Page 114 of The Bond That Burns

Ailith stared at me, then frowned. “Very well.”

She was beginning to look as if she couldn’t wait to get away from me. But I wasn’t finished. “Will he recover?” I asked, my voice tight as I looked at Theo, his chest rising and falling faintly with each breath.

Ailith pursed her lips. “He has a chance. But he’s very weak. Many of our techniques don’t apply to highbloods. When injured, their greatest resource is themselves. They’re usually quick to heal. The best way for him to recover would be to feed. But...” She shrugged. “He’s unconscious. He can’t take blood in this state. We’ll have to hope he wakes up soon.”

The implication was clear. Otherwise... I felt my heart tighten painfully in my chest. Blake was protecting Aenia, even though she’d done this to Theo—his own cousin. I wasn’t sure what that said about him. Something good or something terrible. Was he taking family loyalty too far? Or not far enough?

All of this was stirring up my own memories. Back in Camelot, my aunt and uncle had been ready to sacrifice themselves to save me and our people. Other good people had lost their lives protecting me.

For a while I’d been something of a wild, feral child. A little like Aenia. I’d never really hurt anyone though. At least, not intentionally. Still, the guilt of Odessa’s death would stay with me all my life. I’d made a foolish, childish mistake. And she’d paid the price.

The door to the infirmary suddenly opened and a tall, dark-skinned boy slipped inside. Vaughn Sabino. He wore a gold and purple armband that marked him as clearly belonging to House Orphos.

“I beg your pardon. What are you doing here?” Ailith snapped, marching straight towards him. “You seem to be lost, young man. I suggest you turn around and walk straight back to your own quarters...”

“Wait,” I interrupted, my voice hoarse. I cleared my throat. “He’s one of my friends. Vaughn is with me.”

The healer turned to me with a frown. “He’s not a member of House Drakharrow. You can’t receive visits from...”

“Look, you know who I am,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I’m Blake Drakharrow’s consort. I’m saying Vaughnstays. If you have a problem with it, I suggest you take it up with Blake. But I can assure you, he’ll side with me.”

Ailith’s mouth thinned, but after a moment, she nodded curtly and walked away, muttering something under her breath. Probably about how the dragon rider was as ungrateful and entitled as a highblood. I honestly wouldn’t have blamed her.

I leaned back against my pillows with a sigh and watched as Vaughn moved hesitantly towards Theo’s bedside, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice low. “How did you know Theo was even here?”

He looked over at me, his face troubled. “A note.”

I blinked. A note? My first thought was that it must have been from Florence. Though why wouldn’t she have just gone to Vaughn directly? Perhaps she was too exhausted. Or too afraid.

“From Florence?”

“No.” Vaughn shifted in his seat slightly. “From Blake.”

“Blake?” My head spun. “He sent you a note?”

Vaughn nodded. “He said Theo had been hurt.”

My heart sped up. “Did he tell you how?”

Vaughn shook his head. “Only that he’d been nearly drained and was in rough shape.” He hesitated. “Blake mentioned the healers had discovered Theo hadn’t been feeding himself properly.”

My eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Vaughn lowered his voice a little more. “Blake said Theo’s been starving himself. Apparently he hasn’t been using the house thralls unless it was absolutely necessary.”

I stared at him, trying to process this. “But why? And why ask you to come here?”

Vaughn’s face tightened. “I don’t know why, Medra. Unlike most highbloods, Theo seems to actually possess a conscience. We already knew that though, didn’t we?” He looked sad. Was he feeling regret for not giving Theo another chance? “But as for why Blake asked me to come here... If I had to guess, he probably hoped I’d be willing to try to feed Theo.”

The statement knocked the breath out of me. Blake had reached out to Vaughn. Blake Drakharrow, who hated to show any weakness or vulnerability. Blake had admitted he needed help. He’d not only admitted it, but it sounded as if he’d practically begged Vaughn to come. And yet the idea of asking Vaughn, of all people, who’d already been through so much, for a favor this immense... I swore under my breath.

Vaughn’s gaze had returned to Theo. Now his voice was soft as he spoke again. “I thought Blake was exaggerating. That it couldn’t be as bad as he’d made it sound. After all, I’ve never heard of something like this happening to a highblood.” The implication being that it happened to blightborn all the time. I thought of the begging children I’d seen in Veilmar and felt sick inside. “I thought I’d misunderstood. But now, looking at him...” He shook his head. “I don’t know if he’s strong enough to even wake up on his own.”

“What will you do if he does?” I asked quietly. “It’s a big request, Vaughn. I’m not sure Theo would even want that.”

“I know.” The tall boy was quiet for a moment. “I’m not sure yet. I guess... talk to him? See if I can convince him to feed?” He frowned and looked over at me. “I won’t let him die.”

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