Page 84 of On Wings of Blood

Florence looked relieved. “Sure. I wouldn’t mind going back now. It’s getting late.”

Theo looked back and forth between us with an incredulous expression. “What are you girls talking about? You just got here. The night is young. You can’t leave.” His face turned serious. “Look, I understand, okay? Regan got her claws into you before I saw you. She’s not the most hospitable.”

I laughed hollowly. “You could say that.”

“But you can’t run from her. That’s exactly what she wants you to do.”

I bristled. “I’m not running.”

“Seeing you leave when you just got here will make Regan very happy,” Theo countered. “Besides, she’s just jealous of you, Medra.”

“Jealous?” I sputtered. “Of what? She clearly hates me.”

“Of course, she hates you,” Theo said, grinning. “She hates anyone who she thinks is a threat. Actually, she hates most everyone so that’s not quite true. But you, she definitely sees as a threat. You should be flattered.”

“Her life seems pretty perfect so I don’t see how I’m a threat.” I shrugged. “She knows I don’t want her boyfriend and he certainly wants nothing to do with me.”

“Blake wants nothing to do with Regan either so it sounds like you’re all in the same boat,” Theo said.

I shook my head. “No, that can’t be true.”

Theo glanced around to see if anyone was nearby. “Look, she and Blake are on the rocks.”

I eyed him skeptically. “No way. I saw them in the library the other day. They looked like the perfect happy couple.” I glanced across the fire at where Regan still stood. She was surrounded by a different group of highblood students now. She had regained her poise and seemed to be animatedly telling a story. The entire group around her was laughing. “They seem perfect for each other, too.”

Perfectly awful.

“I know exactly what you must have seen, but believe me, it’s all bullshit,” Theo said. “Blake plays along because he has to. His uncle wants him to. But it’s just for show.” Under his breath, he half-muttered, “He’s fucking miserable most of the time.”

I was a little shocked but refused to show it. I wasn’t going to show a smidgen of pity for Blake Drakharrow. So his betrothal to the most beautiful and popular highblood girl in the school wasn’t going so well? As if he couldn’t get out of the situation if he actually wanted to.

“Regan can’t handle rejection though. She thinks she can actually make Blake want her,” Theo went on.

I shrugged. “Maybe it’ll work. After all, they seem to have a lot in common. They’re both full of themselves, bigoted, and cruel. The perfect match.”

“You don’t know Blake as well as you think you do, Medra. He’s my cousin. I grew up with him,” Theo said. He shook his head, a little sadly.

“Next you’re going to tell me he’s not that bad,” I said, my temper flaring. “He’s an asshole, Theo. And honestly, you’re not that much better in my books. I really don’t know why we came.”

“You came because I’m so charming,” Theo said, shooting a winsome smile at me. “And it’s a good thing you did, because who else is going to tell you all of the things you need to know?” He looked around covertly. “Look, you could get killed here, Medra. Believe it or not, I don’t want that. I don’t think Blake does either.”

I felt a prickle of unease. “What things do I need to know?”

“Like what it really means to have Regan as an enemy,” Theo said, his voice low. “It changes everything. Consorts are supposed to...”

Florence rose to her feet.

“Florence?” I asked.

She took one step across the sand, then another.

I rose to my feet and looked down at Theo. “I guess we’re leaving. We’ll have to talk another time.”

“Medra...” Theo was watching Florence, a look of alarm on his face.

I glanced back at my friend. Florence was walking at a steady pace. She hadn’t spoken or looked back at me since standing up.

And she was walking straight towards the bonfire.

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