I think I’m on to something.. OS SPOILERS

Okay, so like many, I’ve been thinking to myself.. Is it Bodhi, or Garrick that turned at the end of OS? Well. Now after a re-read, I think that’d be too obvious.

So, we know that Aaric has been manifesting the entire book right? If Aaric has been manifesting the entire time, then he obviously knows about Xaden. Xaden said he has some ‘weird loyalty toward him’ so.. Aaric knows Xaden is Venin.

Then, Aaric is seen flying with Molvic AWAY from the battle, and Violet says to Tairn that that isn’t like him, and Tairn agrees saying that Molvic wouldn’t run either. So, where would he be going?

Answer? The Valley, with the sage. Right where Xaden gets pulled to.

Let’s think here, Xaden was not devastated or overly upset seeing his new brother laying on the floor. I think he would have been far more emotionally affected if it was Garrick or Bodhi considering they’re his family. It’s more shock than anything, which Aaric turning would be shocking. WHY would Aaric turn when the whole reason he joined the riders quadrant in the first place was to fight the Venin instead of sitting in the castle being complicit in hiding it from the public?

He’s a precog babyyyy! I think Aaric had a vision a la Dr Strange in Infinity War, where the only outcome to save everyone was to turn so he could dismantle the Venin from the inside with Xaden.

He’s unaccounted for at the end of OS, there wasn’t much attention drawn to him during the final battle apart from the fact he was seen flying AWAY from the fray. RY wouldn’t leave that detail in for no reason.

Aaric turned to help Xaden from the inside and defeat the Venin.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.