Chapter Three

Blair’s POV

“All you have to do is hand over three large bowls of blood to cure the Consort’s illness. In return, our clan leader will let bygones be bygones and restore you to your post as his Personal Guard.”

The Ward sealed shut with a thunderous boom.

I looked at the Gold Dragon Clan envoys standing outside the barrier.

“Get out.”

They were probably used to bullying the other races. None of them had expected me to dismiss them so easily.

“Blair, don’t push your luck!” the lead envoy snapped. He drew his sword and pointed it at me through the Ward.

“You should be grateful our clan leader is giving you this chance! If you keep defying him, he’ll bring his army here and burn the Darkwood to the ground!”

I didn’t even blink. I raised my right hand, and silver light gathered at my fingertips.

A silver blade of wind shot through the Ward and snapped the envoy’s sword in two. The blade kept going, slicing through his dragonscale armor and carving a wound deep enough to expose bone.

The envoy screamed. He stumbled backward, clutching his bleeding chest, his eyes finally filling with fear.

“Go back and tell Grant that I’m not his slave,” I said coldly. “He can forget about ever using me again. If he has the courage to attack us, he can lead his army here himself. The Silver Moon Pack will be waiting.”

The envoys didn’t dare make another threat. Supporting their wounded leader between them, they fled the Darkwood in disgrace.

I thought the lesson might knock some sense into Grant.

I had underestimated his arrogance and shamelessness.

Only three days later, another unwanted visitor appeared outside the Darkwood.

This time, Grant had come himself.

He hadn’t brought an army, only a handful of personal guards.

It had been less than two weeks since I had last seen him, but the man standing outside the Ward looked exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot from repeated attacks of Dragon Frenzy, and even his Golden Horns had lost their shine.

The moment he saw me, however, Grant clasped his hands behind his back and assumed his usual condescending air.

“Blair, open the Ward.”

“I know you’ve been throwing a tantrum these past few days. I’m willing to overlook what you did to my envoy. Now bring me a bottle of your blood. Lacey is seriously ill, and she needs it.”

I almost laughed in his face.

This was the man I had loved for a hundred years in my previous life?

He had humiliated me in front of everyone at our Bonding Ceremony and chosen another woman as his Consort. What made him think I would still cut open my wrist to save the woman he loved?

I walked up to the Ward and stared at him through the transparent barrier as if he were an idiot.

“Grant, what makes you think I’d ever give you my blood to save your precious little fae?”

Grant frowned.

“Blair, you’re taking this too far! Lacey has a good heart. She even spoke up for you before. You’re the Crown Princess of the Silver Moon Pack. How can you be so cold and selfish?”

“Besides, you used to give me your blood willingly. Why are you making such a big deal out of giving Lacey a little more?”

I spat at the ground. I was done pretending there was any peace left between us.

“I gave you my blood because I was blind enough to give my heart to a dog like you. Do you think my blood grows on trees? It’s Moonblood, the source of my pack’s power!”

“Let me make this clear, Grant. You don’t deserve a single drop of my blood.”

Grant’s face turned red. Dragon Frenzy boiled through his veins, and his temper snapped.

“You bitch! How dare you speak to me like that?”

He slammed his fist against the Ward, making the entire Darkwood tremble.

“Do you really think hiding behind that shield means I can’t touch you? I can strip the wolves of their seat on the Supernatural Council with a single order. I’ll make your entire pack outcasts hunted by every race on the continent!”

“Go ahead.”

I folded my arms and watched him rage helplessly.

“I will never risk my pack’s lives to satisfy your endless demands again. If you want a war, I’ll give you one.”

“Fine! Have it your way!”

Grant pointed at me, his eyes bloodred.

“Remember what you said today, Blair! When you can’t survive on your own, you can kneel outside Dragonhold and beg for three days and three nights. I still won’t spare you a second glance!”

“You could bring me all the gold and treasure the dragons own, and I still wouldn’t give you another drop of my blood!”

I swung my sword, sending a blade of energy through the Ward and shattering the stone beneath his feet.