CHAPTER 37 - MEDRA

A few weeks passed by.

Wintermark term exams came and went.

I'd passed all of my classes. I'd even surprised myself with some of my marks. I'd received a C (Commendable) in Restoration with Professor Rodriguez. Part of me thought he was as surprised as I was. I couldn't do healing magic, but the theory was fascinating and I was excited to get into more alchemy work in the next part of the course. I'd gotten the highest mark possible in Basic Combat for Blightborns–an E for Excellent, and another Commendable in Advanced Weaponry with Professor Sankara, which I thought was more than fair considering the incident with Blake.

The only class I'd received the second-to-last lowest mark possible, a W for Weak, was History of Sangratha. The class itself was engrossing. Professor Hassan's lectures were usually full of interesting historical tidbits. But she'd hated me since that first day I'd arrived late and no matter how I tried to keep out of her way and no matter how hard I worked on my essays, nothing improved. She'd actually failed me on one paper and accused me of plagiarism. So I was thrilled to have passed with a W. It was better than flunking out completely.

Florence's marks were all stellar which was no surprise. Es across the board. And Naveen seemed happy with his marks, too, though he wouldn't show them to us.

Ever since Florence had accepted his invitation to the ball, he'd been looking a little high strung. But I put that down to his nervousness over the Dance of the Longest Night. Not only was he worried about his solo but now Florence would be there on his arm.

Since the night of the second quake, my dreams had changed.

Blake had been banished. He'd been replaced by the dragon.

The dreams were all pretty much the same. Bloodwing was crumbling around me. Sometimes I was running through the halls and trying to save Florence or Naveen or Vaughn or other random blightborn students.

All while a huge dragon with massive flapping wings rose up out of the rubble, roaring all the while.

There had been a few more tremors, but they'd happened during the daytime and Florence had been right–none of the professors seemed very concerned.

Now we'd reached the last day of term. It was lunchtime. I walked down the corridor with Florence towards the refectory, my breath fogging in the chilly air.

The weather had turned bitingly sharp and a heavy snow covered the campus. But despite the cold, Bloodwing was buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming school break and the Frostfire Festival. Most of the First Year students seemed to be staying at school for the break rather than returning home.

While Naveen and Florence were going to the Dance of the Longest Night together, I had no date for the ball. No one had even asked me. But I was determined not to get in their way by being a third wheel.

I'd told Florence I'd found out I had to go with Blake and Regan. It was a lie, but she'd bought it. Now I could stay out of the way and let her and Naveen get in some alone time. I'd be fine on my own. I'd play the wallflower, staying on the sidelines and watching the dancing, participating only if I absolutely had to. Then I'd leave as early as was acceptable.

As we rounded a corner, my thoughts still wandering, I stopped dead in my tracks as a tall figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking our path.

Another instant and I'd recognized who it was.

Kage Tanaka.

The highblood house leader had an oversized presence. He was nearly as tall as Blake. He stood with his back straight, legs spread in a rigid posture that spoke of someone used to maintaining authority. His white-blond hair, gathered in a bun at the back of his head, with the sides shaved close, gave him a fierce, edgy look. His crescent moon tattoo peeked up over the high collar of his black, silver trimmed jacket.

"Miss Pendragon." His voice was rich and smooth. But there was a sharp edge underneath that told me not to underestimate him. "I wondered if I might have a moment of your time?" He glanced at Florence. "Alone."

Florence looked at me questioningly. When I nodded, she slipped down the hall ahead of us. I knew she'd grab a table in the refectory and wait for me.

"Kage," I said, my voice wary. "What do you want?"

"Medra, isn't it? Such a beautiful name. May I have your permission to use it?"

I hesitated. "I suppose so."

It would be a refreshing change from Blake constantly snapping "Pendragon."

He smiled. "Thank you, Medra. I've been watching you for quite some time now."

My head spun at this revelation. "Have you? Why?" I thought of that night at the bonfire. Kiernan had claimed Kage wanted us to join him. It had seemed to be true, but I hadn't thought anything of it since then.

