Page 94 of The Bond That Burns

Blake laughed. “If I was spying on you, would I really be asking?”

“Maybe you’re just not a very good spy,” I said grouchily, slouching forward over the desk. “Why do you care, anyhow?”

“Well, you’re my meal ticket so I don’t exactly want you to get executed.” When I didn’t reply, he leaned forward so he could look at my face. “That was a joke.”

“Ha, ha,” I said without breaking a smile. “You’re hilarious.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Pendragon.”

“Of course you don’t. You’d probably die without me. Literally.”

He took a deep breath. “That’s not it. Although sure, probably.”

“Right.” I rolled my eyes. “You need me to survive. You have a pretty clear ulterior motive. But anyhow, let me put your mind at rest. Nyxaris has agreed to help me.”

Blake looked relieved. “That’s good. Really good.” He looked around, as if making sure no one was listening. “I saw you with him the other night,” he said, lowering his voice.

“So youwerespying on me? Subtle,” I said drily.

“I keep an eye on you,” he said quietly. “I know you won’t like my saying that, but it’s my job.”

“Your job? As in, you spy on me for your family?” I said bitterly.

Blake’s face tightened. “It’s true that Viktor wants to know that... That I have things under control. With you and the dragon.” He looked at me almost pleadingly. “You have to understand the pressure I’m under. I’m just trying to keep him at bay.”

I studied his face. Was Blake Drakharrow actually confiding something to me? But he’d also confessed he was spying on me for Viktor. If it was progress, it was a tiny step. Ant-sized.

“I don’t understand why you have to do whatever he tells you,” I said softly, trying to keep my temper in check.

He met my eyes. “He controls my whole family, Pendragon. It’s not just me.”

“You mean... Aenia?” I guessed.

“Her, yes. Though she’s somewhere safe right now. Out of the way. He doesn’t care about Aenia as long as she’s always out of sight.” He sighed. “Then there’s my mother.”

“Your mother?” I was curious despite myself. “I thought she was in the Sanctum. Like a priestess or something.”

“It’s complicated,” he said shortly. “When my father died...” He shook his head. “Anyways, you don’t want to hear about all my family drama.”

I kind of did. But I didn’t say anything. And in a moment, Blake changed the subject.

“Look, you might not believe this, but...I want to protect you. And not just because of your blood.”

He met my eyes and I couldn’t help it. I looked away. “The bond between us isn’t real, Blake.”

“Sure. And neither was what we both felt the other night,” he said, his voice low. “But it was amazing. You can’t deny that much.”

“It was...pretty good,” I admitted reluctantly. “But not good enough to make me forget who you really are.”

His lips thinned. “You know what, believe what you want to about me, Pendragon. But I’m here right now. Trying to help you.”

I was quiet. “Fine. So what’s the tip?

Blake’s gaze locked onto mine. This time there was no sarcasm, no smirk. That alone was enough to make my heart speed up.

“What?” I demanded. “Tell me, Blake.”

“They’re going to have leverage,” he said, almost reluctantly.

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