Bloodwing Academy, #1
On Wings of Blood
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
Chapter 24
Overview
During the House Leader ceremony, Blake fixates on Medra, weighing her defiance against Regan’s compliance and worrying about consequences for Medra. Headmaster Kim’s speech is cut short by Coregon’s surprise knife attack, citing Blake’s “weakness” over Medra. On the reactivated moving platforms, Blake overpowers and kills Coregon. The crowd celebrates while Medra watches, setting new tensions around loyalty, control, and Blake’s leadership.
Summary
Blake stands in the arena as Rodriguez seats Medra among House Drakharrow’s elite, beside the poised Regan. Blake obsesses over Medra after their earlier fight, contrasting her dangerous defiance with Regan’s cold obedience, and worries about punishment for Medra’s attack while admitting his own conflicted attraction and need to feed.
Headmaster Kim delivers a shaming speech about courage and legacy, noting Blake is unchallenged. As Blake grows impatient, Neville, the fluffin hidden at Medra’s feet, growls a warning. Blake turns just in time to be stabbed by Coregon Phiri, who smuggled in a dagger.
Coregon accuses Blake of weakness for tolerating Medra’s defiance and failing to punish her. Blake, wounded but recovering, engages Coregon as the arena’s stone platforms awaken and begin to shift. Blake refuses to use the dropped dagger, relying on skill and fury, determined not to leave Medra to Coregon’s mercy.
They trade blows across rising platforms. Blake taunts Coregon about lost opportunities and loyalty, revealing he had held back in past spars. Coregon admits attacking Vaughn at Marcus’s urging; Blake condemns the betrayal and defends Theo as family. Exploiting the descending platform, Blake pins Coregon by the throat beneath it.
Ignoring Coregon’s last plea, Blake lets the platform crush him. The platforms grind to a halt; the crowd erupts in approval of the brutal victory. Blake scans the stands and locks eyes with Medra, who holds Neville and does not cheer, leaving Blake uncertain of her judgment and underscoring fresh tensions in his rule.
Who Appears
- Blake DrakharrowProtagonist; unchallenged House Leader nominee ambushed by Coregon; kills him on shifting platforms; conflicted over Medra and leadership.
- Medra PendragonBlightborn consort; angry after earlier fight; watches ceremony, cradles Neville, does not cheer after Coregon’s death.
- Coregon PhiriFormer ally who ambushes Blake with a dagger, calling him weak over Medra; crushed under a descending platform.
- Headmaster KimDelivers scathing ceremony speech about courage and legacy, highlighting Blake’s lack of challengers.
- Regan PanseraComposed consort candidate seated beside Medra; embodiment of compliant highblood ideals Blake rejects personally.
- Neville (fluffin)Small creature hidden at Medra’s feet; growls to warn Blake of Coregon’s attack.
- RodriguezFaculty presence who seats Medra; potential ally Blake considers consulting to mitigate Medra’s punishment.
- Theo SabinoBlake’s cousin; invoked in the fight as someone Blake protects despite Coregon’s contempt.
- Marcus DrakharrowBlake’s brother; named by Coregon as having urged the attack on Vaughn, deepening betrayal.