Page 103 of The Bond That Burns

To put it mildly, Marcus was an intimidating-looking man. Violence seemed built into his very bones.

I watched the pair together. Lunaya seemed completely at ease, her violent eyes almost sparkling as she listened to Marcus. I hoped she knew what she was doing. Marcus seemed like a creep. I wondered if Lysander knew who his sister was meeting.

Marcus turned his head, as Lunaya began walking up the hill back towards the castle. His gaze landed on me.

Instantly, the sweetness that had been in his smile as he looked down at Lunaya Orphos vanished, replaced by something cold and downright nasty. His eyes moved to Florence and he grinned slyly, as if in recognition.

My stomach churned and I stepped in front of my friend to shield her from view. “Come on,” I said abruptly, tugging on Florence’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, right,” Florence hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. “I guess I’d better take Neville back to my room. Unless we come across Blake.” She sounded hopeful. “Do you think he’d take Neville? I sometimes wonder if Neville respects me enough.”

My lips twitched. “You mean, respects you as his mother?”

“Well, it’s just that Neville doesn’t seem into quite the same amount of mischief with Blake,” Florence said consideringly.

“Blake is a little more intimidating than you are,” I agreed. I sighed. Seeing Marcus had brought me straight to a conclusion. “I need to talk to you. Right away. Just the two of us.”

Florence glanced at me, her expression puzzled. “About what?”

“Something important. Something you need to know.”

As we walked up the hill, I couldn’t help glancing back one last time. Marcus was still watching us, his gaze cool and calculating.

I turned away.

The Tribunal wanted to use Florence as a pawn. But my friend was the smartest, most capable person I knew. If anyone could handle the truth, it was her. Keeping her in the dark would be a disservice—and a betrayal.

She deserved to know the truth.

CHAPTER 26 - BLAKE

The winds tore across the cliffs, carrying the salt spray of the sea as waves crashed on the jagged rocks below. In the distance, I could make out the dark spires of the city of Veilmar.

An open field had been adapted for the Tribunal’s evaluation. Now spectators gathered along the edge of the cliffs waiting for the event to begin—as if it were some sort of entertainment and not a day of judgement. Most of them were here for the spectacle. They didn’t care what the stakes were. I hated them for that.

Pendragon and I had gone about our business separately the past week. I didn’t think she was avoiding me. Just distracted. We’d met the night before, just for a brief feeding. And by feeding, I meant we’d fucked and then she’d let me feed. I think it calmed her down. She’d fallen asleep in my bed before I’d even stopped drinking from her. I’d pulled out my fangs, tucked her in, even pulled a pair of my socks onto her feet because they felt too cold.

When I woke up in the morning, she was already gone.

I looked around me at the highbloods who had come from all over the region. There seemed to be even more there today then had been at the Tribunal hearing. Their rich clothing was a contrast to that of the simpler garb of the few blightborn who were scattered among them.

I stood at the edge of the crowd with my hands shoved into the pockets of the long black coat I wore. I’d ridden over here half an hour ago, tethering my horse far enough away that it wouldn’t be spooked when Nyxaris arrived.

Now I gazed around. An elevated platform had been erected in the center of the field. Rows of wooden chairs had been placed on it, along with tall banners that whipped in the wind and bore the sigils of the four great houses.

I scanned the gathering, finding some familiar faces. Professor Rodriguez stood to one side of the platform, his gray cloak billowing as he and Professor Sankara spoke to a petite blightborn woman who looked vaguely familiar. Then I realized who she must be. Jia Shen. Florence’s mother. She had the same dark hair and dark eyes as her daughter. I knew Jia worked as a librarian at the school, but I’d never spoken to her that I could recall. Now I watched as Rodriguez leaned down, his expression calm as he spoke over the wind. I knew he must be offering words of encouragement—I’d told him privately what role Florence would be playing here today. But despite Rodriguez and Sankara’s solid presences, Jia still looked fucking terrified. And no wonder, the poor woman.

I heard footsteps and turned to see Theo and Visha approaching, their expressions grim. Visha was rubbing her arms. She’d only worn a light jacket and looked as if she were freezing.

“Where’s Medra?” Theo asked, looking around. He seemed to have mostly forgiven me for the display I’d put on in the refectory that day. Though I realized with a pang that I hadn’t actually apologized. Maybe Pendragon had talked to him. I suddenly wondered if she’d told any of her friends—or our mutual ones—that we were screwing.

Though as the word crossed my mind, I suddenly realized it wasn’t one I liked. Fucking. Screwing. Those words weren’t enough to describe what was happening between us.

I shrugged, forcing myself to sound casual. “Probably already off with Nyxaris. Maybe the dragon wants to make a grand entrance.”

Theo nodded, but still looked nervous. “Well, I’m sure she’ll show up when they’re ready.”

I looked at my cousin, suddenly really seeing him for the first time in a long while. He looked thinner, paler. What had happened to the loud, jesting charmer I knew? He’d somehow vanished in the span of a year. Ever since our uncle had Vaughn Sabino beaten and nearly killed. I hadn’t exactly been helping the situation. I’d made Theo feel even less secure in the place he should have felt most at home at Bloodwing–House Drakharrow.

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