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“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Visha said something recently that made me think. The way you were able to shut out Viktor when he tried to get into your head … That was impressive.”

“And completely shocking,” I said bluntly. “What did Visha say about it, exactly?”

“Pretty much just that. She doesn’t think you should have been able to do it, not after just a few lessons with Rodriguez.” He hedged. “She thinks something more is at play.”

“Oh? What?”

“Me.” Blake tried to look humble. “I mean, us.”

I laughed. “What?”

“Our bond, Pendragon. You’re gaining something from it, things you might not even realize.”

“Because I’m letting you feed from me now?”

“Not just that, but yes. I also shared my blood with you.”

“That was just once. It has to have worn off by now.”

“Sure, but it might have had lasting effects on your own physiology.”

I glared at him. “Nice of you to mention that might happen beforehand.”

He shrugged. “Well, I didn’t know. Not exactly. This … what we have, between us … it’s not exactly a common kind of pairing.”

“Right. Triads are the norm. Don’t remind me.” I thought of Regan suddenly, the former third in our trio—and highbloods didn’t usually let blightborn into those exclusive mating arrangements.

“We won’t be a triad,” Blake said quietly. “At least, not unless that’s something you want.”

His eyes homed in on me, steady and questioning. I stared back in surprise as I understood his implication. There was only one possible third who I might have considered, and Blake probably knew that.

But Kage Tanaka had never outright expressed his interest in me—nor me in him. We’d danced but done no more than that. He was handsome, of course. Strong, yes. Also annoyingly enigmatic, secretive, and stubborn. And that was all right. I was starting to accept those things about him. Overall, we were better off friends. Our connection had never been anything close to what I felt when I was with Blake. I knew Kage felt a sense of responsibility towards me, a protectiveness, but what he probably didn’t realize was that it went both ways. We were allies now, like it or not. Bound by blood, but in a very different way from what Blake and I shared.

I looked at Blake. One enigma was enough for me. Something in my heart twisted hard. More than enough.

“I want this,” I said simply. “Let’s take things one step at a time.”

He nodded, but I caught the relief on his face. “As long as we’re clear about one thing, Pendragon.” He looked into my eyes. “I only want you.”

I flushed and looked away. “You know, before I came to Sangratha, I never thought I’d live in a place more fucked-up than Camelot,” I said, shamelessly changing the subject like I’d let him do earlier.

“What was Camelot like?” Blake asked, curiosity written all over his face. “Tell me about it.”

I told him briefly about my life in the Rose Court. “I was the sole progeny of Pendrath’s king and queen, but I wouldn’t have been permitted to inherit the throne. When I … left … we’d been in a state of war, with my grandfather and his army encroaching on our kingdom. My aunt and uncle had gone to find him and finish things.” Little had they known the role I’d wind up playing in that.

“And your mother? Your father?” Blake asked. “Where were they in all this?”

“My mother died in childbirth. She was fae.” I touched a finger to one pointed ear. “She’d been a famous general once. She had a long life … before my arrival ended it.”

“So you never knew her?” Blake shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t bother to correct him, to tell him my mother and I wound up reconnecting after all, from beyond the grave. If I told him that truth, would he think I was mad? Or would he believe me without questioning it?

Suddenly the words were on the tip of my tongue, wanting to take the chance. Was Blake someone I wanted simply in my bed or someone I could tell my deepest secrets? But before I could speak, he’d changed topics again.

“And your father, he was the king of Camelot?”