Page 48 of On Wings of Blood

“Then what?” I demanded. “I’m so delectable none of you can resist me?”

In an instant, a solid weight had slammed into me and my back was pressed up against a wall.

My heart was pounding. I struggled feebly against Blake as his body held me in place but he was hard as a rock and just as stubborn. I tried to lift a knee to kick out at him, but he’d spread my legs, positioning himself between them.

“It’s not a fucking joke.” Blake’s voice was raspy in my ear.

A shiver raced down my spine.

“You need to take this seriously,” he breathed. “Or you won’t last a week here.”

“And you’d care if I didn’t?” I gave a laugh that came out sounding braver than I felt. “Please. Don’t pretend you care if I live or die.”

He didn’t move.

His body was solid. A warm mass pressed against me. If I breathed in, I knew exactly what I’d smell. Green apples. A faint hint of mint. Something underlying it all, like the pages of an old book. I hated that I knew all of that about him. It seemed so... intimate.

Intimacy with Blake Drakharrow was the last thing I wanted.

“What are you doing?” I hissed. “Get off me. Or is this it? You’re going to feed from me now?”

“I’m not...” His voice sounded strangled. Like it was taking everything he had not to do exactly like I’d said.

He stepped away from me and I let out a breath.

“I’m not permitted to feed from you. Our bond isn’t strong enough. And unlike some, I actually believe in honoring the laws of the Bloodmaiden.”

I smirked. “Good.” I started to turn away.

“Our bond isn’t strong enough for me to feed from you...” he added. “Yet.” He sneered. “Let’s go.”

I’d missed the library session, which was arguably the only class I’d really been looking forward to.

I’d been curious to meet Florence’s mother and see what she was like. Hopefully Librarian Shen wouldn’t mind if I came by at another time to learn the ropes.

Not that I thought I’d need a lot of help. The castle in Camelot had a huge library. I hadn’t spent a great deal of time there but I knew the basics.

Blake had taken me straight into enemy territory when he’d brought me to the healer. House Drakharrow had its own separate area in the castle complex. A huge tower housed all of the Drakharrow students. Not just the highbloods, but also thestudents who had already passed First Year and been selected into House Drakharrow.

I still wasn’t sure how all of that worked, but the thought of actually living in the same tower as Blake next year was disconcerting.

Already I couldn’t wait to get back to the First Year tower where I could retreat to my safe, cozy little room and simply be alone.

After getting me to the Drakharrow infirmary, Blake had disappeared. A surprisingly nice young woman who had said she was a healer’s apprentice had led me to a bed and examined me. Then she’d called one of the official healers over and together they’d consulted on my treatment.

Apparently, House Drakharrow made a point of keeping at least one healer arcanist on staff at all times. Which is why when I left the infirmary, not only was my broken nose set and no longer bleeding, but my ribs were already rapidly healing.

I’d have to return again the next day for a follow-up, but they’d released me in time to get to the headmaster’s Commencement Address.

As I left the infirmary, Blake was nowhere to be seen. Apparently now that I was no longer actively bleeding, I didn’t require an escort.

All of the students in the halls were heading the same way, so I simply followed them.

When we reached the Dragon Court, I drew in my breath.

I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting exactly. But... not this.

A covered walkway formed a square around a central, wide courtyard open to the sky. The walkway was lined with tall, pillared arches that framed the view of the courtyard, where bright green grass was visible.

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