He looked me up and down, then shook his head. “Visha sure got her claws into you.”

I knew I must look filthy. Not to mention my nose wouldn’t stop bleeding. I tilted my head up and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to stop the bleeding as I followed Blake out into the corridor.

A group of giggling students were passing by. Vampires, from the look of them. When they saw me they stopped babbling, their mouths opening and fangs protruding.

“What the fuck?” I muttered.

Blake gripped my arm, firmly but not painfully. “They’re First Years. Let’s move.” To them he snapped, “Get a grip.”

“Get off me,” I demanded, knowing it was useless.

Blake ignored me as I’d known he would. His pale features bore the same expression of frosty indifference I’d come to expect.

We moved through the halls. My nose still dripped faintly with blood. I kept a hand pressed to it, trying to stop the flow, finally resorting to wiping it covertly on my dirt-covered sleeve. I was already filthy. What were a few more bloodstains?

Every few steps, I glanced at Blake, wondering how he could stand to be this close to me with the scent of my blood in the air. Why wasn’t he reacting like Barnabas or Visha or even those First Years had?

We rounded a corner and suddenly came face to face with a group of students. They braked to a halt as they caught sight of Blake.

Walking behind the rest of his group came Kage Tanaka, the leader of House Avari who I’d seen in the refectory that morning.

I eyed him with interest. He stood tall, posture straight and commanding. His shock of white-blond hair was gathered into a neat queue at the back of his head, while the sides had been shaved close. Just above the collar of his black, silver trimmed uniform, I glimpsed the inked curve of a crescent moon curling along the side of its neck, dark lines stark against his skin.

His dark brown eyes flicked to mine with an intensity that seemed to take in everything, missing nothing.

Just like with Blake, there was a danger to Kage that was palpable. Simmering just beneath the surface. Coiled tight and ready to strike.

A student in front of me hissed and licked her lips.

Maybe the scent of blood was nothing to Blake. But these students were reacting to it, their nostrils flaring, their teeth snapping.

I moved to take a step back, but Blake’s grip on my arm held me in place.

“Well, well,” said a boy with spiked pale hair, stepping forward so he was directly in front of Blake and I. “Looks like someone’s having a little nosebleed.”

He gave me a look that seemed meant to be flirtatious. “Maybe I could help clean that up.”

“Get the fuck away from her, Kiernan,” Blake snarled. He glanced at Kage. “Call off your dogs, Tanaka. Or I’ll put them in line for you.”

Kage Tanaka shrugged slowly. His uniform fit him like a second skin, hugging the lean muscular lines of his body. He said nothing to the boy Blake had called Kiernan.

My body tensed. I could feel myself preparing for another fight.

Kiernan grinned. Then he darted forward.

Before he could even touch me, Blake moved, so quickly I could hardly see what happened next.

Then the boy was flying backwards. His back hit the stone wall and he slid to the floor, his hands clutching his neck. He stared up at us, eyes bulging. His mouth moved but no sounds came out.

“What the hell, Drakharrow? It was just a joke,” one of the girls at the front of the group said angrily. She moved to help Kiernan up.

“Do I look like I’m laughing?” Blake growled, his voice low and dangerous. His gray eyes were as sharp as a blade. I could feel his anger. It radiated off his body, barely restrained.

He moved forward, pulling me along with him, and the group of House Avari students parted quickly.

As we walked past Kage Tanaka, Blake nodded tersely.

Kage smiled slightly.

“Let’s keep moving,” Blake muttered, his tone flat. We turned the next corner and he released a slow breath and ran his free hand through his hair.

“What the hell was that about?” I hissed.

“No one can touch you,” he said shortly. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about it?” I laughed nervously. “That boy was about to... what? Drink me? Lick me? He only stopped because you punched him in the throat. Is this how it is for the blightborn? Every time I cut my finger, do I have to worry I’ll be swarmed?”

Blake glanced around us. “First Years have less restraint about feeding. But they’re supposed to keep their instincts in check and feed regularly to prevent a loss of control. That’s part of learning to be a highblood.”

“Funny, I’m not feeling reassured,” I muttered.

“They’re losing control for a reason.” He took a deep breath. “Because of your blood in particular. You’re not just any blightborn.”

I was silent for a moment. “You mean it’s because of my rider blood?”

“Something like that. None of us have known any other riders. But if this is how they smelled...” His voice trailed off. He eyed me, his eyes finally lingering on the blood crusted around my nose, coating my hand, my sleeve.

“Then what?” I demanded. “I’m so delectable none of you can resist me?”

In an instant, a solid weight had slammed into me and my back was pressed up against a wall.

My heart was pounding. I struggled feebly against Blake as his body held me in place but he was hard as a rock and just as stubborn. I tried to lift a knee to kick out at him, but he’d spread my legs, positioning himself between them.

“It’s not a fucking joke.” Blake’s voice was raspy in my ear.

A shiver raced down my spine.

“You need to take this seriously,” he breathed. “Or you won’t last a week here.”

“And you’d care if I didn’t?” I gave a laugh that came out sounding braver than I felt. “Please. Don’t pretend you care if I live or die.”

He didn’t move.

His body was solid. A warm mass pressed against me. If I breathed in, I knew exactly what I’d smell. Green apples. A faint hint of mint. Something underlying it all, like the pages of an old book. I hated that I knew all of that about him. It seemed so... intimate.

Intimacy with Blake Drakharrow was the last thing I wanted.

“What are you doing?” I hissed. “Get off me. Or is this it? You’re going to feed from me now?”

“I’m not...” His voice sounded strangled. Like it was taking everything he had not to do exactly like I’d said.

He stepped away from me and I let out a breath.

“I’m not permitted to feed from you. Our bond isn’t strong enough. And unlike some, I actually believe in honoring the laws of the Bloodmaiden.”

I smirked. “Good.” I started to turn away.

“Our bond isn’t strong enough for me to feed from you...” he added. “Yet.” He sneered. “Let’s go.”

I’d missed the library session, which was arguably the only class I’d really been looking forward to.

I’d been curious to meet Florence’s mother and see what she was like. Hopefully Librarian Shen wouldn’t mind if I came by at another time to learn the ropes.

Not that I thought I’d need a lot of help. The castle in Camelot had a huge library. I hadn’t spent a great deal of time there but I knew the basics.

Blake had taken me straight into enemy territory when he’d brought me to the healer. House Drakharrow had its own separate area in the castle complex. A huge tower housed all of the Drakharrow students. Not just the highbloods, but also the students who had already passed First Year and been selected into House Drakharrow.

I still wasn’t sure how all of that worked, but the thought of actually living in the same tower as Blake next year was disconcerting.

Already I couldn’t wait to get back to the First Year tower where I could retreat to my safe, cozy little room and simply be alone.