Page 44 of The Bond That Burns

I snarled. “We don’t have to be. This was your decision.”

“You mean I could have just complied with your demands like a good little consort? Begged to come into your bed, just likeRegan used to? No. That was never going to happen. Not when you acted like drinking me was your damned right.” She shook her head almost sadly. “By the gods, look at you. You still don’t even think you’ve done anything wrong, do you?”

I flushed. This wasn’t going quite the way I’d planned.

“What if this bond isn’t even real? Have you considered it? What if it’s just another way for your uncle to pull your strings? If there’s a chance we could end this, wouldn’t you want to? Think of it. We’d be free.” She was staring at me so beseechingly, so eagerly.

Her words hit me like a blow and for a moment I couldn’t even respond. To hear her say the words out loud and to my face—it was almost unbearable.

And then, all I could see was Kage Tanaka–wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her from danger. His hands all over her as he danced with her at the ball. His necklace dangling from her slender throat as she walked through the school wearing House Avari colors.

“No,” I said coldly. “I wouldn’t.”

“Then you really are even more of a monster than I gave you credit for, Blake,” she said, her expression turning to disgust. “I don’t know what’s worse. Thinking you’re doing this because you’re too scared of your uncle to do anything else. Or thinking you’re doing this because you actually like torturing me.”

“Oh, it’s the latter. Definitely the latter,” I said coolly.

The door behind us creaked open and Theo’s voice broke the moment. “Medra!”

Theo stepped into the common room, his gaze flickering back and forth between us uncertainly.

“Come on, Medra,” he said, finally, jerking his head towards the door. “Breakfast is waiting. Visha and Florence are already in the refectory.”

I clenched my jaw. Florence Shen. Pendragon’s friend who was now in House Avari.

And Visha Vaidya? She was a Drakharrow through and through. The girl knew better. Hell, I was considering making her my second. Now she’d just jeopardized that.

As for my cousin? Theo was blatantly ignoring what I’d told him to do. We’d have to speak again later.

Pendragon hesitated, her eyes lingering on me for a split second. Then she brushed past, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the room.

No matter what I did, she slipped further and further from my grasp.

And the truth was, it hurt so much I didn’t know whether to hold on tighter–or just let her go.

CHAPTER 10 - MEDRA

We were supposed to be meeting Visha and Florence in the refectory but once Theo and I were out in the hall, I stopped.

“I don’t think I feel up to breakfast. I think I’ll just go straight to class.”

“Don’t let Blake get to you,” Theo protested. “He’s just...” He trailed off.

“Being an asshole? Like he usually is?” I watched Theo’s expression of discomfort. “Look, I know he’s your cousin, but...”

“It’s not just that he’s my cousin,” Theo said quickly. “I know him. I know what he’s been through. He’s had a tough time of it, Medra. But despite that, he’s stood up for me, time and again.”

“Stood up for you to who?” I demanded.

Theo didn’t answer. But it was obvious.

“Blake’s been through a lot,” Theo repeated stubbornly.

“I’m sure he has,” I said, as gently as I could. “But he doesn’t seem to have learned from it. He might be kind to you, but he doesn’t extend that same kindness to others.”

“You have to understand,” Theo implored me. “Blake really believes you’re his mate. You’re his only consort now. He cast off Regan for you. You’re his sole source. That kind of a relationship is everything to a highblood. He’s completely dependent on you.” He shifted awkwardly. “To know you don’t want him back, that you’d reject him completely if you could... Well, it mustbe driving him mad. Especially a protective highblood male like Blake.”

“Protective? I think you mean possessive.” I shook my head. “My relationship with Blake is so toxic. I didn’t want to be tied to your cousin, Theo. I didn’t want to hurt him. But I didn’t get a choice in any of this. You say Blake’s feeling desperate? Well, so am I. And I’m going to do everything in my power to try to end this for both our sakes.”

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