Bloodwing Academy, #1
On Wings of Blood
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
Chapter 17
Overview
At the bonfire, Medra and Theo stop a thrallweave forcing Florence toward the flames, traced to Kiernan from Kage Tanaka’s crew. After Kiernan taunts Medra and scents her blood, Blake intervenes, compels Kiernan, and kills him by hurling him into the fire. The act escalates Blake’s rivalry with Kage and exposes Blake’s possessive claim over Medra, which she rejects at knifepoint before walking away.
Summary
Medra sees Florence walking, unresponsive, toward the bonfire and physically restrains her, feeling the unnatural strength of a thrallweave. With Theo’s help, they spot Kage Tanaka’s crew laughing, and identify Kiernan as the weaver. Florence claws Medra and nearly reaches the flames before the thrall breaks, leaving Florence dazed.
As Medra escorts Florence away, Kiernan blocks them, delivers an invitation from House Avari, and taunts about Blake’s treatment. Florence flees in tears. Medra, furious, shoves and slaps Kiernan, accidentally smearing her blood on his face. Kiernan scents it, poised to taste.
Blake arrives, thrusts himself between them, and thrallweaves Kiernan, ordering him to wipe the blood away. When Kiernan cites Kage’s message, Blake’s anger spikes. In a sudden, brutal move, Blake seizes Kiernan by the throat and throws him into the bonfire, killing him. Kage watches, impressed rather than outraged, signaling a calculated rivalry.
Afterward, Blake, half-drunk and radiating possessiveness, claims Medra as his and urges her to stay. Medra rejects him, presses a hidden knife to his throat, and vows never to belong to him. She withdraws the blade and leaves the beach, refusing to look back.
Who Appears
- Medra PendragonStops Florence from walking into the fire; confronts Kiernan; resists Blake’s possessive claim with a knife and leaves.
- Blake DrakharrowIntervenes using thrallweave, forbids Kiernan from tasting Medra’s blood, then kills Kiernan; asserts a possessive claim on Medra.
- KiernanMember of Kage’s crew; thrallweaves Florence and taunts Medra; killed by Blake when hurled into the bonfire.
- TheoHelps identify the thrallweave on Florence and confronts Kiernan; supports Medra during the crisis.
- Kage TanakaHouse Avari leader; orchestrates pressure on Medra; watches Kiernan’s death with cold approval, deepening rivalry with Blake.
- FlorenceFalls under a thrallweave and nearly walks into the fire; rescued by Medra; flees in distress.
- ReganObserves from across the fire, amused but not responsible for the thrallweave.