Page 13 of The Bond That Burns

Reading between the lines, I knew what that meant. He’d turn to torture as required.

“Do you miss Regan?”

The question caught me off guard. “A little perhaps. But she was disobedient.”

A harsh laugh burst from my uncle’s throat. “The irony. You dismiss one consort for disobedience while aligning yourself with another who defies us at every turn.”

My lips quirked into a humorless smirk. “She won’t defy us for long. I can break Pendragon, Uncle. She’ll soon be loyal to House Drakharrow. Wait and see.”

Viktor studied me. “If you fail, I will deal with her myself. It will not be pretty. I promise, you won’t like the result.”

“I understand.”

“In the meantime, keep her pliant. The girl seems to think you care for her. Don’t allow that to change. Blightborn are slaves to their emotions. That is their great weakness. Use it against her.”

I nodded. “A wise suggestion.”

Viktor frowned. “She attended the Frostfire ball with Kage Tanaka.”

I flinched. I hadn’t thought he’d known about that. “She did. Probably because I hadn’t asked her. Tanaka saw an opportunity and invited her. She said yes.” I shrugged and tried to look nonchalant. “Does it really matter?”

“Having Kage as a rival has been good for you. We Drakharrows thrive on competition. But now you may have let that pup think he can get away with far too much. If he thinks to steal your consort out from under...”

“He won’t,” I interrupted. My hands curled into fists. The thought of Kage Tanaka luring Pendragon away. To his house. To his bed. “We’re blood-bound now. I’ll see him dead before that happens.”

Still, it was not lost on me that I seemed to need Pendragon more than she needed me. Though if she knew what my uncle had planned for her, maybe she’d be more willing to accept my protection.

“You need her to feed. What does she need from you?” my uncle demanded, astute as always.

“I’ll remind her of her place. She’s forgotten where she belongs. She’s forgotten who holds the true power here and always will,” I growled. “Kage will stay away from her. I’ll see to that.”

And Pendragon would sure as hell stay away from him.

“Do not kill the Avari. His house would retaliate and we are not prepared for a war.”

Yet. The word hung unspoken between us.

But with a dragon flying over Sangratha and the most powerful two houses prepared to fight for control of it, there was no doubt in my mind. War was on the horizon.

Viktor moved towards me, circling me slowly, like a predator assessing his prey. “You think you understand what you’re dealing with, don’t you, Nephew? The girl. The dragon.” He let the words hang in the air, then leaned in. “But you know nothing, boy. I’ve seen what happens when highbloods underestimate riders. And the dragons... Well, they’ve always been more dangerous than we let anyone believe.”

My brow wrinkled, but I tried to school my expression. “Of course. You know all of this firsthand, Uncle.” It was a statement. I kept my tone respectful.

Viktor smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Let’s just say some histories are better left in the past. Focus on your task. Leave all else to me.”

He turned towards his desk, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

I left the chamber, the door thudding heavily shut behind me.

For the first time, I found myself wondering what else had been buried when the dragons died.

CHAPTER 4 - MEDRA

Two Months Later

Candlelight flickered across the stone walls of my room. It was a beautiful warm night. One of the last summer evenings. I could almost appreciate it. If I ignored the fact I was enjoying it from prison.

I moved to stand by one of the high-arched windows, running my hand over the crimson curtain that hung there, embroidered with black thread in swirling patterns that reminded me of dragon wings.

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