Page 26 of The Bond That Burns (Bloodwing Academy #2)

The Bloodwing greenhouse was warm, the air heavy with the comforting and familiar scents of earth and herbs. I was getting rather attached to the classroom and getting used to being outdoors part of the week. Not to mention that Professor Allenvale was quickly becoming my favorite instructor after Rodriguez.

Professor Hassan could take a page from her book, I decided as I shifted on the wooden stool I sat on, trying to focus on Professor Allenvale’s voice as she strode up and down between the long tables, handing back our essays.

But my mind was a jumbled mess. Tangled with indecision over the things I’d been holding back from sharing with Florence. Everything that had been happening with Blake. The Tribunal evaluation.

Every glance in my friend’s direction made the knot in my stomach tighten.

Florence sat beside me, completely oblivious to my turmoil, her notes lined up in neat rows in front of her. Her cheeks glowed pink as Professor Allenvale leafed through the essays. I knew she was excited to receive her mark.

I hadn’t told her anything yet—about the Tribunal’s plan, about how her very life might be hanging in the balance because of me. She deserved to know, but how could I say it? How could I look into those trusting eyes and tell her that the highbloods she’d once worshiped were going to use her just to get me to do what they wanted?

Professor Allenvale’s voice cut through the fog.

“Miss Shen,” she said, smiling brightly and holding up a sheaf of parchment. “An absolutely exceptional piece on shadowleaf. Thorough, insightful, and detailed. I was impressed that you even referenced an obscure text by Varison. How long did it take you to comb through the archives to find that one? Hmm?”

Beside me, Florence’s face lit up in a grateful smile. “Thank you, Professor. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.”

I grinned at her. “Good work, Florence.”

I couldn’t tell her, I decided. I’d go back to Blake and tell him he had to convince his uncle to use someone else. Anyone else.

But who? What was I really going to do? Lie and say I cared about Visha or Theo more than Florence? Or maybe sacrifice Vaughn Sabino again? No, I couldn’t do that. Florence wouldn’t want me to.

But...

A roll of parchment suddenly came into view.

Professor Allenvale stood smiling down on me. “Miss Pendragon, a good attempt. A little room for improvement. Perhaps we might work on strengthening your thesis for next time, hmm?”

I grabbed my essay back and blushed. “I knew it needed work. Sorry, Professor.”

“We learn through growing, Miss Pendragon. That’s why we’re all here after all, isn’t it?”

“I thought we were all here because the highbloods wanted to use us for their own ends,” I was almost tempted to say. But when I looked at Professor Allenvale, I didn’t see someone who seemed particularly evil or self-centered. So, I held my tongue.

“I told you I’d help you,” Florence said accusingly. She eyed my parchment. “What’s your mark?”

I unrolled the essay and sighed with relief. “C.” Commendable. Professor Allenvale had been more than generous.

“I got an E,” Florence whispered.

I nudged her. “I figured as much. Show-off.”

She blushed but her face still glowed with pride.

There was a soft squeak at the greenhouse door, followed by a faint creak as it swung open. Everyone turned towards the sound. But the doorway was empty.

“That’s odd,” Professor Allenvale mused, stepping towards the door and pushing it shut again. “Must have been the wind.”

It was a gusty day outside, with a wicked gale blowing in off the sea. We’d had a warm autumn last year, but this time, the seasons seemed to want to rush straight towards winter. Everyone thought we’d get snow soon.

Professor Allenvale began to turn back towards her desk, but before she could reach it, there was a high-pitched barking sound, followed by a blur of motion.

Neville the fluffin bounded into view, his huge ears wiggling and his tail wagging as if he couldn’t be more proud of himself. The little creature darted between the rows of tables, weaving between students’ feet with a determined squeak. Gasps and giggles erupted around the greenhouse.

“Oh, no,” Florence whispered, her cheeks flaming red.

But it was too late. Before she could stop him, Neville leaped right onto her lap, nuzzling against her chest with a happy little yip.

“Florence,” I whispered, torn between laughter and horror. “Why is he here?”

“I don’t know!” she hissed. “I thought he’d run off to Blake’s room this morning. He’s been alternating between us all week. At least, I think that’s where he’s been going.” She gently tried to lift the fluffin off her lap, but Neville wasn’t having any of it. He squirmed and yipped more loudly, his large owl-like eyes locked adoringly on her face.

“I see we have an unexpected guest,” Professor Allenvale said from the front of the room. To my relief, she was smiling.

“I’m so, so sorry, Professor,” Florence moaned. “Neville sneaks out. He must have followed me. But he’s never snuck into one of my classes before.”

“Just the library,” I muttered under my breath.

Florence shocked me by kicking me under the table. I covered my mouth with my hand to hide a snicker.

Professor Allenvale laughed. “Neville, is it? No need to apologize, Miss Shen. It seems your pet has excellent taste in company.” She walked towards us, then reached into the pocket of the yellow apron she was wearing and pulled out a small spring of mirthleaf. “Here, Neville. A reward for your boldness in running towards academic excellence wherever you may find it.”

Around us, some of the highblood students looked a little shocked. Perhaps most highblood professors would have scolded Florence. I know Hassan would have.

