Page 22 of On Wings of Blood

“A little. I mean, not in a bad way,” she said hastily. “But you are fairly easy to spot.”

“And all of the other students, down in the...”

“The common room,” Florence provided. “We all share that space.” I appreciated how she made sure to emphasize “all.”

“Right. Down in the common room. They didn’t look very pleased to see me.”

“Well...” Florence chewed her lip as if buying the time to formulate a diplomatic response. “This all happened very fast. For you, I mean. Many students spend years preparingthemselves before applying to Bloodwing. Most are never accepted.”

“So everyone is just dying to be here?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t say that.” She glanced back into the hall then lowered her voice. “Every year there are a few who don’t wish to come. Some students had no choice.”

“What do you mean?” I said, narrowing my eyes. “They were forced to come here?”

“Some would have been taken by force if they refused the summons, yes,” she confirmed reluctantly. “But their families would have been compensated, I’m sure. Sangratha does not believe in wasting precious talent.”

“And what if they or their families resisted?” I pressed. “What then?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure. I don’t think it happens very often.” She looked almost hopeful.

“Right,” I muttered. “I’m sure the vampires were very gentle with the ones who didn’t want to come.”

But Florence either didn’t hear me or was pretending she didn’t. She’d crossed the room and now I watched as she flung open the doors of the wardrobe.

“As you can see, most of your clothes have been prepared. Not everything you need is here yet, but you should be able to find suitable attire for tomorrow’s first day of class,” she said with pride as she indicated a wardrobe filled with an assortment of clothes.

I saw cloaks, boots, tunics, dresses, trousers, and even a gown or two. Everything I could see bore the Bloodwing crest. It seemed I would be wearing the vampire school’s brand daily.

“Is there anything particular I need to wear tomorrow?” I asked, figuring it couldn’t hurt. I didn’t want to show up to a riding lesson in a short skirt, after all.

Florence shook her head. “Tomorrow’s Orientation Day. We’ll attend a few classes, and then there will be a welcome speech from the headmaster at the end of the day. You can wear anything you please. I don’t have your schedule yet, but it should be delivered here in the morning.”

She stifled a yawn. “Pardon me, Medra. It’s getting late and it’s been a long day. If you don’t need anything else, I think I’ll turn in.”

I thought of how my day had begun. Had it even been properly morning when I found myself on that heap of corpses? And now look at how it was ending.

At least there would be a bath.

“Of course,” I said quickly. “Thank you for showing me around. Do you mind if I tag along with you tomorrow? This school seems huge and I haven’t quite gotten my bearings yet.”

“You’d have been welcome to,” Florence said, beaming again. “But you won’t need my guidance. I’ve been informed that Regan Pansera herself is coming to pick you up in the morning and help you get through the first day of class. What an honor! She’s a very popular student. Being seen with her will be a huge boon.”

I planted a weak smile on my face. “Yes. Indeed.”

When Florence was gone, I flopped down on my new blue-velvet bed.

None of this felt real.

If I accepted that this was real, then it meant I was alive. I was betrothed. I was a hostage of vampires. And I was a student.

I gave a snort of laughter. I wasn’t sure which one of those things was more ridiculous.

I had never attended school. There were schools back home, in my city of Camelot, of course. But as a royal, I’d only had private tutors.

As for marriage? Back in Camelot, I’d been too young for it to even be talked about. Not to mention the fact that my kingdom had been in the midst of a war. But I had no doubt I’d have been permitted to choose my own partner, my own path.

I wondered if the war had ended with my death.

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