The leader of House Avari gave me a small, knowing smile. "Let's just say I admire your spirit. It's rare to see someone so...unyielding."

"Unyielding towards highbloods, you mean?"

He nodded. "If you want to put it that way. You stand apart here. Others in your position might have broken."

"I don't break easily," I snapped. Though it had been a close call at times.

"I respect that." Kage's dark eyes lingered on my face, appraising me with a slow, deliberate gaze that made my stomach flip. "Maybe it's the hair. Like the fire of a dragon, you're impossible to tame."

What exactly was happening here? Was Kage Tanaka really paying me compliments?

"Well, thank you," I said slowly. "But that doesn't answer my question. What do you want?"

Kage leaned against the wall, his black eyes watching me carefully. "I want you to come with me to the Dance of the Longest Night."

I blinked, unsure I'd heard him correctly. "I beg your pardon?"

"I want you to be my date for the ball." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if it were the most natural request in the world. "That is, unless you already have one."

I didn't. He knew I didn't. Somehow.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice coming out sharper than I'd intended. "You could ask anyone. You're a House Leader."

"Because you don't belong at Drakharrow's side. He doesn't deserve you. And you know it." His voice dipped, becoming more intense. "You're not a girl who belongs at the feet of someone like Blake. I know you wish you had never been shackled to him by his uncle. Why not show him you'll never belong to him?"

"You think I'm going to go with you just to spite Blake?"

"Let me show you that you don't have to be just a pawn in the Drakharrows' game." He gave me a slow grin. "If you accept, I can promise you one thing, Medra. I'll make sure to give you the night you really deserve."

I swallowed, unsure of how to respond to that. It was an invitation, in more ways than one.

Was I really considering going to the ball with a highblood? What would Naveen and Florence say?

I knew there was more to this. Kage wasn't just being nice. He wanted to use me as leverage against Blake. But did it really matter? When that was exactly what I'd be using him for, too?

"Can consorts even attend with someone other than their archon?" I asked carefully.

Kage shrugged. "It's not specifically forbidden, but it's rare. I have no problem with us being the exception. I'm not one to play by the rules." He took a step towards me. "You're impossible to ignore, Medra. There's something unique about you and it's not just your rider blood. You deserve to be treated with respect. Not as some obligation."

The way he said my name, the way he held my eyes with his... Kage's charm was undeniable, yes, but I wasn't naive enough to fall for it completely. He probably didn't mean a single word he said.

But if I could use him right back... Salvage something of the ball. I imagined what Blake would think when he saw me standing beside the school House Leader. His rival.

Kage was right about one thing. I didn't belong to Blake. Maybe this would be a way to prove that once and for all.

"By the way, there's something Drakharrow probably never thought it worthwhile to tell you about a triad union," Kage said, his dark eyes gleaming with a challenge. "If you refuse to accept the bond, they may not be able to hold you to it."

My heart started to pound. "What do you mean? Are you saying there's a way out of this?"

"Not yet. But if things go on the way they have been between you two then Blake may never be able to feed from your blood. Not properly, anyhow. He won't be able to draw power from your blood if you don't give your consent. Consorts are supposed to strengthen their archon but you'd be a hindrance. You'd be free of him in the one way that really mattered."

Excitement sped through me, but I tried to tamp it down, still suspicious of Kage's motives. "But if we did bond fully?"

I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

But Kage just smirked. "Consorts take lovers all the time. It's accepted. Highbloods are rarely satisfied with just one or even two partners. Blake won't be able to stop you from enjoying the pleasures of life."

I wasn't so sure about that. How much freedom would I really have when I finally left Bloodwing Academy? I suspected the Drakharrows planned to keep me somewhere on their own terms and that I wouldn't be given much fresh air. That is, if I didn't get away from them somehow first.

Making Kage my ally might not be such a terrible idea.

"Fine. I'll think about it."

Kage's dark eyes sparkled with amusement. He straightened and stepped away from the wall. "Don't take too long."

He gave me one last lingering look before disappearing down the hall.