Page 69 of The Bond That Burns

I glared at her and went to scoop my things back into my bag.

She leaned over. “Don’t do it.”

“Do what?”

“If you leave now, it’ll look like you’re scared of me.” She grinned, baring her fangs. “House Leader Blake Drakharrow scared of little old Visha Vaidya.” She clucked her tongue. “Just think of the rumors.”

“I’m not fucking afraid of you,” I said in annoyance.

“Good to hear it,” she snapped. “Then why have you been acting like a fucking pussy? An expression I obviously hate using since my pussy is stronger than your dick any day of the week, but hey, if the expression fits.” She shrugged.

I gaped at her, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Oh, please. Don’t act like I’ve just insulted your mother,” she said dismissively.

My lips twitched. I was trying not to laugh. “What do you want, Visha?”

“I want to know why the hell you’re acting as if you’re losing your mind these days, Blake.” She’d lowered her voice again, thank the Bloodmaid, but I still glanced around to make sure no one sitting nearby us had heard her.

“I’d say you’re the one who’s biting the hand that feeds you,” I said angrily.

She had the nerve to scoff.

“I can’t believe I was actually considering making you my Second,” I complained, crossing my arms. “After the way you’ve been acting.”

“And just how exactly have I been acting?” Her tone was deceptively calm, but I knew her well enough to know she was getting close to blowing her top.

I cleared my throat. “You’ve been behaving disloyally.”

She raised her eyebrows. “By being friends withyourconsort? The same redhead you were so excited about last year that you cast off Regan? Funny, I’d have figured you’d have wanted us to be friends.”

“I didn’t... That was...” I blew out a breath. “Things have changed. Obviously.”

“Obviously,” she said pleasantly. “Who knows what the hell is really going on between you and Pendragon. It’s not my business. And it sure as hell isn’t Theo’s. But you’ve made iteveryone’s. You’ve decided to include your entire house in your personal life. Now here you are, acting like the world has done you wrong.” She leaned in a little closer. “You’re being a big fucking baby, you know that?”

My face flushed. “You’ve got some nerve.”

“I’ve got all the nerve.” She glared back at me. “You know it’s true.”

“You sat at a House Avari table this morning,” I said furiously. “Or have you forgotten?”

“Because you threw a temper tantrum and kicked us all out.” She shook her head slowly. “Tell me this, Blake–just where exactly do you think it’s going to get you?”

“Get me?”

“Yes. Please enlighten me. Do you think Medra’s going to come crawling back to you after you’ve embarrassed and humiliated and bullied her worse than you did last year?”

“She’s the one who has me on her fucking leash,” I hissed. “She’s the one cavorting with the enemy. She turned her back on me first.”

Visha snorted. “Cavorting? I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone to cavort in my life. Next you’ll be telling me she was frolicking with Kage. Let’s be honest here. You’ve both stirred the pot. You fed from her when you know you shouldn’t have. You had alternatives. You could have told her the truth about the situation. You had to have known how she’d react when you went all feral highblood on her. You’re not a damned idiot, Blake, even though you’re certainly acting like one lately. So dome a favor and don’t pretend like you’re some innocent victim in all of this.”

I bristled. “I did what any highblood would have. I took the blood I needed.She’sthe one who publicly announced she was through with me. That she’d break our bond if she could.”

“Oh? And that makes it right?” She shook her head in disgust. “Since when do you hold with all that highblood nonsense, anyhow? Since when does doing something just because it's tradition make it a good idea?”

I stared at her. “Excuse me, who am I talking to right now? The Visha I know is proud to be a highblood. Proud to feed. She takes what she needs when she needs it.”

“I’m still proud,” she said, tossing her head. “That doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to question the system. And right now I’m questioning whether some of our traditions might be wrong and whether highbloods like you are really trained to all be entitled assholes.”

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