squad and Jesinia about Xaden, so they can protect Violet. Again, even though protecting Violet shouldn't be the primary reason to turn Xaden in, it is the only argument Xaden would accept, so Ridoc is smart for making it.
After this, Xaden tells Violet he needs space, since it's his fault the mission failed. And he's not wrong. Violet is in love with Xaden and willing to trust him no matter what, but there's no reason for anyone else to give him the benefit of the doubt here.
Their flight back to Navarre lasts less than a page. Everyone is depressed and down due to their failure, Violet included, and she's annoyed that everyone is worried about her. Violet, please, develop some gratitude.
Violet's squad is there to greet her, but so is fucking Aetos. Aetos is there to deliver a note from Theophanie to Violet, letting her know that she's watching and arranging their next meeting as they speak. And Aetos lets them know that the venin have killed the queen of Poromiel.
So Aetos is totally a secret venin, right? After all the hints in pre-chapter quotes and from other venin that there are secret venin in authority at Basgiath?
And with that, chapter end.
Mmm. Curious to see what the story will do from here--I was sure there'd be one more twist before they returned to Navarre. There's still like 20 chapters left, so there's theoretically still time for more to happen, though I'm sure Yarros will leave some threads undone for book four.
I still predict Xaden will leave at some point.