Immortal Dark Chapter 70 Summary – June's True Confession

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Kidan cradling Yusef's head in the car as Taj races back to Uxlay. Iniko bandages herself, and Slen tries to feed Yusef blood, but his burned hand does not heal. Kidan wonders why the dranaic who fed on them did not find their blood poisonous. Slen recalls a previous encounter where a dranaic spat her blood out and suffered, suggesting a missing piece about the graduation vow. Once on Uxlay land, Kidan's throat expands with relief. She hands Yusef to Taj and runs across campus with Slen. Kidan is injured and dizzy but wills herself to the infirmary. In the mirror, she sees herself covered in blood. Susenyos bursts in, initially furious, then softens at her appearance. Kidan embraces him, thanking him for a clue. He notices her head wound and leads her to a closet, where he makes her drink his blood to heal. When she is lucid, Susenyos reveals that June left a video message at Adane House.

Kidan rushes to the house, which is wrecked by fire and destruction. Susenyos's earlier rage is evident. June's face appears on the screen. The video shows June looking healthy and apologetic. She explains that Mama Anoet knew the Nefrasi were coming for the elder child but gave Kidan away. June met them first and felt safe, finding a cure for her nightmares and sickness. She chose to leave, believing Kidan would force her to stay. June describes her training in Amharic, Aarac translations, and combat. She admits she manipulated Kidan by getting her tickets to a seminar so she could leave unnoticed. June reveals that Samson planned to use Kidan to get rid of Susenyos and frame him for Ramyn Ajtaf's death. She urges Kidan to give the Sun artifact to Samson and help him. Kidan watches the video repeatedly, unable to accept that her sister chose to leave. She falls into despair, ignoring Susenyos's efforts to care for her. Eventually, she goes to the observatory, feeling betrayed and lost. Susenyos finds her and offers his strength, asking if she can continue for something other than June. Kidan takes his hand.

Key Events

Kidan, Slen, Taj, and Iniko return to Uxlay with a badly injured Yusef.
Kidan and the others question why their blood was not poisonous to the dranaic who fed on them.
Kidan is treated in the infirmary; Susenyos arrives and gives her his blood to heal her.
Susenyos tells Kidan that June left a video message at Adane House.
Kidan rushes to find the house destroyed and plays June's video.
June reveals she left willingly with the Nefrasi to find a cure for her nightmares and sickness.
June admits she manipulated Kidan's absence on the night she disappeared and that Samson orchestrated the conspiracy against Susenyos.
Kidan watches the video obsessively, spiraling into grief and disbelief.
Susenyos persuades Kidan to eat and bathe, but she succumbs to despair in the observatory.
Susenyos offers his hand and asks Kidan to find purpose beyond June.

Character Development

Kidan: Her entire quest was built on rescuing a kidnapped sister. The revelation that June chose to leave shatters her identity and motives. She experiences intense guilt, anger, and exhaustion. The chapter ends with her taking a tentative step toward a new purpose, supported by Susenyos.
June: Previously seen as a victim, June is revealed to be a wilful participant. She appears healthy and confident, but also manipulative and complicit in Samson's schemes. Her apology is genuine yet self-justifying, showing she prioritised her own well-being over Kidan's feelings.
Susenyos: He shows deep concern for Kidan, restraining his usual fury and demonstrating patience. His willingness to help her heal and his final question ("Can you continue for something other than June?") reveal his belief in Kidan's intrinsic worth beyond her sister.
Slen and Yusef: Though briefly present, their injuries and Slen's knowledge about the blood poisoning hint at unresolved questions about the graduation vow and the nature of dranaics.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Betrayal and Deception: June's video is the ultimate betrayal—not a kidnapping but a willful abandonment. Kidan's trust in her sister's victimhood is a lie that undermines her mission.
Parental Failures: Mama Anoet is revealed to have known about the Nefrasi and agreed to give Kidan up, mirroring earlier themes of guardians who fail the protagonists.
The Burden of Sacrifice: Kidan's line "I've died so many times trying to find her" underscores how she sacrificed herself for a sister who did not want to be found.
The Sun Artifact: It remains a central object of conflict; June asks Kidan to give it to Samson, linking it to the larger conspiracy.
The Observatory: The glowing room feeds on pain, symbolising Kidan's grief and the way Uxlay intensifies trauma.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 70 is the emotional and narrative turning point of Immortal Dark. It completely recontextualises the central mystery: June was never a captive; she was a collaborator. Kidan's grief is no longer about rescue but about rejection. This shifts the story's core question from "Can I save my sister?" to "What am I fighting for?" Susenyos's offer of strength and his question about finding purpose beyond June open the door for Kidan to redefine her goals. The revelations also expose Samson's manipulation and deepen the political conflict within Uxlay.

Study Questions

1. How does June's video change Kidan's understanding of her own quest? Answer: Kidan believed she was rescuing a kidnapped victim. The video shows June left willingly and manipulated Kidan's absence to escape. Kidan realises her entire journey was built on a lie, causing her to question her purpose and her actions taken in June's name.

2. What does Susenyos mean when he asks Kidan if she can "continue for something other than June"? Answer: He challenges her to find motivation beyond her sister—to act for herself, for justice, or for a cause that is not dependent on June's approval or rescue. It is an invitation to grow her own identity and agency.

3. Why does Kidan watch the video repeatedly, and what does this behaviour reveal about her state of mind? Answer: She watches obsessively, hoping to find evidence of coercion or hidden messages. This shows her denial, desperation, and inability to accept that June made her own choices. It reveals Kidan's deep need to believe in her sister's victimhood and her fear of being unloved.