Page 21 of The Bond That Burns

“What you propose is impossible, Elaria, and I shall tell you why.”

My heart sank. I knew exactly what he was about to say.

“The bond has already been solidified. Their blood was joined. Blake feeds from the girl. She is his source. You demonstrate your ignorance and your complete willingness to disregard tradition in what you just proposed, Elaria, but I am not surprised.” Viktor curled his lips disdainfully. “House Avari has always been foolhardy.”

Elaria bristled. “So it is true then. The rider has been shackled to your nephew for his survival. How... unfortunate.” She looked at me with something like genuine regret.

I risked another glance backwards. Not at Blake, but at Kage. He sat stoically in his seat beside his mother, his hands clasped together. Perhaps the only indication he was feeling something, anything, was the fact that they seemed clasped a little too tightly. The muscles in his neck over the collar of his black jacket twitched as he met my gaze.

What did Kage really want, I suddenly wondered. Did he want me? Truly?

As I turned back to the tribunal, Viktor’s lips were turned up in a sneer. “Whatever fanciful ideas you might have, Elaria, they are irrelevant. The girl belongs to House Drakharrow.”

Maybe it was the fact that he’d called me “girl” for the hundredth time. Maybe it was the fact that he’d said “belong.”

But something ignited in me.

I shot to my feet. “No.”

I hadn’t shouted. Even so, my voice easily cut through the room like a knife through butter.

“I don’t belong to anyone.”

You could have heard a pin drop. Or a drop of blood fall. All eyes were on me.

Even Lord Pansera seemed shocked into speechlessness at my boldness.

“You’ve all been speaking about me as if I’m not even here. As if I don’t have a voice in any of this. But I do. If you’re going to decide my fate, then at least give me the chance to speak for myself. I deserve that much.” I took a deep breath. “And so does Nyxaris.”

CHAPTER 6 - BLAKE

I’d fucked up.

A small part of me was willing to admit that. But only to myself.

Say it to anyone else? Hell no.

A Drakharrow didn’t make mistakes.

So, instead, I’d made things worse. Dug myself in deeper.

My eyes were fixed on Pendragon as she stood, her red hair trailing in a living flame down her back. Her voice defiant, her posture unyielding despite the scrutiny of every Tribunal member bearing down on her.

She radiated fury and courage in equal measure.

For the first time in months, I wondered if I’d miscalculated everything. Underestimated just how stubborn she truly was.

I clenched my jaw, trying to push the thought aside. What I’d done I’d done at least partly for her. No, primarily for her. I’d saved her life, even if she didn’t know it. Would she rather be mated to my uncle? Fed from by Viktor?

Drakharrows didn’t doubt themselves. We didn’t question our actions or apologize. Apologies were for the weak, for those who lacked the resolve to see their plans through.

All summer long she’d kept me at bay. Treating me no better than some stray mutt she had to feed. What did she want, anyhow? For me to kneel? To beg? Maybe that’s what she’d expected. Maybe that’s what she thought she deserved.

I tamped down the part of myself that wondered if she was right. The idea made me itch with revulsion and discomfort.

I shifted in my seat, forcing myself to look away from her.

And my gaze landed on Tanaka.

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