Page 63 of The Bond That Burns

Theo and Visha were watching me suspiciously. After last year, Visha had to know I was up to something.

I grinned. I didn’t give a shit if they knew. It wasn’t as if they could stop me.

“Our first volunteer will be Pendragon,” I said, pointing at her. “Step right up.”

She frowned but did as I told her. “But I didn’t volunteer.”

I ignored her. I paused, as if still considering my other choices. “And let’s have... Laurent.” I pointed to the highblood student.

The First Year boy stepped forward with a sly grin, bouncing up and down on his heels as if only too eager to get going. His pale hair was slicked back, emphasizing his thin, ferrety features. Laurent was annoying, but I knew he could be useful if I let him.

Plus, he was thin and wiry so he wasn’t going to crush Pendragon to death with his weight, which was a bonus. I didn’t want to kill her. I just wanted to toughen her up a bit.

I’d already told Laurent not to hold back, but not to beat her to a pulp either. It was about humiliation. I didn’t want her fucking maimed.

I walked over to one of the roped-off sparring rings and gestured for them to step inside. “Hand-to-hand,” I repeated. “No weapons. You’ve had all summer to slack off. Show me what you’ve got.”

Pendragon stepped into the ring reluctantly.

The match began. Laurent circled her, his movements quick and calculated. He was taller than her and wasn’t afraid to use his vampire speed to his advantage. He lunged forward, jabbing at her shoulder.

But Pendragon was fast, too. Faster than she’d been last year with Visha. I wondered if she’d improved simply through practice. Had she been working out while trapped in that room day in, day out?

Or maybe it had something to do with our bond. Were my powers still lingering within her? Or was this her rider blood finally showing up for her?

Regardless, it didn’t matter. She still couldn’t possibly be faster than a vampire. She’d end up humiliated and on her back every class if I had my way this term.

Pendragon dodged, pivoting on her heel. She was moving cautiously but her fists were up.

She didn’t look as nervous as I’d hoped she’d be, even with the entire class watching. She should have been looking to me for guidance—or better yet, mercy. Instead, she looked at Laurent as if she were assessing him. As if she planned to win.

“Sloppy,” I called out, my voice sharp as a whip. “Laurent, are you holding back? Because right now it looks like you’re fighting your kid sister.”

There were some cackles of laughter from the watching students.

Scowling, Laurent lunged again, aiming a quick jab at her midsection. Pendragon sidestepped, moving lightly on her feet and countering with a sharp kick to Laurent’s shin.

“Nice footwork, Pendragon,” I called out, my voice sarcastic. “If we were practicing ballroom dancing, I’d give you top marks.”

She didn’t respond. But I saw her shoulders stiffen. A tiny crack in her armor. It was enough to motivate me to keep going.

Laurent moved towards her again, this time showering strikes. Pendragon blocked most of them, but one caught her on the shoulder, and she staggered back a step.

“Where’s that fancy footwork now, Pendragon?” I called. “Loosen up or you’ll be flat on your back in no time. We wouldn’t want that now, would we?” I grinned wickedly at the crowd of highblood students and a few of them laughed.

Pendragon shot me a glare. That fire in her showed no sign of dying down. It was maddening and magnetic all at once.

Lauren pressed his advantage, coming at her again and forcing her to backpedal. A blow caught her in the ribs and she staggeredslightly, but recovered quickly and landed a jab to Laurent’s jaw. The highblood boy stumbled back with a look of surprise.

I scowled as some of the watching students gasped.

“Not bad, is she?” Theo murmured. He’d come up beside me and I hadn’t noticed. I glared at him. “Especially considering how you’re taunting her.”

“Lucky shot,” I called loudly, my tone dismissive. “Laurent, don’t let her bait you.”

“Ironic, coming from you, Drakharrow,” Pendragon called back.

Laurent came at her harder, his movements faster and more aggressive. She tried to duck but wasn’t quick enough and his fist caught her in the eye. She let out a yelp and staggered back, clutching her face.

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