Bloodwing Academy, #1
On Wings of Blood
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
Chapter 31
Overview
Medra infiltrates The Drained Rose and secretly witnesses Blake feed on a blightborn worker, confirming he pays and refuses intimacy. As Blake leaves, Medra is discovered by an older masked highblood who assaults and threatens to deliver her to the Sanctum. She wounds him but is overpowered, the fluffin hurt, before the door bursts open.
Summary
Medra slips into The Drained Rose, following the fluffin through a gaudy foyer and up to the second floor where she glimpses Blake vanish down a corridor. The pup leads her to a room with a wardrobe concealing a peephole into the next chamber.
Through the peephole, Medra watches Blake enter and feed from a blightborn girl. The encounter is intimate yet clinical; Blake focuses only on blood, then pays generously and rebuffs the girl’s advances, preparing to leave. Medra feels conflicted anger and jealousy at the sight.
Before Medra can withdraw, a masked highblood drags her from the wardrobe. He reveals blood-smeared lips and hands, signaling recent violence, and fixates on Medra’s hair and scent. Medra draws Coregon’s dagger and stabs his thigh, briefly staggering him.
The highblood recovers with preternatural speed, twists Medra’s wrist, and threatens to take her to the Sanctum—or keep her for himself—highlighting her danger as a unique quarry. Medra notices the fluffin lying motionless, fueling her rage, while her mother’s inner voice urges her to strike again.
Outmatched by the older highblood’s strength, Medra struggles as her bones near breaking. At the height of the confrontation, the room’s door explodes inward with a splintering crash, cutting the assault short and leaving the outcome unresolved.
Who Appears
- MedraProtagonist; infiltrates brothel, spies on Blake feeding, is discovered, stabs attacker, then is overpowered.
- BlakeFeeds on a blightborn worker, pays and refuses intimacy, leaves unaware of Medra’s peril.
- Masked highblood attackerOlder, violent highblood who assaults Medra, threatens the Sanctum, and overpowers her despite a stab wound.
- Blightborn girlSex worker who willingly offers blood to Blake; accepts payment and seeks intimacy he declines.
- FluffinMedra’s pup; leads her to the peephole; is kicked and left motionless during the assault.
- Mother’s voiceInner guiding presence urging Medra to strike again during the attack.