Hexed: Chapter 22 – Enzo

Spoiler Warning

This page contains spoilers for Chapter 22 of Hexed (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Emily McIntire. Read on only if you’ve finished the chapter or don’t mind knowing key plot points ahead of time.

Summary

Enzo and Venesa are at the boardwalk. Venesa buys two funnel cakes and is shocked that Enzo has never tried one. He takes a reluctant bite but admits he isn’t a sweets person, so she tosses both treats in the trash. They walk toward the Ferris wheel, with Enzo suspecting Venesa is still there on her uncle Trent’s orders, yet he finds their interactions too genuine to be a ruse.

They stop at a carnival shooting game. The attendant, Rusty, leers at Venesa and makes sleazy remarks about a “connection” they once had. Venesa warns him to stop, and Enzo demands he do his job. Enzo easily wins the game, and Venesa picks a giant plush squid as her prize. Enzo threatens Rusty, promising to find him if he ever bothers Venesa again. Scotty retrieves the stuffed animal.

Venesa suggests riding the Sea Wheel Ferris wheel. Enzo grows visibly panicked, revealing a fear of heights he tries to deny. Venesa first teases him but then softens, insisting they don’t have to ride. When the worker hurries them, Venesa orders him to wait. Enzo grips her hand, and his anxiety eases slightly. She promises to keep him safe, and the chapter closes with Enzo accepting her support despite his fear.

Key Events

Venesa buys funnel cakes, and Enzo tries one for the first time but dislikes it.
Enzo internally questions whether Venesa is spying for her uncle Trent but chooses to trust the moment.
At a carnival game, Rusty makes vulgar comments about Venesa’s past; Enzo threatens him.
Enzo wins the game and gifts Venesa a giant squid plush.
Venesa dares Enzo to ride the Ferris wheel; he reveals an intense fear of heights.
Venesa defends Enzo against an impatient worker and promises to keep him safe.
Enzo takes Venesa’s hand, finding comfort that soothes his panic.

Character Development

Enzo shows a startling vulnerability when he freezes at the Ferris wheel, revealing a fear he’s desperate to hide. His usual cold control slips, but he lets Venesa witness it, marking a major step in their bond. Throughout the chapter, his protectiveness intensifies: he threatens Rusty not just out of jealousy but because he senses Venesa was once hurt. His internal monologue confirms he’s “already a changed man” from knowing her, and he actively decides to trust her despite the risk.

Venesa reveals more of her past trauma through her tense exchange with Rusty, hinting at mistreatment she endured in high school. She handles the confrontation with sharp words and new confidence, contrasting with whatever she suffered before. With Enzo, she pivots from playful teasing to genuine care, insisting he doesn’t have to prove anything and ordering the ride operator to back off. Her promise to keep him safe mirrors the protective role Enzo usually claims, highlighting her strength and the deepening mutual reliance between them.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Vulnerability and Trust: Enzo’s fear of heights and admission of panic strip away his tough persona. Venesa’s offer of safety and his acceptance of her hand symbolize a rare trust that defies his usual isolation.
Jealousy and Possessiveness: Enzo’s reaction to Rusty’s leering and his later whisper that “those are my moans” (even though Venesa isn’t his) illustrate a possessive streak that feels intense but not predatory—it’s rooted in protectiveness.
The Squid Prize: Venesa chooses the underdog squid, a nod to her own identification with those who are underestimated. It also mirrors Enzo’s unexpected soft spots beneath his hard exterior.
The Ferris Wheel as a Test: The ride becomes a physical manifestation of emotional risk. By facing it together, both characters step into discomfort, strengthening their connection.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter cements the shift from guarded flirtation to genuine intimacy. Enzo’s fear and Venesa’s protective response crack open a level of emotional honesty that neither character typically allows. The Rusty encounter provides important backstory on Venesa and tests Enzo’s restraint, showing that he will defend her even without full knowledge of the past. Most importantly, the chapter balances suspicion (the Trent spy question) with emotional truth, leaving the reader aware that Enzo’s feelings are overriding his usual paranoia, raising the stakes for the inevitable conflict to come.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Enzo’s reaction to the Ferris wheel challenge the image he projects throughout the rest of the novel?
Enzo consistently presents himself as controlled, violent when necessary, and unshakable. The sudden panic attack and admitted fear of heights reveal a human vulnerability he’s hidden from everyone, forcing him to rely on Venesa for comfort—a dynamic that flips his usual power role.
What does the exchange with Rusty reveal about Venesa’s past and her growth since high school?
Rusty’s slimy remarks and Venesa’s threat to “trade positions” imply that he once mistreated her or took advantage of her. Now, she responds with assertiveness and a willingness to fight back, showing that she’s no longer the victim she might once have been.
Why does Enzo decide to trust Venesa despite suspecting she might be working for her uncle?
Enzo weighs the possibility of betrayal against the felt authenticity of their evening. The funnel cake moment, her protectiveness at the Ferris wheel, and the rawness of their interactions convince him that “it feels too genuine to be a ruse,” so he chooses emotional connection over suspicion.