Page 136 of The Bond That Burns

I hesitated. “Marcus killed Allesandra. After they were wed. Her sister is still alive.”

“Well, what a fucking relief,” she said disdainfully. “Gods, Blake. Your brother... He’s a real piece of work.”

“I’m well aware.” I paused. “He wasn’t always quite so...”

“Brutal? Savage? Sadistic?” she provided. “So how did he get that way?”

“My uncle,” I said quietly. “He groomed Marcus. Brought out the worst in him intentionally. Undid all my parents’ work.”

“He’s been hanging around Lunaya Orphos,” she said. “Did you know that? If there’s a girl less suited to your horrible brother, I can’t imagine who it would be.”

I nodded. “I saw them together at the Tribunal. I didn’t think it had gone very far.”

“Well, he was here, at Bloodwing, picking her up from class a few weeks ago,” she said, her voice grave. “Lunaya is a sweet girl.”

“I’ll speak with Lysander,” I promised. “I doubt he wants Marcus anywhere near Lunaya.”

She looked relieved. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” We walked in silence for a few minutes. Then, “Pomegranate seeds. With honey.”

She looked over at me with a confused expression. “What?”

“My favorite food. My mother used to give them to me when I was little.” I laughed. “For the longest time, I thought I was eating her jewels. I thought I was pretty special for her to feed me rubies.”

“No wonder you grew up so self-assured,” she said wryly.

“Don’t you mean cocky? Arrogant?” I teased. “Aren’t you going to throw a few insults my way?”

“I think you’re more aware of your faults than you let on, so there’s no need,” she said calmly.

“What was your childhood like?” I asked, the words slipping out of my mouth. “Tell me something. Anything. Where did you grow up?”

She bit her lip, as if trying to decide something. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Try me.”

She was quiet for so long, I added, “I swear I will. You could tell me you grew up on a cloud and I’d accept it, Pendragon.”

“Not a cloud.” She took a deep breath. “But what about another world?”

My footsteps paused briefly.

“See?” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No,” I said hastily. “So when I found you in the wreckage of that village...?”

She met my eyes and there was no laughter there. She was serious as the grave. “I’d just arrived.”

I nodded. “I see. That explains it.”

“What?” she demanded.

“Well, you know.” I blushed. “Your lack of clothes.”

“Oh, that.” She paused. “I’d almost forgotten.”

I laughed. “Believe me, I hadn’t. I doubt I’ll ever get the picture out of my head.”

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