On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy #1)

CHAPTER 39 - MEDRA

Two days before the Dance of the Longest Night, Kage sent me a dress.

It arrived in a sleek black box, tied with a ribbon embossed with tiny silver stars.

When I opened it, the fabric spilled over my fingers, shimmering like liquid night.

The dress was in House Avari’s colors, black with silver accents. The bodice was tightly fitted with a deep V neckline that plunged daringly, framed by thin satin straps that showed off my shoulders and left most of my back exposed. Flared layers of tulle made up the skirt, which had been embroidered with silver half-moons. A high slit ran up one side of the dress, reaching all the way up to mid-thigh.

A note had been tucked into the folds of fabric. “Medra, you don't have to wear this, but I would be honored if you did. House Avari's colors suit you.”

I hesitated, holding the note in my hands. Then I set my jaw. I owed House Drakharrow no allegiance. Why shouldn’t I accept the gift?

Now, I stood in my dorm room with Florence, cinching the laces of the bodice.

“You look amazing,” Florence said admiringly.

I twirled in front of the full-length mirror, feeling the gown swish around my legs. “I've never worn anything like this before.” I glanced down. The slit was certainly high enough.

“Well, I would never have guessed. You’re going to fit right in. The ball is full of girls in extravagant gowns, all trying to outdo one another.” Florence’s eyes twinkled. “But in that dress Kage sent, you’re going to outshine them all. I can’t wait to see the look on Regan’s face when she sees you.”

I looked at Florence. She was wearing a modest gown of midnight-blue with capped sleeves. The dress hit her legs just above the knee, showing off shapely calves and ankles.

“Your dress might be more understated but you look gorgeous, too, Florence,” I said loyally. “You can’t hide that body under a cloak forever you know.” I smiled as she blushed.

We set to work on one another's hair. Florence pinned up half of my red curls, leaving the rest loose around my shoulders, then threaded silver ribbon through my updo. It was a tousled, wilder look that paired well with Kage’s daring gown.

When she was done, I pulled Florence’s long, straight, dark hair into an elegant twist and pushed in some pins capped with seed pearls around it to hold it in place. She looked graceful and sophisticated, exactly the way she truly was.

“Are you nervous?” Florence asked as she readjusted one of the pins in my hair.

“A little,” I admitted. “Are you?”

Florence tilted her head. “I would probably be more nervous if I wasn’t going with Naveen.”

I smiled. “He puts you at ease. That’s a good thing. You know, he...” I was just about to say something along the lines of not underestimating Naveen’s potential when there was a knock at the door.

One of the First Year girls stood there. She was dressed in a tunic and trousers, clearly not planning to go to the ball.

“Medra, you have a guest waiting in the Common Room.”

I thanked her and glanced at Florence. “I guess I’ll see you there.”

I hurried down the winding staircase. As I reached the bottom, my breath caught. A tall figure was standing by the fireplace. For a moment, all I saw was the silver hair and slender tall frame. My heart sped up. Blake.

Then the figure turned. Kage.

He was dressed in a formal black jacket, trimmed with silver and perfectly tailored to his slim, muscular build. A silver brooch, shaped like a crescent moon, was pinned to his left lapel. He looked handsome and regal, with his high cheekbones catching the light and his dark eyes shining like black onyx.

His lips curved into an appreciative smile as his gaze swept over me.

“You look exquisite.” His dark eyes traveled up to my hair. “The dress suits you. It sets off your hair. Like fire against the night sky.”

I felt my cheeks warm at the lavish compliment. I fingered the silver embroidery of my gown, momentarily lost for words, which rarely happened. It certainly never did with Blake.

Before I could properly respond, Kage reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black velvet bag. “I thought this might complete the look.”

He emptied the pouch into the palm of his hand, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a pendant shaped like a half-moon.

“May I?”

He stepped behind me and gently fastened the pendant around my neck. For a moment, his fingers lingered against my throat and a shiver went down my spine.

I found myself wondering whether I could ever feel anything for Kage Tanaka. Would he even want me to? What was he getting out of all of this, besides a perfect opportunity to infuriate Blake?

And besides, who was to say Blake would even care? It might have been sheer arrogance on my part to think he’d be bothered by my showing up to the ball on the arm of another man.

“Perfect,” Kage murmured, stepping back. “You’re perfect.”

He offered his arm. “Shall we?”

I hesitated for only a moment, then took it. Together, we left the Common Room to make our way to the ball.

The refectory had been completely transformed.

