Page 173 of On Wings of Blood

I scanned the crowd and found Florence. She sat at a table near the stage with some other First Years, talking and laughing. I wondered what would happen between her and Naveen tonight. Would Naveen work up the courage to tell her how he really felt?

Belatedly, I realized Kage was offering me his hand.

“Shall we dance?”

CHAPTER 40 - BLAKE

Fuck me.

That was the first thought that went through my head as I saw her walk into the room in a dress that seemed to silently scream at me “please peel this off my stunningly beautiful body.”

My reaction was visceral. Like a punch to the heart. An immediate tightening in my chest.

Then I saw the colors she was in. Black and silver. The shades of House Avari.

And next to her? Looking so smug I wanted to knock his perfect white teeth out? None other than fucking Kage Tanaka.

My eyes honed back in on Pendragon. What was she wearing around her neck?

A silver half-moon pendant. A mark. A claim. Kage may as well have branded her with his fangs.

I clenched my jaw so tight I thought it might break.

The dress, the necklace, the sight of Kage there by her side. It was a power play. Kage was flaunting her. We’d always been rivals. He was the only one at the school anywhere close to being at my level.

Now he was trying to deliberately provoke me.

Well, it’d worked. He’d triggered something so primal and possessive inside of me that I could barely keep it under control.

Kage turned to say something to Pendragon and I saw his eyes linger over her cleavage. I wanted to stab his fucking eyes out for even daring to look. How could he look at her like that when she so obviously belonged to me?

No matter how furious I felt, I couldn’t deny one thing.

Pendragon was the most stunning woman in the room.

I could hardly tear my eyes away from her.

And yet I knew I had to. Because I could feel Regan’s jealous eyes boring into me. In another minute, others would start to notice my obsessive attention and I’d look like even more of a laughingstock.

Regan’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Blake, darling,” she purred, tugging at my sleeve. “You’re staring.”

I ignored her, watching as Kage led Pendragon through the crowd and over to one of the tables reserved for House Avari.

Regan’s hand slid over my chest, her touch unwelcome but persistent.

“Blake, you’re not listening to me,” she said, her voice sulky.

I forced myself to look away.

Regan smiled up at me. “That’s better. The dancing is about to begin.”

“I'm not interested,” I said coldly.

Regan huffed in annoyance. “You’re being such a bore tonight, Blake.”

“And you’re being a petulant bitch, as always,” I snapped cruelly. “I didn’t invite you here, so don’t look so hurt. Go find someone else to bother.”

I turned away, but not before I saw her face fall. My mood had soured. Suddenly, I didn’t want to be near anyone. I stepped into the crowd and began to prowl the edges of the room.

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