Fourth Wing: Chapter 9 Summary

Chapter 9 begins at the start of the fight between Xaden and Violet. Xaden spends the fight disarming Violet’s daggers, then throwing them to Dain, who’s fuming on the edge of the mat. Violet and Xaden’s chemistry ignites as she dances between loathing and attraction. Xaden catches her thrown dagger, and continues to put her into submission over and over again. They banter back and forth about her lack of technique and poor choices when it comes to her attacks. Xaden brings up her secret weapon: poison. Violet can’t believe he caught on and Xaden makes her feel back for being too obvious, yet admires her intelligence. They agree to keep each other’s secrets. They spend a lot of time face to face in this match, and this is where Violet feels the most uncomfortably attracted to him. She hates herself for it too, noting that he is a toxic man and she isn’t attracted to toxic men. 

There are multiple opportunities for them to kill each other, yet neither of them have the desire to follow through. Towards the end of the fight, Xaden makes a comment about how Dain’s overprotectiveness is inhibiting Violet’s growth and potential. He explains that Dain should focus more on teaching her than protecting her. 

The timeline jumps to later than night in Dain’s room. Dain is helping Violet’s sore muscles after the sparring match and training she received from Rhiannon after the fight against Xaden. She feels the guilt of hiding Xaden’s secret from Dain, and asks Dain if a dragon would bond with Xaden if he was plotting against Navarre. Dain explains that the dragons want to protect the Vale, and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize its safety. Dain informs Violet that he secretly spoke to Professor Markham about Violet still joining the Scribe Quadrant. He’s worried that she’ll be targeted by Jack, Xaden and Oren during Threshing. Violet takes immediate offense, again, wondering why Dain doesn’t believe that she can be successful since she’s made it this far. Dain explains that he only wants to protect her, and he can’t bear the thought of watching her get killed at Threshing and not being able to do anything about it. Violet tells Dain she’ll think about the offer, but a part of her has hope that she’ll be find since she’s made it this far.