This chapter creates tension not only between Xaden and Violet, but Dain and Violet. It’s obvious that Xaden doesn’t want to kill her…at least yet. He’s been given a multitude of opportunities to murder Violet, but simply doesn’t. It seems like they both have unique intellectual capabilities, which seems to be intriguing more than anything to Xaden. Not only is their banter entertaining, but they seem to have more chemistry than Violet and Dain. SPOILER!!! In this fight scene, I can’t help but wonder if Xaden is using his secret signet to read her intentions, or if he’s just a skilled fighter…maybe a bit of both? The only part that throws me off is when she successfully downs him by kicking the back of his knees.
Another interesting part of this fight is the end, where Xaden calls out Dain for his protectiveness. Xaden tells Dain that he should spend more time teaching her than protecting her. Right now, this is the root of the conflict between Violet and Dain. Not only is this tension apparent to Violet and Dain, but it’s obvious enough that other cadets are able to recognize it. The explosion of disdain between them will come out soon enough.
In the next scene the tensions are built even further when Dain and Violet are debriefing the day in his room alone. He went behind her back to convince Professor Markham to let Violet into the Scribe Quadrant, even this late in the year. Violet has been underestimated by her peers her entire life, so she feels like she has something to prove. Admittedly, I see both sides of this issue. I wouldn’t want to be in Dain’s shoes–deeply in love with someone that has a high chance of being brutally killed in front of you. Wouldn’t anyone do everything they could to prevent that? Violet and Dain just have fundamental differences in their values. Violet is drawn to Xaden, because he pushes her to be better, whether or not it’s what she wants to hear. I think the tension between Violet and Dain will inevitably tear them apart, or at least inhibit their romantic possibilities.
At this point, Violet is determined to stay. She has her mantras. She has hope and will. She has Brennan’s advice and Mira’s support. She’s made friends. Dain needs to accept this decision and let her do her best, even if it means losing her. It’s the risk we take when we love. We can lose our loved ones at any point for any reason. The best we can do is love deeply when given opportunities. It’s not your job to protect people from their own choices.
Jack is another looming concern. He keeps agitating Violet, and she keeps retorting, which makes the situation even worse. I think he’s genuinely scared and jealous of her, but doesn’t know how to deal with it. It’s very satisfying watching Violet humble him over and over again, not going to lie.
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