Page 16 of On Wings of Blood

“Medra Pendragon is hereby declared the Second Betrothed Consort of Prince Blake Drakharrow,” Lord Drakharrow was decreeing to the crowd. “She is not to be touched. If she is fed upon, there will be slaughter. All in this hall have been warned.”

The vampire’s voice was cold. Yet for once, I was grateful for the power that lay behind it. Only a fool would have messed with that terrifying old man. I hoped none of the people licking their lips at the sight of my wet blood would be that stupid.

Then it dawned on me. The word he had used.

SecondBetrothed.

Who was the first?

Then our eyes met.

A trickle of blood ran down her chin where she had bitten her lip clean through in silent fury. As I watched, she lifted a hand and wiped away the red streak, never taking her eyes from my face.

There was no doubt in my mind who Blake Drakharrow’s First Betrothed was.

Regan Pansera.

CHAPTER 3 - MEDRA

Blake Drakharrow strode down the stone hall ahead of me.

He had let go of my hand as soon as his uncle had finished speaking. Evidently he had decided I wasn’t a flight risk at this point.

He’d spoken a few words with his uncle in private then stormed back out of the Keep, gesturing for me to follow.

He’d led the way back into the courtyard where he’d gestured to a soldier to give me a horse, then mounted his own.

We had ridden, not to some other part of the large castle complex as I had expected, but back over the iron bridge and to the mainland. From there, we turned, crossing the iron bridge that led to the sprawling castle of onyx on the third island.

Only when we arrived at the outskirts of the place and Blake dismounted, did I do the same. I marched towards him, determined not to be silent any longer.

“Where are we and what the fuck just happened back there?”

He looked up from his horse slowly. “Foul mouth you have.”

“You haven’t heard anything yet,” I said sweetly. “Please don’t tell me you took all of that bullshit seriously.”

“I did. I do.” He paused. His jaw twitched with tension. “And yes, we are.”

I spoke through clenched teeth. “We are what?”

“You know exactly what. Betrothed.” He raised one perfectly shaped white brow. “I can tell you’re excited. I’m not surprised. Most women would be.”

“Excited?” I exploded, ignoring his ill-fated attempt at humor. “When and if I wed, I’ll choose my mate. He won’t be chosen for me by some...”

“What?” Blake turned on me, his gray eyes suddenly clouded with wrath. “By the most powerful vampire in the Thralldom? Do you have any idea, any clue at all what just happened back there?”

“Why don’t you enlighten me? It’s obvious you’re dying to.”

“You were just elevated beyond the mundane.”

I snorted with laughter. “Is that what you’d call it?”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how many blightborn women would literally kill to be in your place right now? I found you on a pile of corpses.” He sniffed the air with his hawkish nose, and his aristocratic features twisted in disgust. “You still reek of them.”

I crossed my arms self-consciously. He was right. That didn’t mean he wasn’t also a bastard for saying so.

“I haven’t exactly had a chance to take a bath. Someone was dragging me around in chains, as you’ll recall,” I pointed out.

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