CHAPTER 57 - MEDRA

"You did the right thing," I said, as we stepped into the hall.

"Let's just get away from here as quickly as possible before I fucking explode," Blake snapped. " Was it the right thing? It sure as hell didn't feel like it."

"It was," I insisted. I gulped down a deep breath, thinking of Naveen. Would Regan's death have paid for his? Would it have been sufficient? Or would it simply have started a new feud between Regan's family and Blake's, ultimately leading to more bloodshed, more chaos, more loss of blightborn life? In the end, Regan hadn't chosen Naveen to die in that dome. I had. "It was the right thing for me. I couldn't live with the guilt of another death on my shoulders."

Blake stopped and turned back to look at me. "Even if it was Regan's?" He raised his hand and brushed it against my cheek. To my surprise, I didn't pull away. "She didn't deserve your mercy."

"She'll never believe it was mine. She thinks it was your mercy," I reminded him.

He laughed. "I'll set her straight about that if she dares to come near me." I felt him glance down at me. "In fact, if she comes near you, I want to know about it. If she ever dares to lay a single finger upon you, I'll..."

"You'll what?" I demanded, whirling to face him. "Kill her yourself?"

"Maybe," he said at last. He shrugged. "I don't usually kill women."

"So, she's safe then." I rolled my eyes.

He grinned. "I didn't say Visha had any qualms about it."

I shook my head. "You're incorrigible."

"You love it. Admit it." He grabbed my arm and pulled me into an alcove, leaning back against a stone windowsill and trapping my body between his long legs. "Tell me you love it when I kill for you."

"What the hell is happening here?" I asked, but the words came out half-heartedly. My heart was pounding. He was so very close. So very warm. "I didn't ask you to kill anyone."

He leaned forward, nuzzling his face against mine. "But you could. Ask me, I mean."

I looked down at him, at the smirk playing over his wide mouth, at those beautiful lips. Being around Blake was like dancing on the edge of a blade. Dangerous but intoxicating.

He pulled me closer against him until there was almost no space left between us. "Admit it, Pendragon. Admit that you love it when I get my hands dirty for you."

My mind whirled. "Blake..."

He cut me off, his finger moving to tilt my chin upwards so I had to meet his eyes. "You think I'm joking, but I'm not." His voice turned serious, more raw. "While you were in the Games, I realized something."

I swallowed hard and tried to pull away again. But his hands gripped my waist, not painfully but tight. "Fine. And what was it?"

"That I'd do anything for you," he said simply. "Hurt anyone. Kill anyone."

My breath caught as the words settled over me. He meant it. I knew he did.

I stared down at his chest, then lifted my finger to the triangle of exposed white skin, tracing the top of his dragon tattoos. His body stiffened beneath my touch, goosebumps forming under my fingers.

What the hell was I doing?

"I don't want that," I said softly, finally lifting my head and looking into his eyes. "I don't want you to kill for me."

He was quiet for a moment. Then he pushed his forehead against mine. "It doesn't matter what you want, Pendragon. You'll never have to ask."

My heart raced. My body was responding to him, with or without my permission.

"I've missed you," he whispered again. His breath moved over my skin, warm and familiar.

I shivered. "I've missed you, too," I breathed. "But Blake, I..."

The kiss was like a thunderstorm that had been gathering for far too long. His lips crushed mine, desperate, heated. Lightning flared. Sparks deep in my soul. My blood tingled.

I should have pushed him away. But I didn't. Instead, I wound my hands around his neck, pulling him closer down to me, sliding my hands into his hair, unable to bear the distance between us for another second.

Blake's hands gripped my waist. He pulled me against him, flattening my breasts against his chest. I could feel every inch of him.

He kissed me as if I were air and he couldn't get enough.

He kissed me like wildfire, consuming everything in its path.

He kissed me as though I were the last drop of blood in the world, the only thing that could ever sate his hunger.

Part of me feared his desire. It was as dark and as deep as a void. If I let him, Blake Drakharrow might just swallow me whole. Devour me like a dragon.

His fangs brushed against my lower lip. My breath caught as I slid my tongue over those sharp points, feeling their edge. He was dangerous. But instead of fear, that knowledge was only fueling the tempest inside of me.

Blake growled, the sound vibrating against my mouth. A shiver coursed down my spine. His hands tightened on my waist, as his lips moved down my neck, grazing my skin with his fangs.

For a moment, I thought he might actually bite down, that he might lose control.

For a moment, part of me wanted him to.

"Your uncle is looking for you, Drakharrow," a cool male voice said from behind me.

The moment shattered.

Blake's head jerked up, his lips parting in a feral snarl. "Tanaka." He stood up, pulling away from me with a growl of frustration.

I turned to see Kage leaning against the opposite wall.

Blake gave me one last look, hungry and possessive. "Later, Pendragon."

He stalked off down the corridor.

I watched him go, trying to steady my breathing, my pulse still racing.

"Well, well." Kage pushed himself off the wall and came over to me. "That looked... intense."

"Just how long were you watching?" I asked coldly.

He smiled. "Not long."

The inked curve of his crescent-moon tattoo curled along the side of his muscular neck. I remembered his house motto. Luna sanguinea surgit . Blood moon rises.

I started walking towards the First Year dormitory. He fell into step beside me.

"What do you want, Kage?"

"You know he's only going to break your heart, right?"

I glanced at him sharply, caught off guard.

Kage's usual smooth demeanor softened as he looked down at me. "When that happens," he said quietly. "Remember you have other friends."

"Strangely not comforting," I snapped. "Why don't you mind your own business? We went on one date. You don't own me."

"And neither does Blake. I'm glad we're in agreement," Kage said calmly. "Look, I've seen how this goes, Medra. The Drakharrows are only interested in one thing. Power. And trust me, nothing will come between them and what they want, not even you."

I tensed at his words. "Are you really going to claim House Avari is any different? Please. Spare me the speech."

"I never said we were any different. But I'm not pretending to be something I'm not," Kage replied. He met my gaze and held it. "Just be careful. With Blake. With all of this. Can't you feel it in the air? Something is shifting. The balance. Blake's uncle..."

"What?" I demanded, suddenly afraid.

"Lord Drakharrow senses it, too," Kage said slowly. "Something there. On the horizon."

"Senses what?" I demanded. "Why don't I sense anything?"

"Maybe you do," he said softly, looking at me intensely. "Maybe you don't want to admit it, even to yourself."

I looked away. The only thing I was sensing that I didn't want to admit to Kage was feelings for Blake that went way beyond hatred.

"I don't need your warnings, Kage," I finally said, trying to push past him.

He held up his hands, making no attempt to touch me. "Just keep in mind what I've said. In the spirit of friendship."

"Right," I muttered, walking past.

But even when I got back to the First Year tower, his words lingered, sticking in my mind longer than I wanted them to.