This has been quite the topic of conversation recently. In fact, in my last theory post about the relationship between dragons, gods, colors, and isles, I traced a pattern suggesting that each dragon corresponds to a “house,” so to speak.

Almost like one color, one god. It makes sense, but there are still some holes in that theory. What about the brown dragons? What about the fliers? They seem to wear brown, right? Are the irids related to the venin? Hedeon? Or are they truly neutral, as they preach?

Despite the missing connections between all dragons, their corresponding colors, and the isles, one thing is certain: they are deeply connected to the gods. Even if they don’t quite like it…

“What, dragons don’t think we need the gods on our side?”
“Dragons pay no heed to your puny gods.”

—

“Thank you, Zihnal.” I lean forward as tears streak from the corners of my eyes. “I know, I know. Dragons pay no heed to our gods.”
Tairn snorts, following a pattern of swirls similar to his own.

Hmmm. I can’t help but wonder what the rest of the dragons think of the gods. Is it just Tairn who thinks them puny?

Could it be that the dragons are angry with the gods for leaving them behind to fight? So many questions, and honestly, I don’t have enough answers. I wrote a theory about why I think Tairn is actually very special and another about why dragons might be evil—or at least evil-adjacent.

But after rereading the ending of Onyx Storm over and over again, I came to an odd conclusion. And this might outrage you, but what if Rebecca Yarros has been telling us this all along?

Humans are dragons’ pets. They use humans for their own gain.

What if dragons turned their backs on the gods, much like how Theo turned her back on Dunne?

Let’s back up a little.

“Why serve a god when you can be one?” Theophanie snarls.

What if dragons were once channeling from the Gods, and eventually discovered they can channel on their own?

Now let’s talk a little bit about Theo and what killed her. Theo had been dedicated to Dunne. For whatever reason, Violet never completed her dedication to Dunne—she had only been touched by Dunne. Quite a difference.

“And he gave me a weapon made of the fractured temple—a temple Theophanie can’t step inside.”

Why can’t Theo step inside Dunne’s temple?

Major Rorilee wrote in his book:

“There is no goddess more wrathful than Dunne. Entering Her temple will slice the soul from any attendant who has shunned Her grace.”

Two things to note here:

1. Slice the soul… Does Theo even have a soul left to be sliced? That would be interesting to know for our boy Xaden.
2. Theo wasn’t just venin—she had been something more. A high priestess.

What does this tell us? Even the most powerful venin can be killed by gods. So, gods’ power reigns above all.

Do you remember what Theo said before she died?

“Stone doesn’t kill venin.”

Now let’s go to Xaden’s POV.

“Holding two alloy-hilted daggers of his own as he approaches Panchek.”
“Berwyn stabs deep between the dragon’s scales, and it desiccates, green draining from its scales and shrinking in on itself to a husk. […] Berwyn just killed a dragon with a dagger. How the fuck is that possible?”

I’ll tell you how I think that’s possible…

Pieces of temple. Or alloy imbued with stolen power from the gods. Because only gods’ power can kill a Maven as strong as Theo with something as trivial as a dagger made of stone. And I suspect the same applies to dragons.

If dragons did steal from the gods—much like how venin steal magic—then there’s a good chance that something as seemingly insignificant as a dagger, imbued with power from a god, could easily kill a dragon.

That certainly complicates things. As Jack Barlow said “You conveniently see me as the villain, but you’re bonded to two.“

And considering we suspect the venin are connected to Hedeon, he might just be the god who continues to grant them power in those daggers, to kill dragons.