Bloodwing Academy, #2
The Bond That Burns
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
CHAPTER 43 - BLAKE
Overview
Blake confronts Marcus after Florence is shot, only to witness Kage transform into a massive white wolf. Marcus wounds Rodriguez, then joins Catherine, who uses Lunaya’s bound blood and Pendragon’s stolen blood to necromantically reanimate Molindra.
As Marcus and Catherine mount the corrupted Luminthar to flee, Nyxaris remains drugged and vulnerable, and Blake realizes Marcus staged the earlier carriage attack. Blake is racked with guilt over choices that left Nyxaris helpless.
Summary
Blake faces his brother Marcus after Florence is shot, suppressing grief over Aenia’s death while taunting Marcus to keep his focus. Marcus mocks Aenia and reveals Lunaya has been blood-bound to him. When Marcus aims at Rodriguez, he shoots the professor in the shoulder, spilling a vial mid-ritual.
Kage abruptly transforms into a massive white wolf and attacks Marcus, disarming him. Blake warns Kage not to kill Marcus because Lunaya’s life is tied to him. Lunaya flees not to safety but toward the golden dragon statue, where Catherine Mortis is chanting with blood-smeared hands.
Catherine cuts Lunaya’s palm and presses it to the dragon while invoking “blood of a rider, blood of a master,” using stolen Pendragon blood from the carriage attack. The stone cracks and a corrupted, necromantically reanimated Molindra emerges—tarnished, veined with black, and enraged.
While Kage battles Marcus, Blake recognizes Marcus’s movements from the prior ambush and realizes Marcus and Catherine staged it to harvest Pendragon’s blood. Molindra unleashes golden fire; Blake warns Kage in time. Catherine perches to command the dragon, and Lunaya mechanically helps Marcus climb aboard.
With Nyxaris still sluggish from Rodriguez’s toxin, Blake urges Theo to evacuate Pendragon and the wounded Florence. Chaos mounts as Molindra roars and spreads her wings, preparing to take off. Blake, sick with guilt for aiding the Nyxaris sabotage, sees their only counter-dragon incapacitated while Marcus and Catherine ready their escape on the corrupted Luminthar.
Who Appears
- Blake DrakharrowPOV; confronts Marcus, protects allies, realizes Marcus staged the carriage attack; guilt over Nyxaris’s sabotage.
- Marcus DrakharrowAntagonist; shoots Rodriguez, controls Lunaya via blood-binding, joins Catherine to mount reanimated Molindra.
- Kage TanakaAvari leader; reveals white-wolf shifter form, mauls Marcus, heeds warning not to kill him.
- Catherine MortisMortis leader; performs necromancy using Lunaya and Pendragon blood to reanimate Molindra and command her.
- Lunaya OrphosBound to Marcus, unresponsive; blood used in ritual, assists Marcus and Catherine onto Molindra.
- Professor RodriguezWounded by Marcus’s bolt; earlier drugged Nyxaris; nearly collapses as chaos unfolds.
- NyxarisBlack dragon; listless and grounded from toxin, unable to oppose corrupted Molindra.
- Molindra (Luminthar of House Orphos)Necromantically reanimated dragon; tarnished, veined with corruption; breathes golden flame and prepares to fly.
- Medra PendragonSupports Florence with Theo; her stolen blood enabled Catherine’s ritual.
- TheoAssists Pendragon and wounded Florence; urged by Blake to evacuate.
- Florence ShenShot protecting Medra; unconscious and tended by Pendragon.