Bloodwing Academy, #2
The Bond That Burns
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
CHAPTER 8 - MEDRA
Overview
Medra returns to Bloodwing, where Blake delivers the verdict: she remains under House Drakharrow oversight. After a fierce confrontation, Medra reconnects with Florence, Visha, and Theo, revealing rifts between highbloods and blightborn while planning a potential transfer to House Avari.
Confiding in her mother through the dagger, Medra resolves to investigate Nyxaris’s past and the highbloods’ hidden truths.
Summary
Nyxaris drops Medra at the Bloodwing bridge. In the courtyard, Blake intercepts her, revealing the tribunal’s decision: Medra will remain at Bloodwing under House Drakharrow. Their exchange turns heated—Medra condemns his coercive bond and feeding; Blake claims he’s shielded her and warns she won’t last without him. Medra vows to break free and keep Nyxaris independent.
Back in her room, Medra reunites with Florence, who waited in worry. Visha arrives, teasing about Medra riding Nyxaris and revealing rumors that Nyxaris killed Lord Mortis, elevating Catherine as regent. They discuss inheritance and House politics, while Medra downplays any “bond” with Nyxaris.
Theo joins with Neville the fluffin, lightening the mood before conversation darkens: Medra explains Blake’s nonconsensual bond and feeding; Visha calls such acts tolerated, while Theo rejects them. Talk turns to blightborn killings and a razed village; Theo says Viktor sent Marcus, who went too far. The tension underscores the highblood–blightborn divide.
They review class schedules: Medra will take Defensive Arts with Visha and Theo, historical studies on Sangratha and dragons, and scouting with Stonefist; she’ll share The Alchemist’s Garden with Florence. Theo reveals he had Vaughn transferred from Drakharrow to Orphos at Vaughn’s request. After Theo and Visha leave, Medra asks Florence to sound out Kage about moving her to House Avari, despite likely opposition from Blake.
Alone, warmed by Florence’s friendship, Medra communes with her mother through the dagger. Orcades urges her to seek answers—mine Nyxaris’s memories and force truth from those hiding it. Medra, worried by her mother’s instability yet galvanized, resolves to investigate the dragons’ past and highblood secrets, determined to protect Nyxaris and reclaim agency as classes begin.
Who Appears
- Medra PendragonProtagonist; learns she must stay under Drakharrow, clashes with Blake, reunites with friends, plans Avari transfer, consults her mother, vows to seek dragon truths.
- Blake DrakharrowConfronts Medra with the verdict, asserts control, admits shielding her, provokes and is rebuked as she vows to break their bond.
- Florence ShenComforts Medra with tea and support, shares schedules, worries about divisions, agrees to approach Kage about transferring Medra.
- VishaJoins the reunion, spreads news of Mortis’s death, offers blunt highblood perspective, shares triad escapades, shares Defensive Arts class.
- Theo DrakharrowBrings Neville, condemns coercive bonds, reveals Marcus’s brutality, and that he moved Vaughn to Orphos; shares Defensive Arts class.
- NevilleFluffin who reunites with Florence, provides levity, hints at split care between Florence and Blake.
- NyxarisDragon who drops Medra at Bloodwing; his independence and lost memories drive Medra’s investigative resolve.
- Orcades (Medra’s mother)Speaks through the dagger; urges Medra to seek hidden truths and leverage Nyxaris’s memories despite her own instability.