Page 169 of On Wings of Blood

“You don’t need to make an offering,” Blake said, his voice brusque. “You’re exempt. Like the highbloods.”

I frowned. Little did he know that was the worst possible thing he could have said to get me to do what he wanted. “But I thought...”

“Don’t think,” he snapped, gray eyes narrowing. “Get out of the line, Pendragon. Now. That’s an order.”

My heart raced as my natural defiance threatened to bubble up. Then I realized how stupid I was being. Of course, I didn't actuallywantto have to make an offering.

“Fine,” I muttered, stepping out of the line, with a shrug in Florence and Naveen’s direction. “What now?”

“Now you wait.” Blake smiled smugly. “Unless you’d prefer to enter the nave and pray quietly.”

“No, thank you,” I said quickly, managing to bite my tongue and not share what I really thought about the whole revolting proceedings.

I walked away from him to stand in a quiet recess flanked by two tall white marble pillars. As I leaned against the wall, I thought about Blake’s dismissive command. Kage was right. Blake didn’t respect me. Best scenario, we were trapped with one another. Worst case, he wanted to use me. Either way, I was determinedto break free. I might be stuck in this world, but that didn’t mean I had to be tied to him.

I froze as two familiar voices drifted towards me.

Regan and Quinn. The two girls must have finished their prayers at the altar and now were walking around the outer perimeter of the foyer, out of the professors’ earshot. If I stayed where I was, they wouldn’t be able to see me.

I quickly found myself caught up in their whispered conversation.

“Another boring offering night,” Quinn griped. “I can’t believe we have to wait while all of these cattle are bled.” I scowled, knowing she meant the blightborn. “My knees hurt from kneeling on that stone step. Do you think we prayed long enough?”

“We looked like perfectly pious highblood bitches,” Regan answered.

They both snickered.

“Besides,” Regan continued. “I’d have thought you’d be used to going down on your knees by now. I’ve heard it’s all you do for Edward Ashveil.”

“Don’t you dare judge me, bitch. It fucking worked, didn’t it?” Quinn said with a laugh. “He begged his father and I’ve been approved as one of his consorts. I’ll be in the Games with you this year. Making it nice and official.”

Oh, great. Quinn was going to be part of the Consort Games. I doubted that boded well for me.

“Are you going to the Adoration Rite this year?” Quinn asked Regan.

“I’m not invited. Not until I’m officially Blake’s consort,” Regan muttered. Interesting. So it wasn’t completely official yet. What Kage had claimed might be the truth. “I can’t believe it. It’s not like I’m some random blightborn. They know I’m with Blake. We’ve been betrothed for years. I’m entitled to attend.”

I suppressed a snort of laughter. She was entitled all right.

Quinn made a sympathetic noise.

“It's not fair,” Regan went on. I could practically picture her pouting. “Blake can go if he wants to. He’s Lord Drakharrow’s nephew and a House Leader. He can basically do whatever he pleases. But he says he can’t bring me with him.”

I wondered if Blake actually could but just didn’t want to.

“My father is going,” Quinn said. “He’s in Lord Drakharrow’s inner circle. He says this year will beveryexclusive. Lord Drakharrow has something special planned.”

“Well, exclusive or not,” Regan replied testily. “By next year I’ll be a full consort if all goes well at the Games. They won’t be able to keep me out.”

“I wonder who they’ve found to play the Bloodmaiden for the Rite this year,” Quinn mused. “She’s always lowborn trash, but some years I’ve heard she can be quite pretty. I’ve heard girls fight for the part. It’s a great honor for a blightborn girl.”

Regan scoffed. “Of course it’s an honor. She’s pampered before the rite, treated like she’s some sort of queen. No wonder theycompete just to be chosen. It’s the only time they hold any value in their entire pathetic lives.”

“But the girl never gets to go home,” Quinn pointed out, sounding almost doubtful.

“Please. She gets to stay in the Sanctum. With highbloods all around her. Living in luxury in the most holy place in Sangratha. A blightborn girl would never have it so good wherever she comes from. Most of them live in complete squalor, you know. Have you seen some of those hovels they call homes in Veilmar? Blightborn don’t deserve the honor, if you ask me,” Regan snapped.

My stomach twisted, but I stayed perfectly still, listening.

---