Page 239 of On Wings of Blood

Blake’s expression hardened. “I don’t need to ask you.”

I think that was the moment my heart cracked.

I stared at him. “I beg your pardon? I think I just misheard you.”

“You must know this is the next logical step,” he insisted. “It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

I shook my head. “The next step? The next step would be... I don’t know. A walk. Dinner. More talking, less fighting.” I put my hands to my head. “Not you taking mybloodwithout asking.”

His handsome face flushed.

“Anyhow, don’t you have blood brothels for that? Thralls? Willing blightborn? You don’t need to do this.”

“I don’t need a blood brothel. Or a thrall. Not anymore. I only need you.”

“Is that supposed to be romantic?” I gave a harsh laugh. “It’s not working for me.”

“It’s the truth. We’re bonded. I don’t need to ask to take what’s mine.” His eyes were wild. He was hungry. How long had he gone without blood, I suddenly wondered. I knew he hated touse thralls. When was the last time he had fed? How long could a highblood go without feeding?

“You’re insane if you think that’s true,” I said coldly. “I’m not yours. I am not your property.”

He took a step towards me and I held up my hand in warning.

“Just listen,” he pleaded. But there was no hint of apology in his voice. “From the moment your lips touched my blood and from the moment mine touched yours, the bond was complete. I can’t feed from anyone but you.”

“What did you just say?” I stared at him as if I might be able to will fire from my eyes. “From the moment my lips touched your blood?”

He nodded slowly.

“You lied to me.” I was shaking with rage. “You said your blood would protect me. You said nothing about it speeding up this bonding process or whatever the hell this is.”

“I didn’t tell you. I couldn’t. I knew you’d say no.”

“You’re right,” I said. “I would have. You lied to me. What you did was a violation. I would never have drunk your blood if I had known that.”

“Then you would have died," he said bluntly. “I needed you to trust me. It was part of the process. You can’t force the bonding. Or it won’t be as strong.”

The words crashed down around me.

“Do you really think you would have survived against Regan? Against three highbloods, without my blood inside you?” Heshook his head. “You’re strong and you’re fast and you’re the smartest woman I know. But even you aren’t that good. You must have known, you must have sensed what my blood was doing for you.”

I said nothing. He was right and I knew it. But he was also deeply, horribly, troublingly wrong. So wrong.

I felt numb. I stared past him, my eyes landing on the black stone dragon of House Avari. A deep crack ran down its side. The tremors. The quakes must have been damaging the stone statues. I wondered if they could be repaired.

The crack called to me. Reflecting the one splitting my heart in two.

“That doesn’t excuse it,” I said, my voice low. “I deserved a choice. I still do.”

“If you don’t let me feed, I’ll die,” he said. “So what's your choice?”

“Die then,” I hissed. “Because I won't save you. Not like this.”

“I’ve saved your life, over and over again, Pendragon. I’ve killed for you. Bled for you. I did it willingly and I’d do it again.”

“I never asked you to do any of that,” I shouted.

“That’s what mates do for one another,” he shouted back. “Don’t you feel it? This... compulsion? We are bound, you and I.”

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