Chapter 35 Summary: Paedyn

⚠️ 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 Paedyn waking in a barn, irritated by hay and Kai's prodding finger. Their banter reveals the chain still binds them, and Kai's teasing about her sleeping habits quickly turns into a practical plan: they need to steal a horse. Paedyn's fear of the animals is palpable, but Kai's mockery and the urgency of their situation push her to overcome it. After saddling a brown horse, a stable hand confronts them. Kai engages him in a fight while Paedyn struggles to mount, and they escape on horseback, the chain stretching between them as they ride through the city.

As they gallop through the streets, a gust of wind tears Paedyn's hat away, exposing her silver hair for the first time in daylight. Kai's hand pushes her head down to avoid a low beam, and their banter continues, with Kai calling her “darling” and Paedyn protesting. They enter the Sanctuary of Souls, a rocky, grave-strewn passage that Paedyn views as her death sentence. She questions Kai about the souls, and he deflects, but their conversation shifts to a more intimate tone. Paedyn reflects on her identity as Ordinary, spinning her ring and feeling foolish for not questioning why she lacks powers.

They ride through the day, and Paedyn notices Kai has fallen asleep against her back. Seeing an opportunity, she carefully uncurls his fingers from the reins, intending to turn the horse back toward Dor. But Kai wakes, grabbing her wrist and stopping her. He teases her about holding his hand, and she quickly untangles their fingers. They camp at night, and Kai shares the history of the Sanctuary of Souls—originally a royal burial ground, now abandoned to bandits, with the first queen Mareena buried alone in a crypt. Paedyn asks about the Azer family cemetery, and Kai reveals that Ava is not buried there.

When Paedyn asks why he told her about Ava, Kai proposes a dance in exchange for the answer. She agrees, and they dance in the dark, the chain tangling around her legs. Kai explains that Ava was a Crawler, a Defensive Elite born weak, and that he used to kiss her thumbs to give her strength. He admits he hasn't kissed a thumb since her death until he kissed Paedyn's at the second ball. He tells Paedyn that her spirit reminds him of what Ava could have become—formidable, recklessly bold, powerful despite ability. Paedyn protests that she is none of those things, but Kai insists, “I just see you.”

The dance becomes more tender as Kai lifts Paedyn onto his boots, letting him dance for both of them. Paedyn reveals that her father used to dance for her until she fell asleep, and Kai promises to dance until she dreams of him. The chapter ends with Paedyn resting her head on his chest, allowing herself to pretend, even as she knows this comfort is a weakness.

Key Events

Paedyn and Kai steal a horse from a barn, narrowly escaping a stable hand after a brief fight.
Paedyn's hat blows off, exposing her silver hair in public for the first time.
They enter the Sanctuary of Souls, a graveyard-like passage that Paedyn sees as her doom.
Kai falls asleep while riding, and Paedyn attempts to turn the horse back toward Dor, but Kai wakes and stops her.
At camp, Kai explains the history of the Sanctuary and reveals that his sister Ava is buried there, not in the royal cemetery.
Kai offers to dance with Paedyn in exchange for answering her question about Ava.
During the dance, Kai explains his habit of kissing Ava's thumbs to give her strength, and admits he kissed Paedyn's thumb for the first time in years.
Paedyn shares that her father used to dance for her, and Kai lifts her onto his boots to dance for her.

Character Development

Paedyn grapples with her identity as Ordinary, feeling the weight of her powerlessness in a world of Elites. Her attempt to turn the horse back shows her desperation to escape her fate, but also her hesitation to fully trust Kai. The dance scene reveals her vulnerability: she admits her father's death still haunts her, and she allows herself to be comforted by Kai despite knowing he is meant to kill her. Her internal conflict between self-preservation and growing feelings for Kai is central.

Kai shows a softer side, sharing painful memories of Ava and admitting that Paedyn reminds him of what his sister could have become. His willingness to dance and his gentle handling of Paedyn's emotions reveal a man who hides his grief behind masks. His line “I just see you” underscores his ability to look past her Ordinary status, challenging his own training and beliefs.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Chain: Both a literal bond and a symbol of their connection—restrictive yet intimate, forcing them to stay close. It also represents the inescapable fate Paedyn faces.
The Sanctuary of Souls: A death sentence and a place of burial, symbolizing Paedyn's impending doom and the weight of history.
Dance as Intimacy and Bargain: The dance becomes a transactional exchange (answer for a dance) but evolves into a moment of genuine vulnerability and shared memory.
Masks and True Self: Kai's admission about Ava and his thumb-kissing ritual reveals the man behind the Enforcer's mask, while Paedyn's exposed hair symbolizes her loss of disguise.
Grief and Memory: Both characters carry grief—Paedyn for her father, Kai for Ava—and the dance becomes a way to honor those memories.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the emotional stakes of the journey. It provides crucial backstory for Kai, humanizing him and explaining his connection to Paedyn. The dance scene is a turning point in their relationship, moving from antagonism to a fragile trust. Paedyn's realization about her Ordinary nature and her attempt to flee highlight her desperation, while Kai's choice to share his past signals a shift in his priorities. The chapter also establishes the Sanctuary of Souls as a symbolic and literal threshold, raising the tension as they move closer to the unknown.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Paedyn try to turn the horse back toward Dor, and what stops her?

Paedyn sees the Sanctuary as her death sentence and hopes to escape her fate by returning to Dor. She attempts to take the reins while Kai sleeps, but he wakes and stops her, reminding her that she wouldn't have made it far. His intervention forces her to confront the reality that she has no other option but to continue with him.

2. What does Kai's habit of kissing Ava's thumbs reveal about his character?

It reveals his deep love for his sister and his grief over her death. The ritual was a way to give her strength, showing his protective nature and his willingness to share his power. His admission that he hasn't kissed a thumb since Ava's death until Paedyn's suggests that Paedyn has broken through his emotional walls, making him vulnerable.

3. How does the dance scene symbolize the shift in Paedyn and Kai's relationship?

The dance begins as a bargain—a transactional exchange for information—but becomes a moment of genuine intimacy. Kai lifts Paedyn onto his boots, dancing for her, which mirrors her father's actions and allows her to feel safe. The chain that tangles around her legs reminds them of their bond, but the dance itself represents a choice to trust each other, even as they know the inevitable end.