It goes without saying that THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven’t read this chapter of Onyx Storm, please go read it first. Please note that some spoilers from future chapters will be found here.

As we learn from the previous chapter, there is a problem: Teine does not wake. He is not dead, so that’s something at least. But we all know Mira cannot survive without Teine and, well… Teine can easily be drained on the field. So he needs to be moved to safety asap.

“Dragonkind protects its own, even above a bonded rider.”

“Do not lecture me on the laws of my kind or you will learn how comfortable I am breaking them.”

Does this mean Tairn will happily break some rules to save Violet in the future? I hope this is good foreshadowing.

A few things here:

“Has to. Magic requires balance, right?” “It’s the oldest rule there is.” Theophanie walks out from behind the carcass of a wyvern. “But once a century or so we get a chance to skew the scales in our favour, and I will prove myself to him this time.”

This time. They tried last century too, but failed. Who was their special rider then? Another lightning wielder? The other thing to notice here is that we are finally learning about Theophanie. Also… once a century, and Theo needs to prove herself this time. She’s tried it before, meaning this venin lady is more than 100 years old!!!

“There’re only a few of us who are faster,” Theophanie replies, walking along the carcass of the wyvern, grazing the ridges at its back as she saunters toward us. “Older, too.”

She’s ancient (literally!) and she’s honed all her powers to perfection. She’s also telling us about wyvern: “They take forever to generate.”

How forever? What is that in years? Weeks, decades? What are we dealing with here?

“You’re almost done waiting. He’ll be gone soon. The crown will be yours.”

“We don’t have a crown.” Bodhi switches his sword to his left hand, freeing his right. “You don’t know me well enough to try and fuck with my head. I’m doing exactly what I’ve always wanted—protecting my cousin, my province.” “And her.”

Ok, so there must be a crown. I’m now 100% certain that Tyrrendor was the original royal seat. But Theo says something about Violet. Bodhi is doing exactly what he’s always wanted, protecting his cousin, his province and… Violet. Is Bodhi in love with Violet?

“He’s waiting.” Glee lights her smile.
“Berwyn?” I guess.
“As if I would answer to that fool? I think not.”

She has her own command. Not Berwyn. She calls Berwyn a fool. There is clear competition amongst venin, the same as there is amongst riders.

“Gravity shifts, and my perception of everything changes.”

Gravity always shifts for Violet when she realises something is wrong. And we’re coming to understand it too. Theo… is not a lightning wielder.

“She hadn’t controlled the lightning during their assault on Suniva. She’d controlled the very thing causing it.”

And there, we learn something crucial: “There is only one exception to the rule, Violet Sorrengail. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be you. If it was going to be one of her daughters, I’d have bet on your sister.”

Magic requires balance. Theo said it’s the oldest rule there is. But there is only one exception to the rule and that is Violet. Why? Why is Violet the exception? She can tip the balance, yes, that much we understand. But why, and how? So much to learn still…

“She’s their answer to my mother.”
“She was the answer to me,” Theophanie hisses, and the clouds start to swirl.
The tornado. My chest clenches. My mother had never accomplished that particular feat. No wonder I hadn’t recognised Theophanie for what she is—I’d never met a more powerful storm wielder than Mum. Until now.

Meaning, all the powerful signets walking on the continent right now are the answer to a very powerful venin. Violet is the only one who doesn’t have a counterpart right now. That must be why she is the exception.

More info here: “Your signet must only work on our magic, not theirs.” Bodhi’s signet does not counter venin magic. It would be very interesting for us to learn this for a fact. Could he counter Xaden?

“Your mother knew at your age that she was no match for me. That’s why she hid behind those wards. Perhaps you should have followed her example.”

There! Lilith knew about Theophanie when she was still in college. They knew she would come after their children. Is that why they tried to dedicate Violet to Dunne? To have a fair chance against Theo when the time came?

The chapter ends with Violet making her own plan of attack. She realises she is not the best of the two and banks on the idea that Theo will not kill her. Brave and foolish girl.

Onyx Storm Read Along

• Onyx Storm Read Along: Prologue
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 1
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 2
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 3
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 4
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 5
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 6
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 7
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 8
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 9
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 10
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 11
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 12
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 13
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 14
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 15
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 16
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 17
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 18
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 19
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 20
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 21
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 22
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 23
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 24
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 25
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 26
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 27
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 28
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 29
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 30
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 31
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 32
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 33
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 34
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 35
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 36
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 37
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 38
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 39
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 40
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 41
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 42
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 43
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 44
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 45
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 46
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 47
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 48
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 49
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 50
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 51
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 52
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 53
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 54
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 55
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 56
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 57
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 58
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 59
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 60
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 61
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 62
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 63
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 64
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 65
• Onyx Storm Read Along – Chapter 66