Chapter 6
BLAKE
The latch of my door clicked behind me. I walked down the hall, yawning and trying to roll the tension out of my shoulders, then descended the stairs leading down to the common room.
The place was almost empty. Most students had already left to grab breakfast in the refectory.
The fire had been stoked recently. I sniffed appreciatively: cedar logs.
They were expensive, so they were only used in the highblood towers.
Only the best for the best, my uncle liked to say when I was growing up.
As if blightborn couldn’t appreciate a scent just as easily.
Some plates of fresh rolls and carafes of kava, tea, and juice had been placed on a table for students who were too tired, busy, or hungover to make it to the refectory in time for a real meal.
I glanced around. The place was my second home.
More of a home than my real home at this point.
Weapons from past centuries were mounted on the walls between Drakharrow banners.
The crest and motto of our precious bloodline were everywhere: on cushions, tapestries, even carved into the arms of the chairs we sat in.
As if any of us needed that many reminders of who we were. Sanguine Vincti. Bound by blood.
I shook my head. Kind of ironic when my socalled bonded was over in House Avari right now.
I doubted she considered herself bound to me.
That headstrong girl would do what she liked—just as she always did.
Nonetheless, thinking of Pendragon sent a warm feeling soaring through my chest. Headstrong or not, she was mine.
Though, I’d finally learned to stop saying it to her face quite so often.
A few blightborn students sat in corners, sipping tea and reading books, studying up before classes began.
The highbloods were all probably either in the refectory or drinking from their favorite thralls in their rooms. I’d recently decided that open feeding in the common room was gauche: Funny how quickly trends changed.
My house had quickly gotten the message.
This was the new way of things. Shape up or ship out.
Theo was sprawled on a red velvet couch by the fire, a book in his lap and a cup of steaming kava in one hand.
He wore one of his favorite sweaters, black with gold thread at the cuffs, absurdly oversized and practically in tatters.
It was a family heirloom of sorts. It had belonged to my father when he’d gone to school here.
I walked over and fell into an armchair across from my cousin.
Theo looked up. “You’re lucky. You just missed Regan.”
I raised a brow. “Really?”
He nodded. “Our new headmistress just came trotting through with her new squad of Bloodguards in tow,” he said making air quotes with his free hand.
I choked. “Bloodguards? Seriously? She couldn’t think of a better name?”
Theo looked thoughtful. “Good point. We should suggest she run a naming contest. Everyone can vote. There could even be a prize.”
“Right. I’m sure the blightborn students will love selecting a name for their new tormentors.” I frowned. “Who the hell are they, anyhow? Her guards, I mean?”
Theo studied me. He was careful not to let his gaze linger too long on my wasted eye.
I appreciated what he was trying to do, but he needn’t have bothered trying to be tactful.
Most students gawked openly and for far longer than was polite.
I’d snarl at them, sometimes add a little display of fangs, and that usually was enough to send them screaming and scurrying.
Was I a bastard for doing it to First Years?
Sure. But honestly, it never got old. And serve them right for being so rude in the first place, right?
“You don’t know? They’re alumni. She called in most of Marcus’s old pals.”
I sat up straighter. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Quite a few from House Mortis, too.”
I shook my head. “I assume they left a trail of testosterone and shitty cologne behind them.” I sniffed, but fortunately all I could smell was the cedar smoke.
Theo wrinkled his nose. “Oh, they smelled worse than that. Think more of a training bag boiled in highblood sweat.”
I chuckled.
“Your exconsort is a real piece of work. Walking around like she owns this place.”
“Well, she basically does,” I pointed out.
“Bloodwing is bigger than just one person. It’s better than that, too,” Theo protested.
“Really? You think so?” I was dubious. But I supposed I should be glad my cousin still had some idealism left.
“We’re going to have to be careful, Blake,” Theo said softly.“Those assholes think nepotism, fangs, and muscles equal real authority.”
“If Regan purposely brought in some of Marcus’s dumbass friends, things could get ugly,” I agreed.
“They were never too bright to begin with.” With the amount of Crimson Ambrosia they drank and other shit they did, it was no wonder.
I thought of something: Maybe that was how Regan had gotten them to come.
Had she bribed them? “They’ll be drunk with power in a few days.
Did Regan say anything to you about what she has planned? ”
Theo shook his head. “No. And I’m sure it’s not her plan—it’s Viktor’s. Besides, it’s not me I’m worried about. It’s Vaughn.”