The long rows of tables and benches had been removed. Large circular tables draped with white linen tablecloths had been set up in their place, all decorated with dark evergreen garlands intertwined with pale blue roses, their petals dusted with glittering frost.

Long, thin, icicle-like chandeliers made of crystal hung from the ceiling. The walls had been enchanted with some sort of a charm. They shifted as they displayed images of snowflakes, swirling from one end to another.

Beneath our feet, the floor seemed to sparkle and gleam, enchanted with a pattern of frosted blue ice.

At the far end of the room, in the center of the stage, a great silver clock had been hung up. It counted down the hours to the end of the solstice night.

As I stepped into the room with Kage at my side, I spotted Regan and Blake. They were standing with a group of students from House Drakharrow.

Blake had his back to us, but Regan was facing the entrance.

She looked stunning as always, though her dress was a little predictable. A bold red satin, short and tight, that clung to every curve, leaving little to the imagination.

Regan’s eyes widened and her jaw went slack as Kage led me inside. I watched, curious, as she grabbed Blake’s arm and whispered something urgently to him. He turned slowly, then froze.

His gaze locked onto mine and the world seemed to pause.

I watched his jaw tighten and his eyes grow dark and stormy. A shiver went down my spine.

He was displeased. It was the reaction I’d anticipated, the reaction I’d wanted. I glanced at Kage. He was smiling slightly, his eyes also on Blake.

I lifted my chin, determined to ignore everyone from House Drakharrow and focus on the man standing by my side.

Kage led me to a table full of students in House Avari colors. None of them were familiar to me, but they smiled in a surprisingly friendly way. One boy stood up and offered me his seat.

I took it gratefully as the girl beside me leaned over. “I’m Evie. Is this your first Frostfire Festival at Bloodwing?”

I nodded. “Yes. Pleased to meet you.”

Kage took the seat beside me, his gaze sweeping over the room before returning to me. “Forgive me for saying it again,” he murmured against my ear, his voice low and husky. “But you look ravishing tonight. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”

I felt a flush creep up my neck, but tried to mask it with a polite nod. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

Next to smooth-talking Kage, I felt slightly awkward and out of place but I was determined not to show it.

Evie leaned over again, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Just so you know, Kage has never brought a date to one of these things before.”

I glanced at Kage, raising my eyebrow.

He shrugged casually.

I was about to respond when I caught a flash of red and white. Turning, I saw Catherine Mortis making her way towards us. The House Leader always had a bored, prideful air about her, but tonight, it seemed even more pronounced.

To my surprise, she was without her blightborn companions. Instead, she was flanked by two highbloods, one male and one female. They stood behind her, looking beautiful and similarly bored.

Catherine’s gaze, I belatedly realized, was focused on me.

“I like your dress,” she said, as she neared the table. Her tone was approving, but her eyes still held their customary superiority. “Black and silver.” She glanced at Kage. “Good choice.”

I wasn’t sure if that last part was directed to me or to Kage.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling slightly uneasy under the scrutiny.

Catherine Mortis lingered a moment longer, looking down at Evie. “Save me a dance later, won’t you?” she said, waving a slender hand.

Evie flushed with pleasure and nodded.

Then, with a small nod to Kage, Catherine moved on, her two companions trailing behind her.

Once she was gone, I turned to Kage, my curiosity piqued. “Were those her consorts?”

He nodded. “They’re not official yet. But her father has approved them. They’ll be in the Games with you.”

I remembered what I’d heard about Catherine. She preferred women. But she’d chosen one male consort. For breeding, I assumed. What a decision to have to make. But I supposed noble highbloods were used to those kinds of compromises.

“Where are your consorts?” I blurted out, before I could stop myself. “I’m sorry. Is that in poor taste?”

Kage smiled and shook his head. “I don’t have any yet. In House Avari, archons make their own choices. We’re at Bloodwing for years. I still have plenty of time to decide.” His gaze slid over me, with the hint of a suggestion.

I felt a mixture of intrigue and discomfort at the implication but before I could reply, Kage stood up.

“The orchestra is playing.”

I glanced over at the stage and saw that he was right. The Bloodwing Ensemble had begun to play and I’d been so distracted I hadn’t even noticed. There was Naveen in the front row.

I scanned the crowd and found Florence. She sat at a table near the stage with some other First Years, talking and laughing. I wondered what would happen between her and Naveen tonight. Would Naveen work up the courage to tell her how he really felt?

Belatedly, I realized Kage was offering me his hand.

“Shall we dance?”