Bloodwing Academy, #2
The Bond That Burns
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
CHAPTER 9 - BLAKE
Overview
Blake asserts dominance in Drakharrow’s common room, publicly taunting Medra and showcasing highblood feeding to cement control. He clears the room to threaten boundaries, ordering Medra to avoid Kage and House Avari. Medra questions the bond’s legitimacy and proposes ending it; Blake refuses, embracing cruelty. Theo’s arrival breaks the standoff, and Medra leaves, deepening Blake’s inner conflict.
Summary
Blake descends into Drakharrow’s bustling common room and relishes control, noting highbloods feeding from thralls as a display of power. He publicly targets Medra as she appears, mocking her connection to Nyxaris and provoking laughter to reinforce his authority.
As tension builds, Blake escalates by threatening to make Medra’s feeding public and demanding she kiss his Drakharrow ring to show submission. Medra refuses, criticizing his humiliation tactics and challenging his leadership.
Blake clears the room to speak privately and lays down a command: Medra must avoid Kage Tanaka and all of House Avari. Medra rejects the order, condemns the imbalance of their feeding arrangement, and questions whether their bond is real or engineered to control Blake. She urges ending it so both can be free.
Stung and jealous at the thought of Kage, Blake refuses and claims he prefers cruelty, confirming her worst view of him. Their confrontation crystallizes opposing goals: Blake clinging to control and the bond; Medra seeking autonomy and an end to their enforced tie.
Theo enters and interrupts, inviting Medra to breakfast with Visha and Florence. Medra leaves with Theo, while Blake simmers over perceived disloyalty within his house and wrestles with the pain of losing his grip on her.
Who Appears
- Blake DrakharrowHouse Drakharrow leader; stages a public power display, threatens Medra, forbids Avari contact, refuses to end their bond.
- Medra PendragonTarget of Blake’s taunts; challenges his authority, questions the bond’s legitimacy, seeks freedom from enforced feeding.
- Theo DrakharrowBlake’s cousin; interrupts the confrontation and escorts Medra to breakfast, defying Blake’s control.
- LaurentEager first-year highblood feeding openly; laughs at Blake’s jibes, suspected by Blake of spying.
- Visha VaidyaDrakharrow student mentioned; breakfast companion of Medra, drawing Blake’s displeasure.
- Florence ShenMedra’s friend in House Avari; waiting at breakfast, her allegiance irritates Blake.