Blake’s hand jerked around mine. “Uncle...”

“Silence, Nephew.” Lord Drakharrow warned. “I honor you both, here in this hall today. Make no mistake about it.”

The vampire lord waved a hand and I felt power go through me, winding itself around me like an icy ribbon.

There was a sharp pulling sensation and I found my hand not simply being gripped by Blake’s but actually clasping his back as if I wanted to.

There came the sound of tearing flesh.

I screamed, my eyes darting downward.

My wrist had been torn open. Blood dripped onto the marble floor beneath.

But not just mine. Blake's wrist was pressed against my own, and it was bleeding, too.

Lord Drakharrow was smiling down at us, his red eyes glowing.

“Let it be known that this bond is unbreakable, as enduring as the strength of our realm. By my will and the power of our ancient rites, Blake Drakharrow and Medra Pendragon are now bound together in fate and duty, forever unyielding, irrevocably united. As the dragon flies and the blood endures, so shall your destinies be intertwined. Your bond is forged. Through fire and shadows, you shall be one. What is spoken is unbroken. What is bound cannot be unbound.”

I gasped aloud as our linked hands flew above our heads. Our blood, mixed together, trickled down my arm, warm and sticky.

Lord Drakharrow flicked his wrist and our hands dropped.

I let go of Blake’s as fast as I could, stepping away from him as if I’d been branded.

Which I had.

I looked at my wrist. Already the gash was healing. But a mark remained. A teardrop shape. Bright red like a drop of blood. I rubbed at it and it stayed in place, even as the pain faded.

“This is but the first step in your binding,” Lord Drakharrow said, watching me as I took in the mark. “Blood is the beginning just as blood is the end. Blood will have blood. Your essence has not been shared completely. The mark is the first stage.”

I glanced around and suddenly realized how still the hall had become. Many of the vampires around me were licking their lips. Some were sniffing the air hungrily like Barnabas had.

I shivered. They smelled me. Smelled my blood. And they hungered for it.

I glanced at Blake, expecting to see the same bloodlust on his face. But to my surprise, he was as stoic as before. If anything, his jaw was clenched a little tighter, his lips pressed together even harder. He refused to meet my gaze.

“Medra Pendragon is hereby declared the Second Betrothed Consort of Prince Blake Drakharrow,” Lord Drakharrow was decreeing to the crowd. “She is not to be touched. If she is fed upon, there will be slaughter. All in this hall have been warned.”

The vampire’s voice was cold. Yet for once, I was grateful for the power that lay behind it. Only a fool would have messed with that terrifying old man. I hoped none of the people licking their lips at the sight of my wet blood would be that stupid.

Then it dawned on me. The word he had used.

Second Betrothed.

Who was the first?

Then our eyes met.

A trickle of blood ran down her chin where she had bitten her lip clean through in silent fury. As I watched, she lifted a hand and wiped away the red streak, never taking her eyes from my face.

There was no doubt in my mind who Blake Drakharrow’s First Betrothed was.

Regan Pansera.

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CHAPTER 3 - MEDRA

Blake Drakharrow strode down the stone hall ahead of me.

He had let go of my hand as soon as his uncle had finished speaking. Evidently he had decided I wasn’t a flight risk at this point.

He’d spoken a few words with his uncle in private then stormed back out of the Keep, gesturing for me to follow.

He’d led the way back into the courtyard where he’d gestured to a soldier to give me a horse, then mounted his own.

We had ridden, not to some other part of the large castle complex as I had expected, but back over the iron bridge and to the mainland. From there, we turned, crossing the iron bridge that led to the sprawling castle of onyx on the third island.

Only when we arrived at the outskirts of the place and Blake dismounted, did I do the same. I marched towards him, determined not to be silent any longer.

“Where are we and what the fuck just happened back there?”

He looked up from his horse slowly. “Foul mouth you have.”

“You haven’t heard anything yet,” I said sweetly. “Please don’t tell me you took all of that bullshit seriously.”

“I did. I do.” He paused. His jaw twitched with tension. “And yes, we are.”

I spoke through clenched teeth. “We are what?”

“You know exactly what. Betrothed.” He raised one perfectly shaped white brow. “I can tell you’re excited. I’m not surprised. Most women would be.”

“Excited?” I exploded, ignoring his ill-fated attempt at humor. “When and if I wed, I’ll choose my mate. He won’t be chosen for me by some...”

“What?” Blake turned on me, his gray eyes suddenly clouded with wrath. “By the most powerful vampire in the Thralldom? Do you have any idea, any clue at all what just happened back there?”

“Why don’t you enlighten me? It’s obvious you’re dying to.”

“You were just elevated beyond the mundane.”

I snorted with laughter. “Is that what you’d call it?”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how many blightborn women would literally kill to be in your place right now? I found you on a pile of corpses.” He sniffed the air with his hawkish nose, and his aristocratic features twisted in disgust. “You still reek of them.”

I crossed my arms self-consciously. He was right. That didn’t mean he wasn’t also a bastard for saying so.

“I haven’t exactly had a chance to take a bath. Someone was dragging me around in chains, as you’ll recall,” I pointed out.

“Well, you’ll have all of the perfumed baths you want now. But there’s far more to the bargain.”

“More than being chained to you for the rest of our lives? That is what those words meant, right?” I hesitated, then added, “And I’m not the only one, am I?”

“Oh, you noticed Regan, did you? She looked delighted, didn’t she?” He shrugged. “Don’t worry about her. I’ll see to it that she falls in line.”

“I won’t worry,” I said. “Because I don’t share. And I’m not your mate, no matter what your uncle or anyone else announced.”

“Keep telling yourself that. But you felt the binding. You had no choice. Neither did I. Do you really think I’d have chosen this?” He looked me up and down, then shook his head. “You’re beneath me in every possible way. Whoever you are, whatever you are.”

I snarled, surprising myself. “Good to hear. Because you won’t be touching me at any point. Let’s get that straight. You certainly won’t be breeding with me.”

“I have no plans to touch you if you were the last woman in the Thralldom,” he snapped back, looking just as furious. “But if I did...”

“Yes, yes, I should feel ever so honored, ever so grateful. Is that what you like to tell yourself as a woman lies beneath you? You think to yourself how honored she must feel? Gods, you’re a piece of work.” I shook my head. “I almost feel sorry for Regan.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Regan is thrilled to be my future consort. She doesn’t need your pity.”

“Right. I’m sure. So, what now?” I changed the subject abruptly. “Where are we?”

“Ah, yes, your second question. If you’re finished trying to convince yourself you aren’t bound to me...”

“I’m not, never will be.”

“Whatever. This–” He gestured around us. “Is Bloodwing Academy.”

I wrinkled my nose. “What?”

“An academy. A school. They do have those where you come from, don’t they?”

I glared at him. “I believe I’ve heard the words once or twice.”

“Good. I daresay it’s too much to hope you can read and write, too, and aren’t secretly some swine herder’s daughter.”