Page 165 of The Bond That Burns

“Medra, you’re not helping anyone,” Kage grunted behind me, his breath ragged. I could feel his heart pounding against my back. “Just—stop!”

Instead I shoved against him even harder.

“Enough,” Kage snarled, his voice tinged with frustration and pain. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’re going to have to fucking kill me when you let me go,” I snarled right back. “Because otherwise I will kill you first, Tanaka.”

Rodriguez was busy doing something on the ground. I watched as he opened his leather satchel and pulled out vials. Suddenly he glanced around. Then his eyes landed—not on me, but on Kage.

“Where’s Blake?” he called.

At that moment, something inside me cracked wide open.

CHAPTER 42 - FLORENCE

It was half-past midnight. The refectory-turned-ballroom had emptied out. The festive energy that had been tangible earlier in the evening had dimmed as the hours stretched on. The music had softened to a slower tune. Most of the remaining students were paired off, dancing, or talking quietly at tables. Servants had begun coming around to clear aside plates and centerpieces.

I stood near the edge of the dance floor, fidgeting with the edge of one sleeve as I tried to hold back a yawn.

“You all right?” Theo had come up beside me.

I looked up at him, not bothering to hide my admiration. He was very handsome this evening in a dark gray suit. He and Vaughn made a striking couple.

The way Theo looked at Vaughn... What would it be like to have someone look like that at you? I thought of Naveen briefly, guiltily, then pushed the thought away.

Theo pushed a lock of dark blond hair off his face. “Would you like to dance?”

I shook my head. “No, thank you. I was just wondering if Medra was coming back.”

“Where did she go?” Theo asked.

I hesitated, then decided it wasn’t really a secret. “She said she had to meet Blake in the Dragon Court at midnight. Something to do with Nyxaris. I thought she was coming back afterwards, but I must have misunderstood.”

“Blake left to meet with our uncle in the Keep,” Theo said slowly. “He didn’t mention anything about the Dragon Court.”

Theo looked concerned, so I forced a smile. “Well, I’m sure it’s nothing. They probably went off together somewhere, just the two of them.”

He smiled slightly. “I’m sure you’re right.” Then his face darkened. “Though I do wonder what the hell our uncle wanted to see Blake about. The old bastard. Couldn’t even leave him alone tonight of all nights.”

“He and Blake don’t get along, do they?” I asked hesitantly. “Lord Drakharrow seems like a very hard man.” I wanted to say something much worse, but Blake and Theo were Lord Drakharrow’s family after all.

“Blake hates him,” Theo said bluntly. “But he has to do whatever my uncle wants.”

I thought of Medra. “Not everything, I hope.”

“He stands up to him from time to time,” Theo muttered. “He’s shielded me more than once. I’m...grateful for it.”

I glanced across the room at where Vaughn stood talking to a group of House Orphos students, remembering what had happened with Coregon the year before. “That’s good. Because you deserve to be happy, Theo.”

Still, my thoughts were suddenly racing. Something wasn’t right. The longer Medra was gone, the worse the feeling grew. I wondered if I should go back to our room. Even if she was there with Blake... Well, I might be interrupting awkwardly, but at least then I’d know she was all right.

Before I could tell Theo I was leaving, Visha appeared, weaving her way through the dwindling crowd.

“Have you seen Lace?” she demanded.

I shook my head.

“No,” Theo said, frowning. “Why? What’s going on?”

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