Page 146 of The Bond That Burns

Kage was watching me in silence, his expression unreadable. For once, he didn’t seem eager to insert himself into the conversation. He must have been weighing the decision just as I was.

I ran a hand through my hair and started pacing the room. I wanted to protect the blightborn. Of course, I did. But this was different. This was about Pendragon. And a beast I’d believed I’d only ever see in the pages of storybooks.

But this dragon had lived for who-knew-how-long before Pendragon had awoken him. Nyxaris had already had a full life. She hadn’t. So, maybe the dragon would understand why I had to do this now.

“You’re asking too much,” I said, my voice strained. “There has to be another way.”

“If there is, we don’t have the time to find it,” Rodriguez said grimly. “Based on everything I’ve heard, your uncle is losing patience. Do you understand that he’ll torture her? Force her to bring the dragon to him? He’ll make her lift the knife herself, take the blood, complete the ritual that will destroy everything about her that you care about.”

I glanced at Kage. His face was stony. If he was feeling the same turmoil I was, he was doing a damned good job not showing it.

“What happens if she finds out?” he asked, finally.

Rodriguez’s face hardened. “Neither of you will tell her. And that’s a risk we’ll just have to take. If we follow my plan, by the time she realizes what we’re doing, it’ll be too late to stop us.”

I clenched my fists and paused my pacing. Pendragon would hate me for this. There was a good chance she would never forgive me.

I gave a bitter laugh. If I’d thought she’d hated me before? This would change everything. I doubted she’d ever understand why I’d done what I’d done.

But could I really stand to live in a world without her? Having her hate me was better than her not being alive to feel anything for me at all.

I looked at Rodriguez. “I need to think this over.”

He nodded. “Fine. But don’t take too long. Time isn’t on our side.”

“If we do this,” Tanaka said, his voice quiet but steady. “It has to be done carefully. No mistakes. No risks to her.”

Rodriguez nodded. “Agreed.” He glanced at me. “We’d need you to convince her to get Nyxaris to the Dragon Court. That’s if you agree to help.”

“When?” I said simply.

“The night of the solstice. It’s a night of great power. Highbloods already know this,” Rodriguez replied.

I nodded. The Bloodmaiden Rite had been cancelled this year. I wasn’t surprised. There was no point trying to reinforce the coercive magic that kept the blightborn in check when the dragon’s very existence was working against it. I knew other measures had been suggested instead, including martial law.

I turned to leave. As I reached the door, Rodriguez called after me. “Think hard, Blake. The cost of doing nothing could be worse than the one you’re worried about.”

As I stepped into the hall, I realized Tanaka was on my heels. He’d followed me outside. I stopped and turned to glare at him.

He held up his hands. “Sorry. Just wanted a quick word.”

I narrowed my eyes. “About what?” I thought of something. “You’re not going to rat Rodriguez out now that you’ve heard all that, are you?”

He shook his head. “No. Although I’m not sure my family would want me to support him in this.”

“Fuck your family,” I said bitterly. “Fuck all our families.”

He looked at me with something approaching sympathy. “Viktor’s pretty rough on you, isn’t he? I can’t imagine having him for an uncle.”

“Don’t pretend to care, Tanaka,” I snapped. “Say whatever it is you have to say and then fuck off.”

He chuckled under his breath and fell into step beside me as I started walking. The hall was empty at this time of the day. “Always so charming, Drakharrow. Is that what she sees in you? But fine. I’ll get to the point. How long have you been showing symptoms?”

I froze mid-step. “Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?” I said, trying to make my voice light. But I could feel the tightness in my jaw, the unease in my eyes—and I knew Kage was watching every move I made.

Tanaka’s eyes glinted. “You know exactly what I mean. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed either.”

I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him up against the wall. “What did you see?”

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