Page 95 of The Bond That Burns

“Leverage? What kind of leverage?”

“They want to make sure you cooperate with the evaluation. That there’s no repeat of what happened to Lord Mortis.”

I stiffened. “I can’t control everything Nyxaris does. He has his own mind, believe me.”

Blake’s expression turned cautionary. “Do not tell them that, Pendragon. Don’t ever even speak it.” He looked around and lowered his voice more. “They plan to push you. And if theythink you or the dragon isn’t giving them what they want, they plan to... use one of your friends.”

My blood ran cold. “What are you saying?” I could hear the panic in my voice. “Are you saying they’re going to hurt someone? Who?”

Blake tried to keep a neutral expression. But the awful thing was I could tell he was upset, too. “I don’t know for sure, but if I had to guess...” He trailed off.

“No.” The word burst out of me. Sharp and loud enough for heads to turn. I shook my head, clenched my jaw, trying not to let Blake see the tears welling up in my eyes. “No. Not Florence.”

Not after Naveen. Not after what they’d done with Naveen. I couldn’t bear it.

“Keep your voice down.” But it was a plea. Not a command. “But yes, I think it’ll be Florence.”

“They can’t. She has nothing to do with this. Nothing,” I hissed.

“Try to stay calm,” Blake said, looking at me with real concern. I resisted the urge to slap him for saying that. I knew he was trying to shield me from the other students in the room, but I didn’t know if I could keep myself in check. “I don’t think they’re going to kill her.”

I choked back a sob. “What a fucking relief.” My quill snapped in half between my fingers. “But theymight. That’s what you’re implying, right? That they might?” I swiped at my eyes. “So what will they do? Will they torture her?”

“Probably not. Not if you do what they want,” Blake said, his jaw tightening. “Just complete the evaluation. Prove you can controlNyxaris. That’s how you keep Florence safe. Play it smart. Do what they ask. Nothing more, nothing less. Make sure Nyxaris knows how serious this is.”

“He’s a dragon,” I said bitterly. “He hardly cares aboutme. He’s not going to care about one of my friends. Do you know how insignificant we all are to him? I...” I stopped before I could say too much.

Blake leaned closer to me. “Listen, I’ll do everything I can to keep Florence safe. I swear it. I’ll stay close to her. I’ll hold her by the damned hand if they’ll let me.”

I nodded but the tears were still welling up in my eyes. I hated that I was crying—here in the fucking common room, with Blake of all people. I blinked rapidly but I knew he’d noticed.

Before I could respond to what he’d said, a new voice sliced through the air.

“By the Bloodmaiden, Blake. Did you make the poor girlcry?”

My head whipped up. Regan stood beside the table. She was alone this time, thank the gods.

But her expression was unmistakable. Elation.

“I told you not to get too comfortable,” she crowed. “Did you get your little heart broken, Medra? Let me guess—Blake finally told you the truth. That you were just a distraction? A phase?” She glanced at Blake, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Honestly, I can’t blame you.”

I could hardly breathe. My fear and helplessness were on full display. And yet Regan was so stupid she’d gone straight to thewrong conclusion. I supposed I should be grateful she hadn’t overheard what Blake had been warning me about.

“Regan,” Blake said warningly.

But Regan ignored him, her gaze locked on me like a lion who’d spotted a wounded animal. “I mean, it must sting. Thinking you were special, only to find out you were the piece of trash I said you were all along.” Her voice dripped with mock pity. “But don’t take it too hard. Boys like Blake always come back to where they belong.”

She reached out a hand as if to touch my shoulder and I flinched.

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” Blake’s voice was cool but strained. “That’s enough, Regan.”

Regan blinked, clearly surprised, but only for a moment. Then her lips curled into a sneer. “Really, Blake? Is this what you’ve sunk to? I thought you had standards. Maybe you’ve spent too much time with the blightborn. Maybe she’s dragging you down with her mediocrity. Weak. Spineless. Pitiful.”

I didn’t have time for this shit. My throat was too tight to even try to respond to Regan’s vitriol this time, even though she was completely off the mark.

“Just look at you,” Regan said, shaking her head. “You’re not even going to make it to the Tribunal evaluation, are you?” She leaned down. “Tell me, Medra, are you going to cry like this when they chain you up? Honestly, I almost feel bad for...”

“I said, that’s enough.” The sound of wood crashing against the floor silenced Regan mid-sentence. Blake’s chair hit the ground as he shot to his feet, his face thunderous.

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