The Bond that Burns (Bloodwing Academy, #2)

by Briar Boleyn

For the ones who love dangerous boys and even more dangerous dragons. Wings up, fangs out!

You sound desperate, little wingless one. Did you think I’d abandoned you? I sucked in a sharp breath. You’re not funny. You know that?

You are not going to die, Nyxaris answered. You will not fall. I will not allow it. I will not permit you to humiliate me in such a ridiculous way.

“By the gods, look at you. You still don’t even think you’ve done anything wrong, do you?”

No matter what I did, she slipped further and further from my grasp. And the truth was, it hurt so much I didn’t know whether to hold on tighter—or just let her go.

“You have to understand,” Theo implored me. “Blake really believes you’re his mate. You’re his only consort now. He cast off Regan for you. You’re his sole source. That kind of a relationship is everything to a highblood. He’s completely dependent on you.” He shifted awkwardly. “To know you don’t want him back, that you’d reject him completely if you could . . . Well, it must be driving him mad. Especially a protective highblood male like Blake.”

I thought of how close we’d become last year. How good it had felt to think, just briefly, that she was on my side. The two of us against the world. Now I was alone again. Oh, I’d been alone before. Regan had never felt like a true partner. But this was somehow worse. Much worse. Now I knew what a real partnership could feel like. I’d had a taste of something real. And I’d destroyed it.

But with Pendragon? I wanted it all. I wanted to talk—and I wanted to hear her talk to me. I wanted to know everything about her—where she really came from, who her family was, her favorite book, her favorite class. I wanted to sleep beside her. Hold her in my arms. Above all, keep her safe. But I couldn’t look forward to doing any of those things. Because she didn’t trust me.

She was a storm of contradictions, all fragility and fire. If she let me, I’d be the one who’d hold her through every storm and tempest on the horizon.

I tightened my arms around her, my chest filled with something too big to name. For once, I wasn’t running, wasn’t pretending. I didn’t want to. The thought of leaving her side tonight—or any other—felt like sacrilege. Maybe I didn’t deserve her. Hell, I knew I didn’t. But that didn’t mean I was going to let her go. Not when she was here, her breath warm against my skin, her trust fragile but real.

For the first time in a long time, I fell asleep believing that maybe, just maybe, I was capable of something better. Because of her.

“When you’re in danger, I feel like I’d gladly give up my life and everything in it to keep you safe.”

Well, if you’re going to go, just go. But don’t stand here and tell me we’re better off apart like it’s some noble sacrifice. Because it’s not. It’s just running away.”

“Not fragile. You’re the strongest woman I know. But even strong people need someone in their corner. Let me be that for you.

happened?” She nibbled her lip. “I’m