Page 206 of On Wings of Blood

My jaw clenched, my gaze going back to the enormous semi-translucent veil projected overhead where the area’s enchantment would soon begin to reveal the consorts’ journeys.

Other teams would be working together, pooling their strengths. Pendragon would have to rely on her instincts–and on my blood coursing through her veins.

“Regan’s been sharpening her knives for weeks now,” Theo muttered beside me. “Think she has a chance?”

I knew he didn’t mean Regan. He hated the woman. We both knew she was about to openly defy me. Despite the humiliation that would bring, on the one hand, Regan’s defiance would play into exactly what I wanted.

On the other hand, Pendragon had a lot to lose.

I clenched my hands into fists on my knees.

The consorts would have been taken from their beds in the dead of night, drugged, and brought to a special dormitory reserved for the sole purpose of the games, located on a small island not far from Bloodwing.

Right about now, they’d be waking up. Professor Wispwood would be casting an enchantment over each one. The spell would allow everyone in the arena to see what the consorts experienced, permitting us to become spectators.

The island wasn’t designed to kill. But accidents always happened. Every year, a few consorts died. Either from sheer stupidity or bad luck.

I hadn’t answered Theo’s question. I didn’t want to admit just how worried I was. But I suspected he could sense it.

Around us, the usual crowd of highbloods and blightborn were taking their seats. I saw a number of faculty members sharing a row together. There was Rodriguez, the bastard, lookingcompletely unconcerned as he sat down next to Professor Sankara. I knew he wanted Pendragon to get through this as badly as I did, and yet when I’d practically begged him to help me give her some kind of an advantage he’d claimed he’d already done what he could.

Some of the highbloods in the arena were consorts in their second or third year, or beyond. They’d already passed the Games. Now they were settling in to watch this one as entertainment. They had nothing to worry about. They could sit beside their co-consorts and their archons, knowing their places were secure.

Who would I be sitting beside when this was all over?

A figure striding down the rows of stone caught my attention. Vaughn Sabino. He looked as if he’d recovered well from the injuries Coregon had dealt him. I’d made some inquiries. I knew he still had a chance of making it as a scout.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Theo notice Vaughn. His whole body stiffened. He shifted away from the aisle uncomfortably as Vaughn passed.

Something in my gut twisted. I knew Theo had liked Vaughn. Before everything had gone to hell.

“Have you seen Sabino lately?” I risked asking.

Theo’s eyes shot towards mine, giving me a black look that could have melted stone. “Why? You going to report me to dear Uncle Viktor?”

I frowned. “Theo, I didn’t... Is that really what you think?”

“Don’t bother,” he snapped. “I doubt Vaughn ever wants to talk to me again after what he went through. Wasn’t that the entire fucking point?”

“I didn’t tell Coregon to do what he did,” I said, lowering my voice.

“The Prince of the Blessed Blood doth protest too much. But, sure. Whatever you say, old boy,” Theo said tightly. I wasn’t sure he believed me but I was also getting sick of denying his accusations. “I was supposed to learn my lesson, right? Like a good little boy. Stay away from the bad blightborn boy forever. Or was it all males in general?” His lips twisted cruelly, distorting his normally easygoing features in a way I hated to see. “Don’t worry. You and Coregon made sure of that.”

Guilt hit me square in the chest. I hadn’t known what Coregon was going to do. But I sure hadn’t warned Theo about any of it when I’d had the chance. Viktor had made it clear that Theo’s dalliances with other males were not going to be tolerated within our house.

“I suppose I should just be grateful Coregon didn’t punish me, too. Is that it?” Theo said, half-snarling, half-hissing the words. “Should I be grateful, Blake?”

“He wouldn’t have fucking dared,” I said automatically.

“So you’d protect me, is that it? But not someone like Vaughn?”

“I had no idea what was going to happen to Sabino. I swear,” I growled. “Coregon stepped out of line. He’s gone now, isn’t he? But if you expect me to protect every man you get a crush on...”

I was being cruel. Cruel and unfair. And I knew it.

I saw Theo flinch.

“Don't worry,” he said coolly. “Do you really think I’d risk stealing some happiness for myself if it could result in another person's disfigurement, dismemberment, or decapitation? I’m not that shallow. No, I’ll just follow your example and be fucking miserable doing whatever Uncle Viktor tells us to do. Isn’t that your great plan?”

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