Page 23 of The Bond That Burns

My brow furrowed as I caught the look of hatred etched on Marcus’s face as he watched Pendragon. What was Marcus even doing sitting next to Lysander’s sister in the first place? It wasn’t like him to spend time in the company of anyone from Orphos. He’d never bothered to hide his derision for their house. Yet there he was, leaning close to the Orphos girl, whispering something that made her smile sweetly.

“When the dragon awoke, he spoke to me.”

My attention snapped back to Pendragon.

“I promised myself to him in service, but he refused to accept me. Our bond is not yet complete,” she declared.

I felt my heart twist slightly with unexpected pride. My consort had spoken to a fuckingdragon. No one else alive could say that.

“You see, Nyxaris doesn’t feel any obligation to any house,” Pendragon went on.

I saw Elaria Avari tilt her head thoughtfully as she heard that little revelation. Ha.

“He doesn't recognize any of your claims. But perhaps, given time, I can help him remember the loyalty that once existed between dragons and highbloods. That’s why you need me. I’m your only link to the most powerful creature in existence. Are you really going to let that slip away, by simply discarding me like Lord Mortis proposed?”

My emotions were a tangled web as I watched her. She was my source. A means to power. I’d saved her from Viktor. There was no way I’d let her be executed.

But there was more to it than that and I knew it. She stood there, commanding the attention of a room full of highbloods like no other blightborn in existence had probably ever done before. She was drawing their awe in the same way a dragon might have, simply by her sheer presence. Her sheer will.

I’d let myself start to care for her. I still couldn’t take my eyes off her.

But now? Part of me hated her all over again. For rejecting me. For rejecting my house.

Maybe most of all, for rejecting the most primal, intrinsic part of my nature.

My fangs. My bite.

“I ask you for time,” she went on. “Time to continue my studies. Time to learn, time to understand the bond between Nyxaris and I. And I ask you for freedom. To be untethered from a mating bond I never wanted. To be free to make my own choice.”

I nearly choked as the room fell into even deeper silence. I could feel my face heating from the humiliation.

Fuck this. Fuck all of this. And most of all, fuck Pendragon. She wanted to be out on her own, did she? Maybe that could be arranged. Just not in the way she might hope.

Lady Avari was the first to rise. Her face was filled with quiet sympathy as she looked down at Pendragon and I despised her for it.

“As far as anyone knows, child,” she said gently. “There is no way to dissolve such a bond.” She looked around the room. “But I agree with Miss Pendragon on all of her other points. She shouldbe allowed to continue her studies—and be given time to bring the dragon’s fealty back where it belongs.”

I snorted—loudly.

“There is wisdom in her requests,” Elaria concluded.

Inallof them, in other words. I glared at the old woman.

I watched Viktor shift in his seat, but before he could speak, Lord Mortis beat him to it.

He stood abruptly and pointed a finger at Pendragon, his voice growling in anger. “What proof do you even have that the dragon listens to you? You spoke to him, you claim? What evidence do we have of that? The dragon is gone.” He gave a mocking laugh and a ripple of agreement spread through the room.

I shook my head. For a moment they’d been on Pendragon’s side. Now Mortis had them swayed again. By the Bloodmaiden, my people were fickle.

“But no, it’s worse than that,” Lord Mortis bellowed, his deep voice echoing across the chamber. “What if sheistalking to the dragon? For all we know, she’ll tell it to turn upon us. Just like the dragons of old.”

I frowned, trying to recall that little bit of history and failing, as around me the crowd burst into an uproar, glimpses of fear on many faces as Lord Mortis’s words sunk in.

Then, Pendragon’s voice cut through the clamor.

“You want proof, Lord Mortis? I’ll give it to you. To all of you. Follow me.”

CHAPTER 7 - MEDRA

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