Page 121 of On Wings of Blood

Lysander Orphos had two challengers to subdue before he took up the mantle of House Leader for Orphos. I hadn’t really thought he’d had it in him, to be honest. He and his sister both looked so, well, fragile, sensitive. But he’d proved me and all his other detractors wrong that day. He’d killed with grace.

As for Kage Tanaka, only one highblood in House Avari had been stupid enough to challenge him. That fool was eliminated quickly and in the most stylistic way I’d ever seen. Kage was an incredible fighter and a strong leader. He was more cunning than either Catherine, with her brute force, or Lysander, with his daydreamy attitude. Tanaka would be a powerful ally some day. But in the meantime, we had an almost friendly rivalry. Things were less boring at Bloodwing with Tanaka around. He knew how to keep me on my toes. Like with his hilarious play at the bonfire that night. He’d evidently lost patience with Kiernan. Killing the lackey had practically been doing Tanaka a favor.

“Is this what we have become?” Headmaster Kim’s voice had turned sharper, almost mocking. “Are we so weak, so cowardly, that none of you dare to rise to this challenge? What has happened to our legacy? To the blood that demands we fight for our place?”

My lips curled in a half-smirk, but my stomach twisted slightly at Kim’s words. They were a dig. My very lack of challengers was casting a shadow over my ascension today. It made the victory feel hollow.

Never mind the fact that taking anyone on at this point would have been... bothersome. What Pendragon lacked in strength and speed, she made up for in raw chaotic force. Our fight had taken more out of me than I wanted to admit, even though I had to stand here now and pretend like I hadn’t been impacted in the slightest. She’d pushed me hard. I wasn’t fully spent but I wasn’t where I’d have wanted to be to take on a challenger. Fortunately I wouldn’t have to.

The problem was, I hadn’t been feeding enough. I had to do so. Soon. I pushed the thought away and tried to concentrate on what Kim was saying.

“Blake Drakharrow stands here today, unchallenged,” the headmaster continued. The man was getting on my nerves. Just wrap things up already. “Not because he is unworthy of a fight, but because none among his house has the courage to face him.”

I glared at the back of the headmaster’s head. Kim was taking it a little too far. I wouldn’t stand to have my house shamed and it felt like that was exactly what he was trying to do. Make us out to be a bunch of cowards. When the reality was no one dared to challenge me because they knew it was pointless. They’d die. I’d put them down like the dogs they were.

It was better to defer to me than to waste their life needlessly. Just like with a wolf pack, my house of highbloods knew I was their alpha. I’d made that clear from the start. I’d done my duty when I’d served my brother Marcus as his second. I’d been loyal. Even though it’d killed me sometimes.

Then, when Marcus graduated, I’d made it clear that they all were to submit to me. And they had. I had to admit, Regan had been useful then. But of course, she’d wanted me in charge because that meant she gained status, too.

I’d had to kick a few asses to get everyone in line, but then it had been relatively peaceful. There was absolute loyalty among our house now. I’d have accepted nothing less.

Of course, the one outlier was Pendragon. But she was a First Year. When she came to Drakharrow Tower next year, she’d have to shape up. She’d risk embarrassing me even worse than she already had otherwise.

I smothered a yawn, as my mind continued to drift, tuning out the speech. I’d already won, hadn’t I? I was moments away from receiving the gold pin. This was all just a formality. A reward for a position I’d never had any doubt I’d take.

Let’s get this over with. My gaze wandered back to Pendragon.

Then I heard it. A growl. So soft I didn’t think anyone else had even noticed.

My body tensed immediately. I recognized the sound.

My eyes darted to Pendragon’s legs where my black canvas bag rested on the ground by her feet.

Neville–a stupid name but it was what I’d taken to calling the fluffin–had poked his head out. He was looking at me and growling, his tiny pointed teeth bared.

For a moment, I was shocked. Then I realized he wasn’t growling at me.

Neville was looking behind me.

My reflexes kicked in just in time. I twisted to the side.

A blur of motion. A rush of air. A flash of silver.

Pain exploded along my side as I was thrown forward, sprawling face first onto the stone floor. For a few moments, I was disoriented. Ears ringing. Mind struggling to catch up with the sudden attack.

Who the fuck would dare...

The knife was yanked out of my side unceremoniously.

I groaned but pushed down the pain, using the same moment to flip onto my back, adrenaline surging as I locked eyes with my opponent.

For a moment, time froze.

Coregon.

The disbelief must have shown on my face because Coregon smirked. It was such an unusual expression for someone I’d thought of as a loyal follower. No, a friend.

Something in my heart sank. This was real. This was happening.

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