Onyx Storm Prologue–Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Prologue

The prologue is set during the final chapter from Iron Flame, but is told this time from Violet’s point of view. Violet wakes when Xaden leaves their bedroom, and she goes looking for him. Though Xaden is keeping his shields up, Violet is still able to sense him through the bond of their mated dragons. On the way, she speaks with Andarna through their bond. Andarna tells Violet that she wants to help her find the cure for venin so that they can save Xaden, who turned venin at the end of Iron Flame. Andarna felt her magic shift when she changed the colors of her scales, and she wonders if that was why she was able to burn the venin soldier who was threatening Violet—dragonfire does not normally kill venin. Andarna thinks that they should search for more of her kind (the secret seventh dragon breed) because they clearly have a different effect on venin than the other dragon breeds. With their help, they might be able to defeat the venin army once and for all, and cure Xaden in the process.

Violet finds Xaden in the dungeon talking to Jack Barlowe, and she eavesdrops on their conversation. Jack tells Xaden that he will soon give in to his new powers and that he could kill Violet. Jack suggests that Xaden bring him and Violet to the venin army instead, as the venin want Violet, which outrages both Xaden and Violet. Violet asks Andarna to tell Imogen’s dragon that she needs to speak with Imogen right away; she trusts her to keep Xaden’s secret.

Read a full book summary of the previous book in the series, Iron Flame.

Chapter 1

Two weeks later, Violet and Tairn are on patrol looking for venin, but they don’t manage to find anything. Tairn is angry that Xaden compromised his soul to channel magic from the earth, even though he did it with good intentions. Violet asks Tairn if he’s willing to embark on a quest to find Andarna’s kind in an effort to defeat the venin and cure Xaden, to which Tairn replies that he will go on the mission because he trusts Violet, Sgaeyl, and Andarna—even if he no longer trusts Xaden, whom he now refers to as “the Dark One”.

Violet and Tairn return to Basgiath War College after completing their patrol. Imogen finds Violet and tells her that she, Garrick, and Bodhi think that Violet should not sleep in Xaden’s room anymore for her own safety, but Violet refuses to entertain the notion that Xaden could hurt her. Violet then goes to visit Sawyer—who is recovering from having lost a leg during the battle at the end of Iron Flame—with the rest of her squad, but their visit is interrupted when they hear that venin have infiltrated the building.

Chapter 2

Violet works with Rhiannon and Ridoc to kill the venin soldiers who were disguised as scribes. They hear a commotion coming from downstairs and realize that venin are trying to get to Jack. The three friends rush to the dungeons and kill several venin, who taunt Violet and tell her to join them. One of the venin is a female with silver hair. Violet, Rhiannon, and Ridoc are about to be overpowered when Xaden emerges and kills the rest.

Later, Violet and her friends are dismissed from a debrief with the Commandant of the Riders Quadrant, Colonel Panchek. Garrick is stunned that Panchek did not seem to care that the venin were trying to rescue Jack. Violet and Xaden walk away from the group and Xaden finally lets his shield down so that they can communicate through their bond. He warns Violet that she should not trust him anymore as he's no longer himself, but Violet challenges him and asks if he still loves her. When Xaden passionately replies that he does, Violet asserts this means he is still himself and that she could never be afraid of him. Xaden darkly suggests he might be beyond saving; he is able to sense venin, after all, which may have allowed him to make a timely entrance earlier but also proves he is already changing.

Next section Chapters 3–6