“You’re right,” he said, a little sadly. “But... it can be hard to stop them once they get going.”

I shook my head. “What did you come over here for? Are we through?”

“I wanted to apologize. I mean, I do apologize.”

I leaned back and crossed my arms. “Does that mean you won’t go along with any of their future nasty little plans for me? Or is this just the first of many ‘apologies’?”

Theo winced. “The first and the only, I hope.” He looked at me expectantly. “I also wanted to invite you to a party.”

I stared. “A party?”

“Right. Almost every night, we party on the beach down below the castle. We have a big bonfire, drink some wine. It’s a good time all around. You should come one night. We can talk more. I’d really like that.” He smiled encouragingly.

“I...don’t think so, Theo,” I said slowly, shocked that he was inviting me in the first place. “Does Regan know you’re over here inviting me?”

He looked obstinate. “She doesn’t need to know.”

“What about Blake?” I prodded.

He said nothing.

“I see,” I said slowly. “Well, I’m not sure how fun it would be for me to come and hang out where I’m not wanted. But thanks for the invitation. I’m sure we’ll see each other around.”

“Lots of people come. It’s not just House Drakharrow,” Theo said stubbornly. “Well... I’ll keep an eye out for you.” He leaned down and dropped his voice. “There’s a staircase by the Advanced Weaponry courtyard. You take that all the way to the bottom. Then exit out onto the beach. From there you should be able to find us. Feel free to come by one night.”

I nodded. “Sure. We’ll see.” But I knew I wouldn’t be joining him.

As Theo walked away, I plonked my head down onto my pile of books with a groan.

I’d found nothing useful and it was past six o’clock. My stomach was growling. But I hadn’t even opened Professor Rodriguez’s book on dragons since that first day.

I told myself I’d at least get through a few chapters. And then dinner.

I wondered if snacks were allowed in the library. If so, I’d be able to get a lot more done next time. I could stay until midnight. But as I glanced around, I spotted a large sign in bold letters that read “Absolutely No Food or Drink!” Below it, in smaller letters, someone had scrawled, “Yes, That Means Even Highbloods. You Will Be Banned.”

Somehow I doubted the sign would be enough to stop Blake and Regan’s crew. I suddenly pitied the poor Bloodwing librarians, having to deal with all of the rich and privileged highblood students.

Hands slammed down on the table and I jumped.

“What the hell, Blake?” I said angrily as I glared up at him.

A grin slowly formed on his face in a way that made goosebumps form on my arms. “Just trying to keep you on your toes, Pendragon. Just checking if those rider reflexes are any good.”

“You know they are.” I tried to look more cocky than I felt.  “Just go and ask Visha.”

He laughed.

I glanced around. “Aren’t you forgetting something? Like your accessory?”

“Accessory?” He looked at me blankly.

“Regan,” I said pointedly. “Aren’t you two attached at the hip?”

“Oh, you saw that, did you? She can’t seem to get enough of me.” He leaned down until his face was close to mine. “Jealous?”

I pushed my chair back so we were further apart and crossed my arms over my chest. “You wish. The sight of you makes me want to vomit. With or without your arm candy.”

He leaned back against the table, then gestured to all of the books in front of me. “What are you reading about, anyhow?”

“Just researching ways to kill you,” I said sweetly. “Vampire Murder Methodology 101.”

He scowled. “You shouldn’t joke about that.”

“Why not?” I demanded. “Because only highbloods are allowed to murder blightborn?”

“No one’s murdering anyone,” he protested. “You need to lighten up.”

I rolled my eyes. “Right. Because you’d have actually cared if Visha had stabbed me to death right in front of you. Or if Regan had killed me when I jumped off that stone dragon.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re exaggerating. You were fine. Besides, Professor Sankara showed up in time. As for Regan, the headmaster stopped her. She knew that would happen. It’s not as if she...” He trailed off awkwardly.

I smiled. “Exactly. Don’t bother denying that she would have loved to see me die yesterday.”

He grabbed the book closest to me before I could stop him.

“Serpents of the Sky: A History of Dragons,” he read aloud, before I could grab the book back. He sniggered. “What is this? Homework?”

“Professor Rodriguez gave it to me,” I said coolly. “Now give it back.”

He dropped the book onto the desk with a thud and stood up. “The only thing left of the dragons are those stone statues. So what’s the point? They’re ancient history.”

“Then why am I here?” I said, meeting his gaze.

And in that moment, I realized I really did want an answer.

“Why am I here?” I repeated. “Why was I brought here?”

“To Bloodwing Academy?” He frowned, looking confused.

“To this world,” I hissed. “To you.” I shook my head. “Never mind. Never fucking mind. You know nothing. Just like everyone else.”

He took a step away from the table, then paused. “You should be glad the dragons are gone,” he said quietly. “You think we’re bad? The highbloods? They were even more brutal.”

I met his eyes steadily. “Maybe that’s exactly what this place needed. Balance. Something to keep you in check.”

He said nothing. Simply turned and walked away.

I went back to my book, Serpents of the Sky, this time more eagerly than before.

Brutal were they?

Suddenly I wanted to learn everything I could about the creatures Blake Drakharrow deemed worse than vampires.

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BOOK 2

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CHAPTER 14 - BLAKE

A few days earlier...

I slammed the double doors open, hearing them crash against the walls with a satisfying bang.

“What did you just do?” I roared as I stalked towards the long table where my uncle and brother were already seated.

My brother rose to his feet, nervously glancing across the table at my uncle.

“Back the fuck off, Blake,” Marcus said. “There’s no need to act like a barbarian.”

“A barbarian?” I seethed. “A barbarian? Yet you had no qualms about betrothing me to one today, Uncle. We know nothing about this girl or where she really comes from. For all we know, one of the other houses planted her there themselves.”

I glared down at the ancient vampire who sat staring up at me calmly from eyes as red as blood.

Viktor Drakharrow led our house. Even before that, he had been a force to be reckoned with as my father’s strongest and most brutal general.

“There is no way one of the other houses would have sat on a secret like that for so long. Or that they would have parted with that girl so easily. You always knew you’d be assigned a second consort,” Viktor replied quietly. “You have a little...” He gestured to his face.

I wiped at my face, my cheeks flushing. There at the corner of my lips. A few spots of blood. I brushed them away.

“Feed in a frenzy, did we, Brother?” Marcus laughed. “How unlike you.”

“Shut the fuck up, Marcus,” I spat. “I’d been out on campaign for days. I was hungry.”

“Of course you were,” Viktor said soothingly. “And you deserved to feed. Just as we all do.”

I’d grabbed a House Drakharrow thrall on my way into the Black Keep. There was a group of them always around, always available. Viktor made sure of that. I didn’t like to use them, but this time I’d been desperate.

Of course, with Marcus around, they didn’t last long. This one had been pretty, too. I doubted I’d see that poor woman again.