Page 47 of On Wings of Blood

We rounded a corner and suddenly came face to face with a group of students. They braked to a halt as they caught sight of Blake.

Walking behind the rest of his group came Kage Tanaka, the leader of House Avari who I’d seen in the refectory that morning.

I eyed him with interest. He stood tall, posture straight and commanding. His shock of white-blond hair was gathered into a neat queue at the back of his head, while the sides had been shaved close. Just above the collar of his black, silver trimmed uniform, I glimpsed the inked curve of a crescent moon curling along the side of its neck, dark lines stark against his skin.

His dark brown eyes flicked to mine with an intensity that seemed to take in everything, missing nothing.

Just like with Blake, there was a danger to Kage that was palpable. Simmering just beneath the surface. Coiled tight and ready to strike.

A student in front of me hissed and licked her lips.

Maybe the scent of blood was nothing to Blake. But these students were reacting to it, their nostrils flaring, their teeth snapping.

I moved to take a step back, but Blake’s grip on my arm held me in place.

“Well, well,” said a boy with spiked pale hair, stepping forward so he was directly in front of Blake and I. “Looks like someone’s having a little nosebleed.”

He gave me a look that seemed meant to be flirtatious. “Maybe I could help clean that up.”

“Get the fuck away from her, Kiernan,” Blake snarled. He glanced at Kage. “Call off your dogs, Tanaka. Or I’ll put them in line for you.”

Kage Tanaka shrugged slowly. His uniform fit him like a second skin, hugging the lean muscular lines of his body. He said nothing to the boy Blake had called Kiernan.

My body tensed. I could feel myself preparing for another fight.

Kiernan grinned. Then he darted forward.

Before he could even touch me, Blake moved, so quickly I could hardly see what happened next.

Then the boy was flying backwards. His back hit the stone wall and he slid to the floor, his hands clutching his neck. He stared up at us, eyes bulging. His mouth moved but no sounds came out.

“What the hell, Drakharrow? It was just a joke,” one of the girls at the front of the group said angrily. She moved to help Kiernan up.

“Do I look like I’m laughing?” Blake growled, his voice low and dangerous. His gray eyes were as sharp as a blade. I could feel his anger. It radiated off his body, barely restrained.

He moved forward, pulling me along with him, and the group of House Avari students parted quickly.

As we walked past Kage Tanaka, Blake nodded tersely.

Kage smiled slightly.

“Let’s keep moving,” Blake muttered, his tone flat. We turned the next corner and he released a slow breath and ran his free hand through his hair.

“What the hell was that about?” I hissed.

“No one can touch you,” he said shortly. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about it?” I laughed nervously. “That boy was about to... what? Drink me? Lick me? He only stopped because you punched him in the throat. Is this how it is for the blightborn? Every time I cut my finger, do I have to worry I’ll be swarmed?”

Blake glanced around us. “First Years have less restraint about feeding. But they’re supposed to keep their instincts in check and feed regularly to prevent a loss of control. That’s part of learning to be a highblood.”

“Funny, I’m not feeling reassured,” I muttered.

“They’re losing control for a reason.” He took a deep breath. “Because of your blood in particular. You’re not just any blightborn.”

I was silent for a moment. “You mean it’s because of my rider blood?”

“Something like that. None of us have known any other riders. But if this is how they smelled...” His voice trailed off. He eyedme, his eyes finally lingering on the blood crusted around my nose, coating my hand, my sleeve.

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