Page 6

In an instant, the two had collided. I watched in delight as Vaughn folded Theo into his arms, one hand firm at his waist while the other cupped the back of his neck, then drew his lips into a slow, breath-stealing kiss.

There were a few whistles and groans, but to my surprise, no one threw food or shouted anything nasty. I saw a few dark looks from some highbloods at the House Mortis table and a few from Theo’s house, Drakharrow. But none from Vaughn’s, House Orphos.

But then, in a world of cutthroat vampires, Orphos was kind of the exception. I still wasn’t sure what to make of Lysander’s house. There were those who said Orphos was weak. And yet once, they’d been allies of House Drakharrow. Unfortunately, the loss of Lunaya—basically the princess of House Orphos—wasn’t going to put those claims of weakness to rest.

I glanced around again, wondering if anyone knew about Lunaya, then shifted my focus back to where Vaughn and Theo were still embracing. The looks they were getting weren’t necessarily because Theo and Vaughn were both male either, I reminded myself. Theo was a highblood, and Vaughn was blightborn. In Sangratha, a pairing like that was still fairly taboo. My skin prickled. Just like Blake and me.

Except, I told myself, rising as I looked at the clock on the nearby wall, there was no Blake and me, was there?

Theo, Vaughn, and I left the refectory with just a few minutes to spare to get to the entrance to Bloodwing Academy. A sort of back-to-school assembly had been called. Usually events like these were held in the Dragon Court. But this one was being held outdoors in a vast courtyard at the entrance of the school. I could still remember coming through those huge front doors the day Blake had escorted me from the Black Keep. He’d told me he’d never mingle his blood with mine. Rather ironic now.

I walked ahead with Theo and Vaughn trailing behind me through the corridors, hand in hand. We were nearly at the entrance when we heard it: voices, sharp and jeering, tinged with the kind of tone that screamed asshole and that seemed to come easily to those with power undeserved.

“J-j-just leave me alone,” a girl’s voice stuttered, and I cringed, knowing the sound of her weakness would only excite whoever was bothering her.

I glanced behind me. Theo was already scowling, his fists clenched by his sides. Vaughn’s entire body had stiffened, his warm and open expression shuttering. I took a deep breath and rounded the next corner at a jog. A handful of students stood clustered beneath an archway. Six of them. All highbloods.

I spotted Quinn Riley first. She leaned lazily against a stone column, her arms crossed over her narrow chest, pretty lips curved in a satisfied smirk. Two other girls were there. Larissa, a Drakharrow girl with mellow golden skin and silver hair that fell in thick waves. And Gretchen, a tall curvy girl with straight chinlength hair and a pretty-enough face, if you liked the weaselly ones. I’d once stuck a knife in that face, so I guess that counted me out.

The other three were males. One boy lounged against the wall close to Quinn. I wondered if this was her betrothed, the infamous Edward Ashveil, who I’d once heard her and Regan discussing. Apparently, Quinn had worked pretty hard to land him. Elegantly dressed in the colors of House Mortis, the highblood young man stood picking at his nails with a dagger, a faint look of boredom on his handsome brown face. I was a little surprised to see the House Mortis colors. I’d assumed Quinn would be matched to someone from Drakharrow.

The last two were the biggest surprises, however: Lucian Aleron and Evander Sylvain. Both were Visha’s consorts. Evander stood slightly apart from the group, looking stiff and uncomfortable. He’d helped me once, but that had been mostly Visha’s doing. I was a little surprised to see him there, but I told myself I shouldn’t have been. Most highbloods were capable of such casual cruelty.

I spotted the girl they’d cornered as I drew nearer. She was right in the center. Dwarven, curvy, with mousy-brown hair and thread-bare gloves. The blue coat she wore was hanging off her shoulders, far too big for her small frame. Maybe it had been a hand-me-down from an older brother or sister. She was in First Year colors, probably training to be a healer or a scout—if she ever made it that far. I thought of Naveen.

Her eyes were wide with fear. I watched carefully to see who she was looking at. Who was she most afraid of? To my surprise it wasn’t Quinn but Lucian. He was smiling as he tossed something from one hand to another—a shiny crimson apple. I frowned. Not exactly threatening. Not like the knife Edward was still busily cleaning his cuticles with.

“I’m just trying to help,” I heard Lucian say. “You look pale. We thought maybe you could use a little snack. It’s a gift. Go on, take a bite.”

The girl shook her head, smart enough to know something was wrong, even if she couldn’t quite pin down what. “No, thank you. I …”

Quinn peeled away from her pillar. “Refusing a gift from a high-blood? Do you know how deeply offensive that is, girl?”

“I—I—I’m sorry, my lady,” the girl stammered. “I didn’t …”

“Oh, hell no,” I muttered. No one was calling Quinn my lady without an intervention. I started forward without even glancing back at Theo and Vaughn.

“Hey, Lady Quinn,” I called, letting my voice drip with sarcasm. “Why don’t you back the fuck up and let the First Year breathe?” The entire group turned to face me. I took in their expressions.

Quinn was eager. She was obviously delighted to see me. She knew I’d be much more fun to play with than a random blightborn First Year. Lucian was wary. Edward had paused his knife play. He looked curious but not put off. The only one of the six who looked at all intimidated by my arrival so far was Evander. He seemed like he’d scurry off like a rat from a sinking ship, given half a chance. I wondered what Visha would say when she knew what her consorts had been up to this morning.

“You there, First Year. What’s your name?” I called, moving closer and reaching the edge of the group.

“D-dani,” the blightborn girl managed.

“Why don’t I walk you to the assembly now, Dani?” I offered. The girl gave a tremulous nod, but Gretchen and Larissa were suddenly blocking my way. Gretchen looked back over her shoulder and snickered. That was all I’d needed. With a sigh, I grabbed their shoulders and shoved them apart none too gently, then moved into the gap and stepped up to the blightborn girl.

“That’s better,” I began to say—just as Lucian stopped tossing the apple.

They must have had it all planned, for the next instant he’d turned towards Quinn and given her a sly, conspiratorial wink. “Catch.” The apple flew through the air.

Quinn caught it easily, cradling her prize close to her lips as she smiled and showed her fangs. For a second, I thought she meant to bite into it herself.

Then, with no warning, she spun her arm forward and hurled the thing straight at the First Year’s head. It hit with a wet, unnatural splat.

Dani screamed as thick, congealed blood exploded from the apple, matting her hair and running down her cheeks.

I gagged as the rancid scent hit me—sweetly rottinged, like pig’s blood gone sour. A few of the drops had sprayed me. I hastily wiped at my face with the back of my hand as the girl’s scream cracked into sobs. “Dani!” I tried to reach for her, but she was too upset to even look at me.