Page 148 of On Wings of Blood

“What do you mean?” he asked, not even pausing to look back at me.

“I mean...”

“You mean you followed me,” he interrupted. “You followed me into a place you had no business being and where you had no chance in hell of being able to take care of yourself.”

There was no point denying it. Still, “You’re sayingyouhad a right to be there? You snuck out of school. You wouldn’t have snuck out if you’d been allowed to leave.”

“No one would have stopped me.”

“Then you snuck out because you didn’t want anyone to see where you were going. Why?” I thought of the girl. “Why use a sellblood? I thought House Drakharrow had its own thralls.”

A pause. “We do.”

“Then why not feed from them?” I asked. “Or does it just get you off to go to brothels?”

“Why not mind your own fucking business?” He shot back. “Oh, wait. You can’t. You’re clearly obsessed with me.”

“I beg your pardon?” I sputtered. “I don’t think so.”

“Really? Then why follow me? No, not just follow me. Why follow me all the way into The Drained Rose? You could have gone anywhere in Veilmar, but instead, you were in the next room over. Did you watch me feed, Pendragon?”

He stopped and turned around, holding the lamp up higher so he could see my face.

I felt my face flushing. Godsdammit.

He sneered. “You did. Youwatchedme. And you fucking liked it.”

He took a step towards me and I backed up.

“Stop it,” I said automatically. “Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what? Come near you? Why not? When it’s obvious you want me to. Why can’t you admit it, even to yourself?”

My blush deepened. I felt furious with myself. “In your wildest dreams, Drakharrow. Not every woman on earth wants you.”

“Not every woman, no. But you do.” He smirked. “Did you watch the entire time I was feeding? Or did you look away? Was it too much for you?”

I didn’t answer.

He lowered his voice, looking at my neck. “I can give you the same pleasure I gave her. Anytime you want. All you have to do is say the word. Just one little word. ‘Please.’”

I snapped. “No fucking way. Keep your hands and fangs off me. Besides, you’re not allowed to take blood from me. You said so yourself.”

His smirk deepened. “You don’t even know how it works.”

“Then tell me,” I demanded.

He shook his head. “No way. It’s more fun like this. Maybe someday you’ll figure it out.”

I refused to beg him for information. “Fuck you, Blake.”

“Now who’s dreaming, Pendragon?” He laughed.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” I said, stabbing my finger into his chest. “I’m not yours. I don’t know how to get it through that thick highblood skull of yours...”

“Oh, so you admit I’m thick?” He smirked again.

I threw up my hands. “I’m not yours. Stop saying that word around me. It gives me the creeps. You and that word.Mine. I’m not yours. I never will be.”

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