There’s no way Tairn would have…

… allowed the mating bond between him and Sgaeyl to have been severed or modified in any way.

I’ve seen some theories suggesting this and I feel I somehow can’t get behind it. I think it’s way more likely it was Xaden and Sgaeyl’s bond that was broken. 

1) There is no way Tairn wouldn’t have killed Xaden on the spot for even suggesting he break his bond with Sgaeyl. Tairn was pretty open with Vi about how much he resented Xaden’s decision throughout OS. There is also no way Tairn survives the loss of the mating bond given what we know about how attached he is to both mate and rider

2) But more importantly, there is no way Xaden would ever even ask this of Sgaeyl. He was sad when Sgaeyl was suffering in the isles without magic. His heart was breaking for her even more at his mom’s place because she was going crazy worrying about him. Do we really think he can bear the thought of Sgaeyl breaking her mating bond with Tairn? For him in his current condition, no less? “I would never” in Xaden’s own words

3) The terror he felt seeing what the Sage did to Panchek’s dragon and what he was about to do to Sgaeyl was the trigger for Xaden to fully turn. There’s no way he will risk Sgaeyl being near Berwyn again, especially since it seems like his Sage will have more control over him as an asim now

4) After Xaden’s done channeling in Chapter 65, he says to Sgaeyl “Will you forsake me now?” She responds with “What is there left of you to forsake?” At which point, he lowers his shields, lets her in and says “You tell me”. I think this is him asking her to sever the bond with him to keep her safe in addition to suggesting the marriage plan to Vi. 

5) Severing his bond would keep Sgaeyl safe and allow her to be at Tairn’s side, keep Violet safe as she can’t be targeted as a way to kill him, and lets him go undercover with the venin.

6) Tairn needed a cycle of rest because of the reflected pain Sgaeyl must be in after her bond with Xaden was severed.

As much as I hate that any bond was broken, it somehow hurts more to contemplate that Tairn and Sgaeyl aren’t bonded anymore. I’m terrified for what it means for Xaden if his bond with Sgaeyl was broken though, as this would mean he would need to keep channeling to wield his signet without Sgaeyl and this would just fast track his progression. How far will RY take it? Will he get to the level of Sage? All the way to Maven? I am personally hoping he doesn’t progress beyond asim 😭🥹.