Theo’s boyfriend was over in House Orphos. “I’m sure Lysander will keep a careful watch on his house,” I said.
“Have you talked to him about Lunaya?”
“Only briefly.”
“What exactly did you tell him?” Theo asked curiously. “You didn’t tell him everything, did you?” He lowered his voice. “You know, about the … d-word?”
I laughed. “Is that what we’re calling them now? I mean, a fucking dragon is missing from the Dragon Court. Lysander would have figured it out eventually.”
Theo looked dubious. “Would he? You didn’t tell Viktor or Regan exactly what happened, right?”
“Fuck no,” I practically shouted. I cleared my throat. “Lysander is different. He has a good head on his shoulders.”
Theo raised his eyebrows.
“What?” I demanded.
Theo snickered. “Just not something I expected to hear you say after the role he played in the Tribunal at the start of last term.”
I flushed. Lysander had basically suggested we all let Pendragon walk free. “He’s still a little too idealistic for my tastes.”
“Let her lead her life as she sees fit,” Theo mused. “I believe those were his exact words.”
“Were they?” I frowned. “I didn’t take notes.”
“I have a good memory,” Theo said with a grin. “And it isn’t as farfetched an idea as you seemed to think at the time. Besides, isn’t that exactly what’s happening now, anyways?”
I thought for a moment. Pendragon in House Avari. Pendragon punching me in the face the day before without any repercussions. “There have certainly been some changes,” I said carefully.
Theo hooted. “I’d say so—in you!”
I rubbed my eyes. Theo didn’t know the half of it. “Fine. Laugh it up.”
Theo watched me. “You sleeping all right?”
“Define all right.” My dreams were all red ones. Full of blood and scales. So no, I wasn’t sleeping well.
“Nightmares?” He quickly looked away, setting his cup down on the table. “I’ve had my share of those.”
I examined him. My cousin looked a lot like me in some ways.
Same sharply cut cheekbones, same gray eyes, same old blood in our veins.
But there were differences. His jaw was softer, his mouth a little less.
… well, cruel, I guess. His hair was duskier than mine, more like dark honey.
He’d grown it out and taken to wearing it in a bun.
He had it piled in a messy knot on his head now.
If Viktor could see Theo right now, he’d probably give his nephew a jaw-cracking slap. Thank the Bloodmaiden the old bastard wasn’t around. My jaw tightened. Only his proxy, Regan.
My gaze dropped to Theo’s hand. His fingers gripped the side of the couch tightly.
There was tension in him, hovering in the air between us, unspoken and heavy. And we hadn’t even broached the word wolf yet.
“Aenia.” We both spoke at the same time.
I swallowed. My little sister. His cousin. His kill.
“She always liked this room,” Theo said hurriedly. “Remember when you brought her here the first time? She said she’d go to this school one day and be the best student they’d ever seen.”
“Then she’d tried to pull the swords off the wall. Said they were hers because her name was Drakharrow and she wanted to take one home,” I said dryly. “I remember. The little tyrant princess.”
“She was a brat,” Theo said softly. “But she was our brat.”
I didn’t respond.
“She died quickly.” The words came out of Theo’s mouth in a rush. “I don’t think she was in pain. It happened fast. So fast.”
I sat up, leaned forward, my hands wrapping around my knees, knuckles white.
“I don’t think she even knew it was me who … who did it. I think it happened so quickly she didn’t even see. I like to think she didn’t, anyways.” Theo’s face was a picture of misery.
My spine stiffened.
“Just let me get it out, Blake. Just let me say the words,” Theo begged, rushing on. “Then if you want to hit me or kill me … whatever. It’s your right, I know it’s your right.” His face became stoic. “At least I’ve already said goodbye.”
I choked. “You’ve what?”
“I’ve already said my goodbyes. Not to everyone, I mean. Just to Vaughn.” There were tears in his eyes. “I left him a note. He won’t come after you.”
I almost choked again. Nearly said I wasn’t afraid of Vaughn Sabino. But that wasn’t the fucking point, was it? The point was that my little cousin was afraid of me.
The dragon inside me tensed, sensing opportunity. The chance to kill. I slammed it down hard. “I’m not going to kill you, Theo.”
Theo’s whole body seemed to sag. “You’re … you’re not?”
“How could you even think that?” I said, suddenly angry. “You really think I’d do something like that? That I’m what—the next Viktor?”
“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “No, not like Viktor, of course not. Though, he’d certainly like you to be.”