My stomach dropped, the truth hanging in the air between us, thick and oppressive.

Her voice broke. “How could you? How can you be a part of this? Why do you hate us so much?”

My throat tightened as I saw her pain. I stepped towards her, desperate to comfort her somehow.

“Stay back,” she whispered. “Stay away from me. Don’t you dare fucking touch me.”

I swallowed. “I didn’t choose this. None of this is what I wanted. I was born a highblood.” I took a deep breath. “Some highbloods murder blightborn to feed, yes. You probably figured that out already. But it’s never supposed to happen at Bloodwing. And I...do not. I swear that to you, Pendragon.”

“Why?” she challenged me. “Why not kill us for your food? Why limit yourself? Why hold back?”

“Because the idea sickens me,” I burst out. “To take a life like that. For that reason. Not to protect myself or to protect...” I’d almost said “to protect you.” “Or to protect another. Not in self-defense but simply out of willful indulgence. I hate the idea of it. And so did my father. He tried to change things.”

“And then he died,” she said simply.

I nodded tightly. ‘Yes.”

“So why don’t you do something about it?” she said, her voice deceptively soft. “You stand by and let these people die. You let them murder that girl. You could stop it, but you don’t.”

My heart twisted. “You think I could have stopped that, even if I’d known? Gone up against that many older highbloods? They would have killed me just like they did her.”

“No way. You’re a Drakharrow,” she spat. “A fucking prince of the Blessed Blood. Your uncle is the most powerful vampire lord in Sangratha.”

“None of that would have mattered to them,” I said, trying to control my frustration. “You think my uncle would try to save me? He was down there with them. Wearing one of those masks. Fuck, he might have been the man on the throne for all I know.”

For a second she froze. Then a look of complete revulsion came over her face.

“I think I'm going to be sick,” she muttered, turning away.

I grabbed her arm, then quickly released it as I saw the look on her face. “Look, I know all you want to do is run away but you need to listen to me.”

“I don’t have to listen to a single damn thing you say,” she snapped.

“Yes,” I snarled. “You do. If you want to live, you do. And if you try to run, I will stop you. So you will stay and you will listen. Don’t make me touch you again.”

I could practically see her gnashing her teeth. If she’d had fangs of her own, she’d have ripped my throat out.

“Fine,” she finally spat. “Speak.”

I took a deep breath. “You can’t tell anyone about this. None of it. Not what you saw, not what you’ve learned. If you say anything, you will be killed. Do you understand? They’ll kill you. And not only you.”

Her face was pale but her eyes were full of fire. “Really, Blake? You’re trying to scare me into silence?”

“I’m trying to make you understand how serious this is,” I growled, hoping the desperation would be evident in my voice. “You think I want to threaten you? You think I enjoy all of this? What I’m telling you is true. You can’t say anything. Not a word. Not to your friend Florence. Not to that dwarf you hang around with. No one. If you do, they’ll be killed–right along with you.”

Her lips parted slightly. “Florence...”

I nodded, my voice softening slightly. “Yes, Florence. If you care about her. About any of your friends, you’ll keep quiet.”

I felt like a complete and utter asshole. But what else could I do?

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

I watched her mind race as she clenched and unclenched her fists at her side. I understood. Her world had just unraveled at the seams. And now there I was, trying to sew things back together with lies and guilt.

“Fine,” she finally whispered. “I won’t say anything.”

I exhaled. “Thank you.” I could feel the tension in my shoulders loosen a little.

I gestured ahead of us in the direction of Bloodwing. “Let me go first. My night vision is better.”

I stepped carefully around her and started walking.

A few moments later, I could hear her begin to follow. She kept her distance. I held the lantern high enough that she’d be able to see the path.

The night hadn’t turned out quite the way I’d hoped it would.

Now Pendragon hated me even more than she had before.

But not as much as I hated myself.

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CHAPTER 45 - MEDRA

The night’s horrors weren’t over. Not even close.

I followed Blake through the darkened tunnels, my mind racing. I kept my eyes on his back, unable to shake the memory of the girl’s lifeless body hanging over the silver bowl.

I had so many more questions I wanted answers to. But before I could confront him again, we’d somehow reached the First Year tower and a new kind of chaos descended upon us.

The ball had ended hours ago and so I had expected the Common Room to be deserted. Instead it was filled with people, most of them looking frightened and panicked.

“Medra!” Florence's voice sliced through the noise as she ran towards me. “Where have you been?” She grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me into a hug. “I was so worried about you.”

She barely glanced at Blake, her attention locked on me. Before I could answer, she continued, “It’s one of the housekeeper’s children! A little girl. Poppy. She’s gone missing. Professor Rodriguez is organizing search parties.”

Sure enough, I caught sight of the dark-haired faculty member in the center of the crowd, his face haggard as he pointed at students and barked orders.

I blinked, suddenly feeling exhausted and disoriented. “What do you mean she’s gone? She’s a child. Maybe she just wandered off.”

I thought of all the times I had gone sneaking around the castle in Camelot, without a word to my poor nurse.

“No, you don’t understand.” Florence’s gentle voice shook. “There was blood. On her pillow.”

Blood. My stomach churned, the memories of the rite surging through me like a flood wave.

The servants at Bloodwing were all blightborn, of course. They mostly worked at night, while we students were asleep. They lived in the lower reaches of the castle. We hardly ever saw them. Their children mostly lived away from them, attending blightborn schools in Veilmar. But I knew many had come home for the Frostfire Festival, to celebrate with their families.

These were humble people, just doing their jobs while we–the privileged students, and yes, I included myself in that category for once–attended our classes at the academy.

Their children should have been safe. They were innocent.

I thought of the soft patter of blood filling the silver bowl and shivered.

It was happening again. Now. Here. Tonight. This time to an innocent child.

Panic swelled in my throat.

I turned slowly to Blake.

His face had gone even paler than usual. His expression was grim. “I have to go.”

“Where?” I demanded, stepping in front of him. I glimpsed the look of surprise on Florence’s face. “You can't just leave. Not now.”

His jaw clenched, his eyes darting towards the entrance. “I have to find out what’s going on.”

“You know something, don't you?” I said accusingly, lowering my voice. “You’re not leaving me behind. If you know something, tell me. I’m coming with you.”

“This isn’t a fucking game,” he growled. I sensed his frustration. And beneath it, fear. “Stay here. Where it’s safe.”

I tilted my face up towards him stubbornly. “You want me to stay quiet about tonight? Then I’m coming with you. If you know where that girl is, I’m coming.”

Florence was watching us, her brown eyes wide. I tried to give her a reassuring smile.

Blake glanced at her. I knew he was wondering if she’d overheard.