Theo stood up and bowed elegantly in my direction. “I nearly forgot myself, dear lady. Theo Drakharrow at your service. Courtier to the Black Prince himself. Beloved by all.”

Regan snorted. “He gives himself too much credit. We barely tolerate him.”

“He is a rogue and a rascal,” growled a tall, ebony-skinned young man from a little further down the table. He nodded at me, his gaze thoughtful and intense. His silvery-blond hair was cut short and swept to one side.

“That’s Coregon Phiri,” Regan said, introducing us. “One of Blake’s closest friends.”

Coregan was a large young man. In contrast to Theo, there was a quiet confidence and authority to him that suggested he didn’t need to be sarcastic or loud to get things done.

“To his great discredit,” Theo chirped.

“Hush up, Theo. Who’s doing these introductions? Me or you?” Regan complained.

Unfortunately, Theo took this as an invitation. He gasped dramatically. “Me? Take over? You had only to say the word!”

Blake’s cousin leaped onto a chair and began to point. “Quinn Riley, say how-do-you-do.” A girl with pale skin and long silver hair styled in three braids down her back lifted a hand. “And on Quinn’s left you have Visha Vaidya. Watch out for this one, lords and ladies. She’s a fighter.”

A young woman with a rich, warm brown skin tone that contrasted beautifully with her short, silvery-white hair glared at Theo murderously. Her violet eyes were sharp and piercing as she looked at me. She managed to force a smile, but to me it felt more like a challenge than a greeting.

Theo was hooting at the young woman’s expression. “Visha’s family used to have the best dragon riders in Sangratha. I’m sure she’d like to conduct all sorts of nasty little experiments on you if she could,” Theo explained. “Of course, most would involve draining you of all your blood.” He looked back and forth between us, still grinning, as if he’d like to see us fight.

I crossed my arms, suddenly uncomfortably reminded that these weren’t just my fellow students. They were vampires.

“Any of these pitchers filled with warm blood? Or do you take yours cold in the mornings?” I asked Theo conversationally.

“I prefer my red on ice, actually,” Theo said seriously. “The fresher the better. Why? Are you offering a little taste?”

My eyes must have widened a little because he burst out laughing.

The entire table suddenly shook. Blake rose to his feet, his hands still in position from where he had slammed them down.

“Enough,” he growled.

He walked away from us all without another word.

“Tsk, tsk,” Theo said, watching his cousin disappear out of the refectory. “Who got his dark and billowy cloak all in a twist?” He whistled. “Methinks it was you, Medra Pendragon.” He winked at me.

“Me?” I said blankly.

“Theo dared to joke about drinking you,” Coregon explained, in his deep bass voice. “But such is forbidden. We all heard Viktor’s decree.”

“Blake doesn’t like to share, you see. You’re his. But of course, I would never lay a hand on you.” Theo put a hand on his heart. “Or a tooth, for that matter. Swear to the Bloodmaiden.”

“Just who or what is this Bloodmaiden?” I muttered, a little grumpy at being reminded that Blake Drakharrow believed I was his chattel.

“Here, sit down and eat,” Theo offered. He slid down the bench and I eagerly accepted the spot, grabbing a plate and beginning to fill it.

As I suppressed a moan of delight and filled my mouth with another piece of sausage, I looked up to see Quinn Riley staring at me.

“Quite the appetite you have there,” she said, with a snicker.

I swallowed my bite. “Unfortunately dinner was not provided when I arrived last night,” I said coldly. “But even so, I always have a healthy appetite.”

“I like a woman who can eat,” Theo said approvingly. His grin widened. “Who am I kidding? I like a man who can eat just as much. Probably better.” He cackled at his own joke and Coregon rolled his eyes.

“Oh dear!” Regan groaned from across the table. She stood up, grabbing napkins and brushing at the front of her dress. “I’ve just soaked myself in kava. Theo, be a dear and tell Medra all about the four houses.” She looked at me anxiously. “I’m so sorry. I’ll just go and change my clothes. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take you to class. Wait for me here, all right?”

I nodded in between a mouth stuffed with two pieces of bacon.

Had Regan Pansera actually apologized to me? The girl really had changed overnight. Either she was genuine or she wanted to stay in Viktor Drakharrow’s good graces.

“Only too happy to oblige, dear Miss Pansera.” Theo gave a mock salute.

When Regan was gone, I looked at Theo expectantly. “Four houses?”

“Once more, I have been cast in a pivotal role,” Theo mused. “Is it the historian I am to be? What a weight lies upon my shoulders.” He tapped a finger to his chin. “Where to begin?”

Before I could say anything, he leaped to his feet, jumped onto the bench, and cleared his throat.

“The four royal houses of Sangratha,” he intoned loudly. “A historical summary delivered by Theo Drakharrow to Medra Pendragon, this first day of Autumntide term.”

Some of the students at the other tables looked up, startled.

“Quiet down, Theo,” Quinn hissed. “You’re not in a lecture hall! You’re embarrassing us. Again.”

Theo put a finger to his lips and whispered down to me, “Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we, Medra?”

I couldn’t help it. I smirked back at him. Theo Drakharrow was incorrigible and I was loving every moment of it. “Nope.”

“False alarm,” Theo called, waving his hands. “This tutoring session is only meant for one. Exclusive session. Back to your breakfasts, you cads, you knaves. Away with you.”

The other students seemed to be used to Theo’s outbursts. They were already doing as he suggested and going back to their own conversations.

I reached for a muffin covered with chunks of cinnamon and brown sugar and studied Theo. “You’re really a Drakharrow?”

Theo puffed up. “Who says I’m a bastard?”

“I didn’t...” I said quickly. Though I’d already noticed he had hair a shade or two darker than the other students at the table.

“A bastard I may be,” he said. “But I was born on the right side of the blankets.” He grinned. “Aye, a Drakharrow I am and proudly so. Why do you ask?”

“You’re nothing like your cousin,” I said bluntly. Abruptly I thought of something and my eyes widened. “Are you Viktor’s son?”

Theo shook his head. “No, no. My mother is our esteemable uncle’s youngest sister. Marcus and Blake’s father takes precedence in the family order. Dear Uncle Viktor has no progeny. None that we know of.”

“Marcus?” I inquired. “Who is he?”

“Blake’s elder brother. You probably saw him yesterday, standing at Viktor’s shoulder in the great hall yesterday. The kindest term for him is lackey.” He shook his head. “Ah, what a merry time that impromptu soiree was.”

I grimaced. “Merry. Indeed.”

“Marcus graduated Bloodwing last spring,” Theo explained.

“And now Blake is... house leader?”

“Not quite.” Coregon’s quiet voice interrupted. “House leaders must fight for their place. It has to be earned. It’s not an inherited spot.”

“That’s right,” Theo said. “As it stands, House Drakharrow has no leader at Bloodwing yet. One will be chosen by the end of the Autumntide Term. Everyone assumes Blake will get it, of course. But there are a few students within House Drakharrow who may decide to compete for the spot.” He winked at Coregon. “Like yourself, old chap.”

Coregon shook his head. “Blake can have it. Too much trouble managing this lot.”

Theo pouted. “No duels? How dull.” He looked around the table. “None of the others who might just have it in them to challenge Blake are at our table. Regan probably made sure of that when she did the inviting.”