“I had no idea a fluffin lived at the school,” Professor Allenvale observed, still studying Neville. She looked delighted. “I haven’t seen one of these little fellows in years.”

I blinked down at Neville. In fact, the fluffin seemed to get around the school like a shadow. But how? He wasn’t exactly subtle. It was amazing no one had complained about him before.

Florence was trying to gently place Neville on the ground again but he let out an indignant squeak and curled up in her lap, clearly intent on claiming his territory and staying put.

Professor Allenvale chuckled and reached down to pat the fluffin between his huge ears. “He’s really quite charming. Not to mention resourceful.”

“They’re extremely rare now.” I looked across the room at Lunaya Orphos who was tilting her head thoughtfully. “I’m surprised to see one here.”

Florence and I exchanged a look. I knew fluffins were unusual to see above ground.

“Rare?” Florence asked. “I didn’t know that.”

Professor Allenvale was nodding in agreement. “It’s true. They’re native to deep underground tunnels. They can often be found in dwarven communities. But even there, sightings have become more uncommon.”

“Why?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. “What’s happened to them?”

Lunaya shrugged, her silvery long hair catching the light. “Some say they were hunted. Their healing abilities are legendary. Others say they started to die off when the last of the dragons left our world.”

I looked at Florence. She looked as surprised as I was to hear Neville had special healing abilities.

Professor Allenvale was nodding. “Lunaya is quite right. Fluffins were known for soothing injuries and even mending broken spirits. In fact, ancient texts say that fluffins were often companions to...” She broke off, pursing her lips as if she were debating whether or not to say more.

“Companions to who?” Florence asked, looking fascinated as she stroked Neville’s soft fur.

Professor Allenvale hesitated for only a second, then smiled faintly at us. “To dragons and at times their riders.”

My gaze snapped to Neville who was now rolling on his back in Florence’s lap, shamelessly begging for belly pats and utterly unconcerned with the fuss his presence was causing.

“Dragons?” I repeated. “What does that mean?” Neville didn’t look exactly like a dragon doctor to me.

“Fluffins were said to share innate sensitivity—especially to powerful energies,” Professor said cautiously. “There are stories of them appearing in times of great upheaval.”

Lunaya leaned forward, her blue eyes alight with interest. “When I was little, my mother once told me a story about fluffins. She said they could sense when a dragon was in pain. Even heal them.”

I stared at Neville who had found another piece of mirthleaf on the table and now was batting in between his paws with gleeful abandon. Could it really be true?

Florence looked down at the little creature. “Well, he’s always been special to me, but I had no idea he had any unusual abilities. How fascinating.”

“Special indeed,” Professor Allenvale said with a soft laugh. “Perhaps he chose you for a reason, Miss Shen. After all, healing is one of your primary interests at Bloodwing, is it not?”

Class ended with the distant chime of bells from the castle.

As we stepped outside the greenhouse, I held Neville as Florence adjusted her book bag.

A little ways across the rocky green lawn, Lunaya Orphos stood talking to someone. A tall man was leaning against the greenhouse with his back to us. I couldn’t make out his face, but there was something about him that looked familiar.

He shifted slightly, revealing his profile as he said something to Lunaya who gave a gentle laugh, and my blood chilled. It was Marcus Drakharrow.

What was Blake’s older brother doing here?

Florence scooped Neville out of my arms and followed my gaze, her brow furrowing. “Who’s that talking to Lunaya?”

“Marcus Drakharrow,” I muttered. “Blake’s brother.”

“He’s...quite burly, isn’t he?” Florence remarked.

To put it mildly, Marcus was an intimidating-looking man. Violence seemed built into his very bones.

I watched the pair together. Lunaya seemed completely at ease, her violent eyes almost sparkling as she listened to Marcus. I hoped she knew what she was doing. Marcus seemed like a creep. I wondered if Lysander knew who his sister was meeting.

Marcus turned his head, as Lunaya began walking up the hill back towards the castle. His gaze landed on me.

Instantly, the sweetness that had been in his smile as he looked down at Lunaya Orphos vanished, replaced by something cold and downright nasty. His eyes moved to Florence and he grinned slyly, as if in recognition.

My stomach churned and I stepped in front of my friend to shield her from view. “Come on,” I said abruptly, tugging on Florence’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, right,” Florence hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. “I guess I’d better take Neville back to my room. Unless we come across Blake.” She sounded hopeful. “Do you think he’d take Neville? I sometimes wonder if Neville respects me enough.”

My lips twitched. “You mean, respects you as his mother?”

“Well, it’s just that Neville doesn’t seem into quite the same amount of mischief with Blake,” Florence said consideringly.

“Blake is a little more intimidating than you are,” I agreed. I sighed. Seeing Marcus had brought me straight to a conclusion. “I need to talk to you. Right away. Just the two of us.”

Florence glanced at me, her expression puzzled. “About what?”

“Something important. Something you need to know.”

As we walked up the hill, I couldn’t help glancing back one last time. Marcus was still watching us, his gaze cool and calculating.

I turned away.

The Tribunal wanted to use Florence as a pawn. But my friend was the smartest, most capable person I knew. If anyone could handle the truth, it was her. Keeping her in the dark would be a disservice—and a betrayal.

She deserved to know the truth.