Xaden and Sgaeyl
I havent heard many comments on this
But I think Xaden is actually going insane prior to channeling.
Reasoning:
Obviously we know that Sgaeyl's last rider was Xaden's grandpa and its bad to bond a direct descendent because of the second signet or going crazy.
All the rebellion relic riders (or a lot of them) developed a second signet, so that alone would explain Xaden having two.
Leading me to think that he's actually going insane, but it has displayed as "love." Don't get me wrong I have adored him as a love interest, but when looking at it without a "awh this is so cute and hot and fun" lens, his actions teeters on obsession. Even before channeling he looks at Violet like she is his life source. In an IRL relationship that had been "official" for what... 3-6 months?* We'd say that it is CRAZY to act like that. (someone can correct my timeline, but from book 1-3 its only like 18 months right? 100% yes his life is tethered to hers, but we can't ignore some very odd behaviors from him when it comes to his feelings for her. Perhaps this level of insanity is also what pushed him to channel?
Maybe that's also why he states he could be okay with the loosing emotions, because the extreme feelings he is having from bonding a direct line dragon is actually tipping him to insanity and channeling is his own form of freedom??
IDK Just my thoughts! Curious if anyone else ever questioned this.
*This 3-6 month is just a rough estimate from when Violet and Xaden started being more public with their relationship and he started getting obsessive/possessive. Not the length of their relationship overall