Page 17 of On Wings of Blood

“Well, you’ll have all of the perfumed baths you want now. But there’s far more to the bargain.”

“More than being chained to you for the rest of our lives? That is what those words meant, right?” I hesitated, then added, “And I’m not the only one, am I?”

“Oh, you noticed Regan, did you? She looked delighted, didn’t she?” He shrugged. “Don’t worry about her. I’ll see to it that she falls in line.”

“I won’t worry,” I said. “Because I don’t share. And I’m not your mate, no matter what your uncle or anyone else announced.”

“Keep telling yourself that. But you felt the binding. You had no choice. Neither did I. Do you really think I’d havechosenthis?” He looked me up and down, then shook his head. “You’re beneath me in every possible way. Whoever you are, whatever you are.”

I snarled, surprising myself. “Good to hear. Because you won’t be touching me at any point. Let’s get that straight. You certainly won’t bebreedingwith me.”

“I have no plans to touch you if you were the last woman in the Thralldom,” he snapped back, looking just as furious. “But if I did...”

“Yes, yes, I should feel ever so honored, ever so grateful. Is that what you like to tell yourself as a woman lies beneath you? You think to yourself howhonoredshe must feel? Gods, you’re a piece of work.” I shook my head. “I almost feel sorry for Regan.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Regan is thrilled to be my future consort. She doesn’t need your pity.”

“Right. I’m sure. So, what now?” I changed the subject abruptly. “Where are we?”

“Ah, yes, your second question. If you’re finished trying to convince yourself you aren’t bound to me...”

“I’m not, never will be.”

“Whatever. This–” He gestured around us. “Is Bloodwing Academy.”

I wrinkled my nose. “What?”

“An academy. A school. They do have those where you come from, don’t they?”

I glared at him. “I believe I’ve heard the words once or twice.”

“Good. I daresay it’s too much to hope you can read and write, too, and aren’t secretly some swine herder’s daughter.”

I smirked, trying not to let him get to me. “You have no idea.” I frowned. “Why does it matter though?”

“Because this is the school you’ll be attending. Beginning tomorrow.”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

“It’s the most exclusive institution in Sangratha. You should be...”

“Honored,” I supplied. “Funny how I’m not though.”

He started walking towards an arched stone walkway.

“Where are you going?” I demanded, running to catch up.

“I thought I’d show you a few important things. Like where your room will be. Where you’ll eat. And where you should be tomorrow morning when the bells ring to summon you to the first day of class.”

“Oh, really? And where will you be during all of this?”

“I’m a third year student,” he began. “So I’ll be...”

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. “You? You’re a student here? Aren’t you a hundred years old? I thought you were a vampire prince.”

He glared at me. “I’m closer to your age than you might think. And I may be a prince of my house, but even princes attend the Academy. Nobles from around the kingdom send their sons and daughters to Bloodwing. It’s not like a school for mortal children, like you may be thinking. This is a school for...” He searched for the right word. “Forging us into who we’ll be as adults. Establishing us as the most powerful elite of Sangratha. We are the kingdom’s future rulers, after all.”

I eyed him up and down, taking in his lean, well-muscled frame. “You look pretty adult to me already.”

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